To: The Central Executive Committee and all members of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)

Transcription

1 July 28, 2014 To: The Central Executive Committee and all members of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) For many years, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has been leading the nation in an erroneous direction by building socialism in the Soviet model, based on so-called Marxism-Leninism. The Doi Moi ("Renovation") which began thirty years ago attempted to correct the mistakes in economic policy, but this was not radical enough as it maintained the totalitarian regime which restricted freedom and democracy and kept our people divided. This erroneous policy, when combined with a bureaucratic and alienated system, has led to gross abuses by illegitimate interest groups in collusion with corrupt officials, with the end result that we now have a comprehensive crisis putting Vietnam ever behind other neighboring countries. On the other hand, the Chinese leadership has long since sought to put our country in a dependent position which serves Chinese interests. Ever since the 1990 Chengdu Conference, Vietnam has made many concessions in its relations with China. Vietnam is made to pay a very high price and the more concessions it made, the more China became aggressive. Recently, against a rather complex international background, China has taken several new steps toward escalation in an aggressive plot to claim its hegemony over the East Sea (South China Sea) as it views Vietnam as the weakest link in a chain that must first be brought down. The reality now lays bare the misperceptions that [China and Vietnam] "share the same socialist ideology" and that the formula known as "the four good and the sixteen golden words" were only meant to cover up an expansionist scheme. By now, the Chinese expansionist forces have accomplished many important steps in their plot to transform Vietnam into a vassal. This painful reality exposes the shortcomings of the leadership in both the Party and government in the past decades, both in terms of their responsibility and ability. The entire Communist Party of Vietnam, which includes us, must be held responsible before the nation about the above-mentioned situation. We must therefore contribute actively to overcoming the consequences of the aforesaid mistakes, for which the main responsibility must fall upon the Central Executive Committee and the Politburo. For this reason, we, the undersigned, feel that we must express our thoughts, the thoughts of faithful CPV members who had pledged our loyalty to the country and to the people when we joined the Party, asking for the following primary demands: 1. In the face of the great danger confronting our nation at the present time, that the CPV should awaken to its own responsibility and from its platform, actively alter its agenda, abandoning the erroneous policies of building socialism and decisively veering towards a national and democratic direction, focusing on a moderate transformation of the political regime from its present totalitarianism to a democratic system. From this very moment, we must frankly and democratically discuss, within the entire Party as well as in the

2 nation, all the facets of the situation of our country at the present time, confront all the new and extremely blatant challenges presented by the recent moves of China in its hegemonic attempt to occupy all of the South China Sea, develop a policy line that can transform our backward economic structure and diminish our severe dependence on China at the present time, and build a truly democratic nation governed by the rule-oflaw. Only then can we promote the intellectual, spiritual, and material power of the whole Vietnamese nation, strengthen our solidarity, achieve national concord and win over the vigorous support of progressive mankind, as well as open a new era of development and protection of the Fatherland. The above viewpoint must be thoroughly understood and assimilated right in the preparations for and proceedings of the Party Congresses at every level in view of the Twelfth National Congress, i.e. the Party representatives must be selected in a truly democratic way in answer to the political demands of the Congress. That is the responsibility of Party organs at every echelon and of every Party member who is patriotic. At the same time, the elections of the upcoming National Assembly must be truly democratic, so that we can have a truly professional National Assembly, one deserving of its name as representative of the population and one that answers the legislative demands of a nation in political transformation. This is what must be done at once to express the Party's true resolve to transform the political system and create trust in the population: the public authorities must immediately end their harassment, repression, and arbitrary condemnations of patriotic demonstrators, of freshly established civil society groups, and release at once those who have been and are being legally charged simply because they have expressed their political opinions. 2. That the Party and government leadership arrive at a unified assessment of the plots and actions of the Chinese hegemonic forces in regard to our nation, that they abandon their vague and illusory opinions; and that they have both immediate and long-term counter measures to protect our independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity in all circumstances, thus liberating themselves from dependence upon China, and to focus on building harmonious neighborly relations, equitable cooperation, and friendly ties between the peoples of our two nations. As the masters of the country, the people have the right to know and must know the truth about Vietnamese-Chinese relations and important agreements that we have signed with China such as the Chengdu Agreement of 1990, the agreements about frontier demarcation both on land and in the Bac Bo Gulf, and economic agreements, etc. What is urgently needed right now is that we must promptly sue China at an international tribunal so as to promote our strength based on a just cause. At the same time, Vietnam must be proactive and reach an agreement with other coastal nations in the Eastern Sea so as to take care of obstacles still standing in the way regarding our sovereignty over specific islands and rocks; strengthen our solidarity and unity with ASEAN countries, first with the coastal countries around the Eastern Sea, in the struggle against all

3 expansionist actions by China as it seeks monopolistic occupation of this body of water, hoping to make it into an internal lake. The position that "we do not ally ourselves with any country in opposition to a third country" is a self-inflicted restriction which is not in accordance with any reality and therefore must be changed. Our fatherland is in great danger. At the same time, it is presented with a great opportunity for change! The responsibility of all patriotic Party Members is to grasp this opportunity together with the entire population, to overcome all challenges, and open up a new era in development and in defense of our country. To miss this opportunity is to stand guilty in the face of our nation! LIST OF PARTY MEMBERS SIGNING THIS OPEN LETTER TO THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE AND TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF VIETNAM 1. Nguyễn Trọng Vĩnh, a Party Member since 1939, Major General, ex-alternate Member of the Central Executive Committee, Third Party Congress, former plenipotentiary, Ambassador of Vietnam to China, currently domiciled in 2. Đào Xuân Sâm, a Party Member since 1946, former Dean of Economic Management Department, Ho Chi Minh Institute of National Politics, former member of the Studies Group attached to the Prime Minister's Office, domiciled in 3. Trần Đức Nguyên, a Party Member since 1946, former head of the Studies Group attached to the Prime Minister's Office, domiciled in 4. Nguyễn Văn Tuyến, a Party Member since 1946, a veteran Colonel, domiciled in 5. Lê Duy Mật, a Party Member since 1947, Major General, former Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff, Military Region II, commander of the Vị Xuyên Front, Hà Giang Province, , domiciled in 6. Tạ Đình Du (Cao Sơn), a Party Member since 1948, a veteran Colonel, domiciled in 7. Vũ Quốc Tuấn, a Party Member since 1948, former Assistant to Prime Minister Võ Văn Kiệt, domiciled in 8. Nguyễn Hữu Côn, a Party Member since 1949, Colonel, a veteran, former Logistics Chief of Staff, Military Corps 2, domiciled in

4 9. Hoàng Hiển, a Party Member since 1949, a former Navy Lieutenant, domiciled in 10. Đỗ Gia Khoa, a Party Member since 1949, a former cadre at the Ministry of Public Security and at the Customs General Directorate, domiciled in 11. Hà Tuân Trung, a Party Member since 1949, former member of the Central Control Committee, former editor-in-chief of the journal Kiểm tra ("Control"), domiciled in 12. Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Toản, a Party Member since 1949, Colonel, Professor, Veteran, former Department Head, Military Hospital 108, domiciled in 13. Phạm Xuân Phương, a Party Member since 1949, Colonel, a veteran, former expert at the Political General Department, Vietnam People's Army, domiciled in 14. Tô Hòa, a Party Member since 1950, former editor-in-chief of Sài Gòn Giải phóng ("Liberated Saigon") [the main daily newspaper of Ho Chi Minh City]. 15. Võ Văn Hiếu, a Party Member since 1950, former cadre belonging to the Propaganda and Instruction Committee of COSVN (Central Office of South Vietnam). 16. Hoàng Tụy, a Party Member since 1950, Mathematics Professor, domiciled in 17. Huỳnh Thúc Tấn, a Party Member since 1951, former Deputy Head of the Government Office, domiciled in 18. Tạ Đình Thính, a Party Member since 1951, former Department Head, CPV Central Office, domiciled in 19. Nguyên Ngọc, a Party Member since 1956, writer, formerly Secretary of the Party and Youth League chapter in the Vietnam Writers' Union, domiciled in Hội An. 20. Tương Lai, a Party Member since 1959, former Head of the Institute of Sociology, former member of the Advisory Board to Prime Minister Võ Văn Kiệt, in Ho Chi Minh City. 21. Nguyễn Khắc Mai, a Party Member since 1959, Director of the Minh Triet Center, currently domiciled in 22. Đào Công Tiến, a Party Member since 1960, former Head of Ho Chi Minh City Economic, Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Economics Association, domiciled in Ho Chi Minh City. 23. Vũ Linh, a Party Member since 1962, former Head in charge of the Solar PIN Project, Hanoi Polytechnic University, domiciled in

5 24. Nguyễn Kiến Phước, a Party Member since 1962, former member of the Editorial Team of the daily Nhân Dân ("The People"), domiciled in Ho Chi Minh City. 25. Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Trai, a Party Member since 1963, a journalist, a writer, and former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Văn Nghệ ("Art and Literature") of the Vietnam Writers Union, domiciled in 26. Võ Văn Thôn, a Party Member since 1965, former Director of the Justice office of Ho Chi Minh City, currently domiciled in Ho Chi Minh City. 27. Nguyễn Trung, a Party Member since 1965, former Vietnam's Ambassador to Thailand, now living in Thailand, domiciled in 28. Huỳnh Kim Báu, a Party Member since1965, former Secretary-General of the Patriotic Intellectuals of Ho Chi Minh City, domiciled in Ho Chi Minh City. 29. Hạ Đình Nguyên, a Party Member since 1965, former Chairman of the Action Coordinating Committee at the General Confederation of Saigon Students, domiciled in Hồ Chí Minh City. 30. Nguyễn Văn Ly (Tư Kết), a Party Member since 1966, former secretary to Mai Chi Tho, former deputy secretary of the Party chapter, for instance, the one within the office of the Culture and Information Office of Ho Chi Minh City, domiciled in Ho Chi Minh City. 31. Lê Công Giàu, a Party Member since 1966, former Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth League in Ho Chi Minh City, former Director of the Trade and Investment Promotion Center of Ho Chi Minh City. 32. Kha Lương Ngãi, a Party Member since 1966, former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Sài Gòn Giải phóng, domiciled in Ho Chi Minh City. 33. Tô Nhuận Vỹ, a Party Member since 1967, writer, former Secretary of the Party and Youth League cumulating the function of Chairman of the Art and Literature Association of Thừa Thiên Huế, Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Sông Hương, and former Director, Foreign Nationals Office of Thừa Thiên Huế, domiciled in Huế. 34. Phạm Đức Nguyên, a Party Member since 1968, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Building, 48 years in the Party, domiciled in 35. Bùi Đức Lại, a Party Member since 1968, former Department Head, level II senior specialist, the Party Organization Committee, domiciled in 36. Lữ Phương, a Party Member since 1968, former Deputy Minister of Culture in the Pro-temp Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam, domiciled in Ho Chi Minh City.

6 37. Nguyễn Lê Thu An, a Party Member since 1969, former political prisoner in Côn Đảo, domiciled in Ho Chi Minh City. 38. Nguyễn Đăng Quang, a Party Member since 1969, Public Security Colonel, retired, domiciled in 39. Trần Văn Long, a Party Member since 1970, former Deputy Secretary, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth League of Ho Chi Minh City Chapter, domiciled in Ho Chi Minh City. 40. Nguyễn Thị Kim Chi, a Party Member since 1971, Outstanding artist, Movie director, domiciled in 41. Huỳnh Tấn Mẫm, a Party Member since 1971, former Chairman, Saigon Federation of Students before 1975, former National Assembly representative, Sixth Session, former Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Niên ("Young People"), domiciled in Ho Chi Minh City. 42. Võ Thị Ngọc Lan, a Party Member since 1972, former Public Security cadre, domiciled in Ho Chi Minh City. 43. Hà Quang Vinh, a Party Member since 1972, retired cadre, domiciled in Ho Chi Minh City. 44. Nguyễn Đắc Xuân, a Party Member since 1973, writer, cultural researcher, former Chief representative of the newspaper Lao Động ("Labor") in Central Vietnam and in the Central Highlands, domiciled in Huế. 45. Lê Đăng Doanh, a Party Member since 1974, Ph.D. in Economics, former member of the Prime Minister's Research Team, domiciled in 46. Chu Hảo, a Party Member since 1974, former Deputy Minister for Science and Industries, domiciled in 47. Nguyễn Xuân Hoa, a Party Member since 1974, former Director, Thua Thien - Hue Cultural Office, domiciled in Hue. 48. Nguyễn Vi Khải, a Party Member since 1974, former member of the Prime Minister's Research Team, 40 years in the Party, domiciled in 49. Cao Lập, a Party Member since 1974, former Secrretary of the Culture and information Party Chapter in Ho Chi Minh City. 50. Lê Thân, a Party Member since 1975, former political prisoner in Con Dao, former Director-General of SG-Riversite Partnership, domiciled in Ho Chi Minh City. 51. Ngô Minh, a Party Member since 1975, journalist, writer, domiciled in Hue.

7 52. Trần Kinh Nghị, a Party Member since 1976, retired Foreign Ministry cadre, domiciled in 53. Hồ An, a Party Member since 1979, journalist, domiciled in Ho Chi Minh City. 54. Đoàn Văn Phương, a Party Member since 1979, former fighter in the Public Affairs, COSVN, domiciled in Ho Chi Minh City. 55. Hồ Uy Liêm, a Party Member since 1980, former Acting President, Union of Scientific and Technological Associations of Vietnam, domiciled in 56. Trần Đình Sử, a Party Member since 1986, Ph.D., Professor of Philology, domiciled in 57. Lê Văn Luyến, a Party Member since 1987, former cadre in the Propaganda and Training Committee of COSVN, domiciled in Ho Chi Minh City. 58. Nguyễn Gia Hảo, a Party Member since 1988, former member of Advisory Board to Prime Minister Võ Văn Kiệt, domiciled in 59. Phạm Chi Lan, a Party Member since 1989, former member of the Prime Minister's Research Team, domiciled in 60. Đào Tiến Thi, a Party Member since 1997, M.A., Member of the Executive Board, Vietnam Linguistics Society, domiciled in 61. Nguyễn Nguyên Bình, a Party Member since 1986, Lieutenant Colonel, veteran, domiciled in