Vietnamese head to polls today but no drastic change to tackle imbalances is foreseen
Vietnam’s voters head to the polls tomorrow to elect officials for the 12th National Assembly in a show of democracy that will probably not bring any major political or economic change, to the chagrin of many.
The election will be the first since the country became a World Trade Organisation (WTO) member in January, and US lawmakers granted it permanent normal trade relations status and removed Vietnam from the “Countries of Particular Concern” blacklist.
Despite the economic liberalisation under the WTO and efforts by local policymakers to integrate the country into the global economy, many voters do not foresee any huge policy swings – yet why should they?
Most of the candidates running for office are from the ruling Communist Party or the equally influential Fatherland Front.
“It is good to hear what officials intend to do and how they want to help the community, but I don’t see there being any major changes,” said Hung Trang, a 31-year-old restaurant owner who was helping set up his commune’s community centre as a polling station.
“I think the government will probably continue integration and economic reform, and the process of doi moi [renovation], but no change. The government has already set its agenda [during the 11th Party Congress] for the next five years.”
Economic reform and doi moi have certainly brought benefits, such as an impressive 8% GDP growth rate in 2006 and a 22% jump in the total value of exports last year.
However, doi moi has its critics. “Vietnam’s policy of [creating a] ’socialist-oriented market economy’ has resulted in a mixture of the worst aspects of unbridled capitalism with the worst of authoritarianism,” said Vo Van Ai, director of the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights, in a letter this week.
A result of the rapid buildup of wealth over the past five years, according to Ai, is a huge income gap between the top and bottom 10% of the population, which has caused great unrest among blue-collar workers who feel disenfranchised.
For example, one of the biggest problems for low-income households, according to analysts, is land rights. The government has the right to confiscate a person’s property and auction it to the highest bidder.
Compensation is offered based on the auction price set by the government, not by the property owners.
Oddly, the capital city Hanoi seems very nonchalant about the election, given the huge socio-economic issues. Unlike in Thailand, political posters advertising a candidate’s positions do not blanket street lamps, though there are a number of red banners reminding people to vote.
Over the past few weeks, there have been speeches and small gatherings for candidates to gather public opinions and voice their own perspectives on socio-economic issues, but otherwise there were no major rallies or debates on issues as would be expected in a multiparty system.
Instead, there have been ominous reminders this month of how much control the Communist Party has.
First, the 700-plus candidates who are running for the 500 assembly seats had to pass through a consultation process by a government-appointed Election Council that can reject a nominee for being too controversial.For example, Do Viet Khoa, a teacher and national celebrity who has spearheaded efforts to expose and eliminate cheating on national placement exams for the past year, did not make the final cut.
Though the government encouraged greater participation from people who are not members of the Communist Party in this year’s election, an overwhelming number of candidates come from powerful groups with close ties to the party, such as the Fatherland Front and Farmers’ Association.
Second, the public was treated to another quick reminder of the government’s intolerance on May 11 when the Supreme Court sentenced two human rights lawyers for “defamation” and “propagating” against the state under Article 88 of the constitution.
Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong, who were highly critical of government policies, received five- and four-year prison terms respectively.
The four-hour trial drew fire from international freedom of speech and pro-democracy organisations.
“The crackdown launched by the Vietnamese government is ruthless and frenzied,” wrote Reporters Without Borders, in a statement posted on their website.
“A total of five dissidents have been given prison sentences in Stalinist trials in a week. The international community, especially the European Union, which had eight diplomats at today’s trial, must take action to obtain the release of the seven cyber-dissidents now held, and the release of the Catholic priest and journalist, Nguyen Van Ly.”
Any political dissent is treated by the government, especially Party hardliners, as a threat to “national unity building”.
Ton Nu Thi Ninh, vice-chair of the National Assembly’s Foreign Relations Committee, has made it clear that Vietnam aims to “build democracy within a one-party state”.
So as the country heads to the polls, the results are a foregone conclusion: the Communist Party will continue to dominate the National Assembly as lawmakers strive for greater, yet unequal economic growth.