A PLAN FOR THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF VIETNAM

By: Stephen B. Young

for submission to all chapters of the International Committee for a Free Vietnam

Stephen Young, professor and global executive director of The Caux Roundtable, shares his thoughts on the political state of Vietnam. A dedicated activist in Vietnamese politics, Mr. Young has been the founder of the project to translate the Hong Duc law code into English, co-author with Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Huy addressing human rights issues in Vietnam and traditional China, and author of the 1993 Six-Step proposal to a democratic Vietnam.

Stage I            July 1991 - October 1992

Consideration and adoption by Non-Communists of a policy of non-retribution (Khoan Hong) in return for a commitment to dialogue by the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Stage 2 December 1992 - April 1993

Formation of the movement to Unite the People and Build Democracy as the first dialogue partner for the Politburo; acceptance of the Movement by the Politburo.

Stage 3 June 1993 - December 1993

A)                    Conferences, seminars on the role of private sector entities in solving Vietnam's economic, social, educational disadvantages to prepare for the complete modernization of Vietnam. Participants to include all non-violent Vietnamese political points of view.

B)                    Creation of non-political, liturgical, private organizations for Buddhist, Catholic, Cao Dai and Hoa Hao adherents.

C)                    Creation of organized clubs (Cau Lac Bo) for nonviolent expression of different political and cultural points of view. The clubs are not political parties.

Stage 4 1994  

A)                    Elections for village government; members of the Movement and clubs will be sponsored for office by the Fatherland Front.

B)                    All members of the police must resign from the Communist Party.

C)                    Non-Communists will constitute one quarter of the cabinet ministers.

D)                    State corporations will be privatized.

Stage 5 1995 - 1997

A)                    Elections for National Assembly with members of the Movement and clubs sponsored as candidates by the Fatherland Front.

B) Resignation of all military officers and judges from the Communist Party.

C) Complete freedom of press and religion, provided that the government may take measures against genuine threats to national security and social cohesion.

D) Public pensions provided for all in the Viet Minh Front who served against the French on behalf of national independence. All such persons to retire from government and the Communist Party.

Stage 6 1997

A)                    Amend constitution to provide for political pluralism: no longer provide for a single political party. The Movement and the clubs become official political parties

B)                    The Fatherland Front no Ionger needed to screen candidates for elective office.

C)                    Jury system adopted for all judicial cases where political opinion or activity is challenged by the police.

 

Ethnologist and professor of the University of Paris, Nguyen Van Huy explores the reasons leading up to the uprising of 20 thousand tribesmen in the highlands of central Vietnam. Among the leading causes are the demand for religious freedom and the return of their native land.