A new decree, called Decision 97, from the prime minister came into effect on September 15, 2009 limiting scientific and technical research to 317 specifically approved topics. Under this decree, groups in Vietnam cannot publicly discuss subjects which are not explicitly sanctioned.
The Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Vietnam’s only private think tank, decided to disband in protest the day before the decree took effect. IDS gathered some of the country’s most eminent social scientists and had publicly examined broad developmental issues—such as macroeconomic policies to tackle inflation and protecting the environment—which are not covered under the decree.
The following translation is made available by Viet Tan. Decision 97 is the latest step by the Hanoi regime to limit freedom of expression and Vietnam’s development.
OF THE VIETNAMESE PRIME MINISTER No 97/2009/QD-TTg
DATE 24th MAY 2009
ON ISSUING OF LIST OF INDIVIDUALS ALLOWED TO ESTABLISH
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATIONS.
PRIME MINISTER
Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization December 25, 2001;
Pursuant to the Law on Science and Technology June 9, 2000;
Pursuant to Decree 81/2002/ND-CP of October 17, 2002 of the Government detailing implementation of some articles of Law on Science and Technology;
Proposal of the Minister of Science and Technology;
Article 1. Issued together with this Decision the list of areas of personal organizations allowed to establish scientific research, organisations for scientific research and technological development, service organisations and scientific technology (referred to as organisational science and technology).
Article 2. Responsibility of individuals to establish organisations of science and technology:
- Responsible for comprehensive activities of the organisation of science and technology by their establishment, comply with the provisions of the Law on Science and Technology, Press Law, Publication Law and the law concerned.
- Only works in the list issued together with this Decision. Any comments, reviews of way, guidelines and policies of the Party and State should be sent to the Party, State authority, not publicise the name or associate with the name of the science and technology.
Article 3. Ministry of Science and Technology guidance specific conditions and procedures for registration of organisations of science and technology established by individuals.
Article 4. Ministry of Science and Technology, People’s Committees of provinces and cities directly under the Central within the authority are responsible for directing the functional agency:
- Review institutions of science and technology established by individuals to guide the registration of activities of science and technology according to the list of areas defined in Article 1 and the procedures prescribed in Article 3 of this Decision.
- Revoke certificate of registration of activities in science and technology and provide re-registration instructions of activities of science and technology in cases where certificates of registration of activities in science and technology have been granted by incorrect function and authority.
- Revoke certificate of registration of activities in science and technology and carry out procedures to end the operation prescribed by law for the organisation of science and technology by individuals which established violations in the operation.
Article 5. In the process of organising the implementation, based on practical situation and development needs of the country, Ministry of Science and Technology will coordinate with ministries, industry related periodic research, suggest of changes, modify and supplement list of individual fields allowed to establish scientific organisations and technology.
Article 6. This decision takes effect from September 15, 2009. The ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of agencies under the Government, Commission Chairman provincial cities directly under the Central Government, individuals and organisations concerned shall implement this Decision.
PRIME MINISTER
Nguyen Tan Dung
