Phan Dinh Tan, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, told reporters on July 20, that the Ministry had asked the Performing Arts Department to temporarily ban two artists Anh Tho and Trong Tan from participating in any domestic or international programs.
Phan Dinh Tan added that according to a planned schedule, the two artists should have been participating in Performances in Vientiane in Laos from July 17 to 19 to celebrate the Year of Unity and the signing of Friendship Treaty between Vietnam and Laos.
However, on July 17, the two singers abandoned the show, saying they had signed a contract to perform in Ninh Binh on the evening of July 18.
According to Phan Dinh Tan, representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism had earlier sent a report to provincial leaders in Ninh Binh and the police department of Ninh Binh Province requesting that these two artists not be allowed to participate in the program in Ninh Binh on July 18.
The Ministry argued that as the mission in Laos was far more important, the two singers should have stayed in Vientiane in Laos to continue the cultural program on July 18.
At the same time, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also asked the Director of the National Academy of Music of Vietnam to appoint other artists to replace the two artists in Ninh Binh.
However, these two artists deliberately ceased their performance in Laos, which amounted to an act of betrayal and poor political awareness, Tan stressed.
Thus on July 18, Nguyen Van Tinh, head of the Department of International Cooperation under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, sent a report to authorities in the Ministry informing the case of these two artists and asking not to allow them to participate in the Cultural Program to welcome the Solidarity and Friendship of Vietnam-Laos.
The ministry also asked that the National Academy of Music of Vietnam apply strict discipline against the two artists.
Accordingly, the Director of the Academy has asked the two singers to temporarily stop work from July 18, and explain their responsibility for political tasks assigned by the Party and State as artists, trainers and citizens of the country.
The report also asks the Performing Arts Department to temporarily ban the two artists from participating in all domestic and foreign art programs.
