February 15, 2010
HANOI — Two banned political organisations say they have joined forces to distribute hundreds of pro-democracy leaflets in communist Vietnam, where observers say the human rights situation is worsening. Dissidents arrested and convicted for previous leaflet campaigns have been jailed.
The US-based Viet Tan (Vietnam Reform Party) confirmed early Monday that it had joined the effort along with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
In a joint statement with two other organisations, the Vietnam Labor Movement and Assembly for Justice, they called for “a non-violent struggle for democracy” and denounced “the expansionist schemes of Beijing” allegedly carried out with the collusion of Vietnamese leaders. Critics in Vietnam say people have lost trust in the country’s rulers whom they see as too conciliatory towards China over maritime sovereignty and other issues.
The statement said leaflets were distributed in various parts of the country, showing that authorities “can never extinguish the movement for democracy and territorial protection of the fatherland even with their increased repression”.
The statement was dated Sunday, the first day of the Lunar New Year, which is known locally as Tet and is the country’s most important annual festival.
Viet Tan, which the government calls a “terrorist group”, separately told AFP that several hundred leaflets were distributed.
It said the Vietnam Labor Movement and Assembly of Justice, also involved in the campaign, were “relatively new” groups with members in Vietnam and representatives overseas.
At least 16 dissidents have been jailed since October in what analysts said could reflect a rising influence of political hardliners.
Among those recently jailed was a group of six convicted for hanging democracy banners, giving out leaflets, and other acts against the state. In 2007, two men charged with being PDP members were jailed after admitting to printing and distributing 1,600 leaflets criticising the government and calling for multi-party democracy.
