Chairman, Viet Tan
Testimony before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus
Hearing on “Challenges for the Vietnamese Democracy Movement”
May 10, 2007
Madam Chair and distinguished Members of Congress,
On February 17, 2007, the Vietnamese New Year’s Eve, the communist regime in Vietnam launched a massive crackdown against the democracy movement. Since then, numerous people have been arrested or sentenced to many years in prison. Some are well known dissidents; many others are lesser known activists. Many questions have been asked about this crackdown but probably the two most pressing are: (1) why now? and (2) what is the main objective? In order to fully address these questions, we must look back at the recent development of the democracy movement in Vietnam.
The Vietnamese Democracy Movement
After many early pro-democracy groups either disbanded or went underground by the late 1980s, the following decade was marked mainly by individual voices calling for more freedom and human rights. But in December 2000, almost out of nowhere, Father Nguyen Van Ly, a catholic priest, and his followers from Nguyet-Bieu parish mounted a campaign for religious freedom. With their slogan “Religious Freedom or Death”, Father Ly and his followers breathed new life into the democracy movement. Immediately, many new faces appeared and joined the movement. Most were young professionals including attorneys, doctors and journalists.
But the communist authorities were quick to react. In 2001, with one swift move, they arrested Father Ly and many others. All were sentenced to long prison terms ranging from 4 years to 15 years. With this terror campaign in 2001 and into 2002, the communist authorities effectively cut down the democracy movement and silenced most dissenting voices.
The following five years were marked by an eerie silence and the lack of any visible resistance. Suddenly on April 8, 2006, once again Father Ly and 117 other courageous Vietnamese citizens signed and declared the Manifesto on Freedom and Democracy for Vietnam. With this declaration, they re-ignited the democracy movement. This time, they are not individuals anymore but organized groups that rise up to demand democracy and challenge the dictatorship. After five years of silence, the democracy movement has returned, this time truly a popular movement of numerous organizations with many supporters.
The Crackdown, Why Now?
After waiting for almost a year, in February 2007, the Vietnamese government launched their well planned crackdown for three reasons:
First, the regime got what they wanted from the United States and the world. With their entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), getting Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status and being removed from the Countries of Particular Concerns (CPC) list, the Vietnamese government effectively got everything they cherished and could now consolidate their power. They tolerated the democracy movement, and now that tolerance is no longer needed.
Second, the regime predicted that the U.S. and the international community would only provide limited protests which the regime could easily wait out. Time will tell whether the international community sends a firm message against gross human rights violations and persecution of non-violent calls for democratic changes in Vietnam.
Third, the regime wants to prevent any disruption to their stage-managed election on May 20, 2007. With the call to boycott the upcoming National Assembly election, the democracy movement is employing civil disobedience to raise public awareness and mobilize popular pressure against this fraudulent event. Because they are touting this election as being more “open” with 10% of the seats “granted” to non-communist candidates, the government cannot afford to have any challenges to their propaganda campaign.
What Is the Crackdown’s Main Objective?
Considering the Vietnamese communist regime’s long history of maintaining one-party dictatorship at all costs, the crackdown’s main objective is quite clear. That is to once again cut down the Vietnamese democracy movement just like they did before. They want to turn back the clock to 2001 and once again silence anyone who dares to call for democracy. It is understandable that the outside world only hears or talks about well known dissidents, but there are hundreds of other activists and ordinary citizens in Vietnam being hunted and persecuted.
In their terror campaign to eliminate peaceful voices for democracy, the Hanoi regime has been emboldened by their apparent acceptance by the international community, especially their success with the United States. It is time for us to send a clear message that this acceptance is not permanent and the world will not ignore the Vietnamese people’s cry for freedom.
What Must Be Done?
The Vietnamese democracy movement is facing both an important challenge and a tremendous opportunity. Our challenge is to survive this current crackdown at all costs. The Vietnamese government has gone all out to eradicate all independent organizations, especially political parties. However, if we can survive this crackdown the next six months, a year or even beyond that, then it will truly be a turning point for the democracy movement. Instead of being silenced again like the last five years, if we can continue to push forward, then it will be the point of no return for democratic changes inside Vietnam.
Viet Tan has been standing side by side with other pro-democracy parties, organizations and the Vietnamese people in this battle for freedom and democracy. In the face of challenge, we will continue to do so. We will continue to adhere to our principle of peaceful, non-violent struggle to galvanize and empower the Vietnamese people to challenge the regime. The balance of power actually rests with the people, and only through non-violent means can we empower Vietnamese to take back control of the country. The communist regime knows that and they are afraid. That is why they are trying to terrorize our people back into submission through this crackdown.
In the effort to keep the momentum and reach that turning point, we call upon the United States to stand with the Vietnamese people. I propose the following specific actions for your consideration :
1. Exert pressure on the Hanoi government to release the following prisoners of conscience:
Dr. Le Nguyen Sang, Mr. Huynh Nguyen Dao and Mr. Nguyen Bac Truyen, leaders of the People’s Democratic Party, who were tried today, May 10th, in Vietnam.
Attorney Nguyen Van Dai of the Vietnam Human Rights Committee and Attorney Le Thi Cong Nhan of the Vietnam Progression Party who will be tried tomorrow, May 11th.
Mr. Tran Quoc Hien, spokesperson for The United Workers-Farmers Organization of Vietnam, who will be tried next Tuesday May 15th.
2. Put Communist Vietnam back on the CPC list. The Hanoi regime is sensitive to world opinion because they need to maintain an acceptable appearance to attract trade and investment.
3. Support freedom of information specifically by passing internet freedom legislation and calling on the Vietnamese government to cease jamming Radio Free Asia.
4. Send a clear message to Communist Vietnam president Nguyen Minh Triet when he visits the U.S. in June. Members of Congress should remind President Bush to demand respect for human rights, release of all political prisoners, and end to the political oppression.
5. Support the work of independent NGOs and initiatives for building a civil society in Vietnam. This is extremely critical in helping to empower the Vietnamese people while providing the foundation upon which a long lasting democracy can be achieved.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
After 32 years of continuous persecution and brutal reign of terror, the democracy movement in Vietnam refuses to fade away. Instead, it has returned with more determination and strength than ever before. Never before has the communist authorities seen such a grassroots movement represented by so many independent political parties and organizations openly challenging their rule. It is no longer the question of if democracy will triumph in Vietnam, but when.
A free, democratic Vietnam that adheres to standards and norms of the civilized world is in the best interest not just of the Vietnamese people but also America and the world.
