Vietnam Writers Association revokes decision to transfer poet Luong Ngoc An

The executive board said on January 4: "After reviewing some steps in the process and considering some conditions related to the transfer, the executive board decided to withdraw this decision and report to the higher authority."

Poet Luong Ngoc An was transferred to work atWriters and Life Magazine,held the position of Deputy Editor-in-Chief from November 28, 2024. Afterwards, many people in the literary world spoke out that the decision was inappropriate because Mr. An was involved in a scandal when poet Da Thao Phuong accused him of "raping" her more than 20 years ago.

Previously, in May 2022, the noise forced him to resign from his position as Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Secretary of the newspaper.Arts

In April 2022, poet Da Thao Phuong (real name Phan Thi Thanh Thuy) sent a complaint against Mr. Luong Ngoc An to the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Writers Association. The letter stated that since 1999, Da Thao Phuong - then a reporter for the newspaperArts- Many times "manipulated, controlled, abused, and raped" by Mr. An.

The Vietnam Writers Association then replied to Ms. Da Thao Phuong via email: "We see that there is no satisfactory basis or authority to administratively handle the incident that occurred in 2000 atLiterature and Arts Newspaper", and suggested that she "should send petitions and letters to the competent legal authorities to proceed according to legal procedures".

After Da Thao Phuong's move, Mr. An also posted on social media, saying he ''paid the price for his mistakes over the past 20 years''.

Mr. Luong Ngoc An, 60 years old, was a tank soldier. He graduated from Nguyen Du Writing School and worked atLiterature and Arts Newspapersince 1990.

Poet Da Thao Phuong's real name is Phan Thi Thanh Thuy, 51 years old, graduated from the Faculty of Literature, University of General Sciences, now University of Social Sciences and Humanities. She has works published in many books and newspapers, including famous works such asPoem about five leaves.In 2008, she lived abroad until now.