Free Vietnam Alliance
Press Release

The Office of the President of Switzerland has sent to the Free Vietnam Alliance a file regarding the Swiss government's stand on democracy and human rights in Vietnam upon the occasion of the Francophone Summit, which was held in Hanoi on November 14-16, 1997. In this file, there is a speech given by President Arnold Koller at the Summit on November 15, 1997 titled "Democracy, Rule of Law and Human Rights" (De'mocratie, Etats de droit et Droits de l'homme).

The speech has caught international media attention for this is the first time the Swiss president has given his clear stand on the role of the organization of French-speaking countries in support of democracy and human rights. In addition, President Arnold Koller's view regarding democracy and development differ sharply from his French counterpart, President Jacques Chirac. The Swiss president asserts that democracy and development are two inseparable factors. He states that democracy must satisfy a number of basic standards and is based solidly on the law and the respect of human rights. In his speech, the Swiss president mentions issues considered taboo by the Vietnamese Communist government: democratic pluralism, freedom of thought and press, and free elections.

Following is the President Arnold Koller's speech given on November 15, 1997 at the Francophone Summit in Hanoi.

Mr. Chairman,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

First and foremost, please let me join the speakers before me to express my appreciation and that of my delegation to Mr. Chairman and the Vietnamese government for your great hospitality and for organizing this event.

I am very happy that our 7th summit is held in Hanoi, a capitol of historic events and rich culture dating back from the beginning of time. We have demonstrated the global status of Francophone for from now on, French speaking has spread across the five continents.

Mr. Chairman:

When considering to talk about Democracy, Rule of Law, and Human Rights, one may have the tendency to begin with La Bruye`re's statement: "I'm too late; all has been said." But for me, I'm sure that's not the case. Not only do these three issues always shine the way and heighten our vigilance, they are areas that we should never forget for one is not allowed not to mention the truth.

As President Chirac has accurately said in his speech yesterday, "No one can claim autonomy on a good policy; no one possesses a fixed formula for the best democracy." However, there should be a number of minimum standards required by any true democracy, based on law and the respect of human rights.

We are clearly aware that French-speaking nations have not been able to unify on the issues of Democracy, Rule of Law, and Human Rights due to other legal obligations. Because of this, it's even more imperative that we have to unite around some basic values. It's undeniable that human values have given birth to other values. Basic freedoms, the respect of law, democratic pluralism, as well as economic freedom and social equality must all gathered in the respect of human dignity.

Mr. Chairman, I wish to expand further on these three issues.

First is Democratic Pluralism. In history and regrettably even today, the term democracy has been gravely distorted. So many crimes have been committed in the name of the people; so many unjust sentencings have been carried out in the name of the people! Democratic view has become an elastic one of geometry which cannot be classified with fixed terms.

Without an arrogant ambition to give a complete definition of democratic pluralism, I just want to say that this view derives from the belief of the inviolability of human dignity and equality. Citizens must be allowed to influence-by volunteered participation-in social life, careers as well as politics, in the spirit of solidarity. In the arenas of the political and legal life, democracy requires that there is a pluralistic general election with closed ballots, a reasonable electoral term to establish a congress with ultimate ruling rights which comprises of representatives of legal parties freely organized and able to express themselves.

But a true democracy must manifest other principles such as respect for the law, clear separation of power (legislative, executive and judiciary) and balance between the common interest and individual rights. The importance in this regime is the majority must respect the rights of the minority and not to abuse its majority position.

I would like to talk about rule of law and the respect of the law. A great number of principles and rights derive from this: the rights to equality, sound justice, bringing lawsuit against injustice, guarantee of fair, open trial, impartial judges, and last, the principle of proper punishment for crime. The principles of the basic rights must be respected by all authorities of executive, legislative and judicial branches.

The last issue is Human Rights.

The right to live by its virtue must be top on the list of human rights. I would like to raise here the forbidding of all forms of torture and inhuman, undignified punishments regardless of the charges. This forbidding together with the rights to live and the principle against slavery are the core of Human Rights, and cannot be compromised for any reason.

The rights to free thinking, ideas and religions, free association and organization...are not only accepted but must also be guaranteed.

Finally, I like to talk about freedom of expression. In a democratic society, it reflects pluralism, tolerance and openness. In this environment, press freedom carries a special meaning. This right offers the public one of the best means to understand and judge for themselves the thinking and actions of their leaders.

Those values I just mentioned, Mr. Chairman, reflect part of the human views of a societal people, a view that the Francophone movement must convey: People do not serve the State; it is the State that has to serve the People.

Recently, I said, the manifestation of the aforementioned values and principles are relentless challenges to our society. I also know that these challenges are even harder to overcome in societies less fortunate in economics. I had the honor to attend the Conference of Justice Ministers of French-speaking nations in Le Caire, 1995. One of the repeated messages of this summit was: "There will be no democracy without development, there will be no development without democracy."

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Mr. Chairman:

Harmonizing democratic ideals and the just aspiration for development of all nations by building a state with rule of law which respects basic freedoms in order to assure peace, is an ambitious desire which, everyone of us, must together strive to achieve in the spirit of solidarity and corporation. I do wish our 8th Summit would be able to forge ahead political moves necessary for our cooperation so that our plan of action can register a hopeful outlook.

Thank you for your attention.

Arnold Koller, President of Switzerland