Manifesto

of Freedom and Democracy for Vietnam in 2006

by 118 Vietnamese fighters in Vietnam

 English version by Viet Si & Rev. Phan Van Loi

Vietnam, April 8th, 2006

Dear respected our fellow-countrymen inside and outside Vietnam :

            We, the undersigned, representatives of hundreds of democratic fighters in Vietnam and all people who are craving for an authentic Democracy for our beloved Mother Land, Vietnam, unanimously declare :

I- Real situations of Vietnam

            1- In the Revolution of August 1945, the choice of all Vietnamese was National Independence, not Socialism. The Declaration of Independence dated September 2^nd, 1945 by Ho Chi Minh did not mention a single word about Socialism or Communism. Two main causes that made that August Revolution successful were the People’s Aspiration for National Independence and The gap of power in Vietnam during that time (The French colonists were unseated from power by Japanese on March 9^th, 1945 and the Japanese surrendered the Allied Force on August 15^th, 1945).    

            Obviously, the objective of that August Revolution has been maliciously exchanged by the Comnunist Party. And naturally, the Right of Self-Determination for Vietnamese people has been totally abolished. There were, at least, two historic opportunities in North Vietnam in 1954 and in whole Vietnam in 1975 for all Vietnamese people to execute their Right of Self-Determination. But all this has never been implemented by the malicious Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). Because when the dictatorship of the proletariat is etablished, according to Lenin, its very first function is Violence, Terrorism and Suppression.

            2- On September 2^nd, 1945 in Ha Noi. Ho Chi Minh, President of the Provisional Government of Democratic and Republic Vietnam solemnly declared to the Vietnamese People and to the whole world: “Everybody is born equal. The Creator gives them rights which cannot be violated by anybody. Of these rights, there are the right to live, right to be free and right to seek happiness. That immortal statement is in the Declaration of Independence of the U.S. in 1776 : Generalized, it means that every People in the world have been born equal, have right to live, right to seek happiness and right to be free. The Declaration of Human and Civil Rights of the French Revolution in 1791 also says : “People are born free and equal in interests and are always granted freedom and equality in interests”. This is the Righteousness which cannot be refused by anybody” (Excerpts of Vietnam Declaration of Independence dated September 2^nd, 1945).

            However, all these sacred Rights of the Vietnamese People have been trampled  brazenly immediately after the communist  government had been formed.

            3- In February, 1951, the Manisfestation of the Labor Party of Vietnam (currently the CPV) in the Second General Assembly stated : “The Party’s Ideology is Marxism-Leninism”.  And the party’s Regulations, section objective and guiding principles clearly stated : “The Labor Party of Vietnam utilizes Marxism, Engelism, Leninism, Stalinism and Mao Tse Tung’s thoughts, combined with realities of Vietnamese  Revolution, as foundation of thoughts and lodestar for all the Party’s actions…”

            Since then, especially in North Vietnam after 1954 and in the whole nation after April 30, 1954, the phantom of communism always has depressed and haunted Vietnamese People’s minds.  It is that phantom, not any other things, has destroyed almost Vietnamese People’s Rights.  And today, that phantom is still temporarily occupying in both spirit and physical aspects of the whole Vietnamese People.

II- Universal Rule

            1- History has proven that all rights of freedom and democracy under any totalitarian government, whether communist or not, have been mercilessly trampled, differently only in degrees. Unfortunately, Vietnam is still one of the nations in the world which has been governed by the totalitarian communist regime.  It is, in fact, reflected in the fourth article of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam of 1992: “The CPV…following Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s Thoughts, is force leading the government and the society”. Therefore, the People’s rights of freedom and democracy have been completely abolished. Only exist some broken tiny pieces of theses.

            2- It is this power-system which never accepts competition and replacement has strongly pushed up the momentum of backwardness and degeneration of the whole system.  Because there are no regulations and principles for fair competitions on political arena, therefore, the people cannot select the fittest persons and political forces after the elections. Hence, the leadership and management machine have been more and more corrupted and dismantled from central to local government. Consequently Vietnam today has become a nation lagged far behind in comparison with other nations in the area and on the world. The national shame and other nationwide disasters are extremely difficult to be wiped out.  The issue of all issues and the cause of all causes is that : the CPV, is the sole political force who assumes the leadership in our country. The realities have proven that countries fallen in the orbit of communism all have been devastated tragically.  Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the cradle of Communism, and other socialist nations in Eastern Europe, have been bravely overcome themselves to find the right way for their People.   

            3- We all understand : Nobody can correct history, but can redirect history. And the most important thing is with historical lessons, we can make a good orientation for the future. The past way of our people has been hastily and immaturely chosen by the CPV which imposed it with force on our People. That way has been proven totally wrong by reality. Therefore, today, we, Vietnamese People, have to choose again the way for all of us. And surely, the choice of the whole People will be better than the choice of one single person or a group of persons.  The CPV is only a part of Vietnamese People, therefore, it cannot assume wrongfully the People’s name to make the choice.  Before the People and History throughout over half of the past century (1954-2006), that party in power has usurped the name and has never the righteousness. The simple reason is the truthfully free elections never have been existed in Vietnam.

            From the situation and rule above-mentioned, with the responsibility consciousness of citizens before the destiny of our beloved country, we beg to make known our thoughts to our fellow-countrymen inside and outside Vietnam, as follows :  

III - Goals, methods and meanings of the fight

            1- The most lofty goal in the fight for Freedom and Democracy for our People today is to replace completely the current political regime, not to renovate it partially or only to “adjust” it pettily. Concretely, the current unitary, one-party political regime, without competiton on political area, must be converted to a pluralist, multiparty political regime, with wholesome competition, to meet our Country’s legitimate demands. In which the three powers system : Legislative, Executive and Judiciary have to be clearly separated, in accordance with international standards and experience of the humanity from the costly and successful democracies.

            The concrete goal is to re-establish the basic rights for the whole People as follows:

            - Freedom of Speech in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, voted by the United Nations on December 16, 1966 and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has signed up to participate on September 24, 1982, article 19, 2: “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice” . It means political parties, organizations and individuals have rights to freedom of speech via newspapers, radio stations, televisions, and any other mass media without the permission of the government.     

            - Freedom of meeting, creating associations and political parties, of voting and standing for election in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, article 25 : “Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity... (a) to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives ; (b) To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors”. It means political parties of all tendencies compete fairly in an authentic pluralist, poly-party democracy. 

            - Freedom of organising trade unions and of striking legitimately in accordance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, voted by the United Nations on December 16, 1966 and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has signed up to participate on September 24, 1982, article 7 and 8 : “The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of just and favourable conditions of work...             The right of everyone to form trade unions and join the trade union of his choice, subject only to the rules of the organization concerned, for the promotion and protection of his economic and social interests....(with) the right to strike”. These trade unions must be the sole organisations with independent activities; there must not be kinds of trade unions watcher-aides of the government.

            - Freedom of religion according to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, article 18 : “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching”. These religions must be independent in theirs activities and cannot be transformed into instruments of the government.   

            2- Method of this fight is peace and non-violence. And it is Vietnamese People who takes the initiative in carrying out this fight. However, we profoundly appreciate the passionate and increasingly efficient support of our friends around the world.  Via the modern means of communication and the increasingly open international relations, we will find all means to help our fellow-countrymen to complete their knowledge. Once having a clear and correct knowledge, the people will act appropriately and effectively.

            3- The meaning of this fight is to make “Righteousness wins Wrongness”, progress wins backwardness, the People’s forces which are applying correctly the principles of life and trends of our time win the evil forces which are trying to counteract these trends and principles. The CPV is whether going along with the Vietnamese people or not, that depends on the degree whether the CPV is objective, fair, lucid and humble enough to accept the principles of fair competition. Only the one-party political regime must be permanently and definitely buried in the grave of the past. Since then, the People will find out the best persons and parties after each election to lead our nation. The principle “The Righteousness triumphs !” will be established and individual life will become much better, society will become more human and our fellow-contrymen will live together much more friendly.   

            We sincerely wish this Declaration will encourage positive contributions from our fellow-contrymen inside and outside Vietnam and the support of our friends around the world. We profoundly thank and call on the United Nations, the Congresses/Parliaments, the Governments, the International Organizations and our friends worldwide to continue supporting passionately and effectively this just fight, contributing to help our Vietnamese Fatherland soon to go along with other civilized , ethical, prosperous and free nations in the international community.

Jointly declared and signed in Vietnam on April 8th, 2006.

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