Note: Following is the translation of General Tran Do's statement on January 08, 1999, four days after he was informed of the Vietnamese Communist Party's decision to end his membership. The Vietnamese version will be provided upon request.

The Party cell at the Culture and Education Department of the National Assembly Office made the decision to expel Tran Do [from the Party] for the misconduct of distributing his writings and leaked them to the international news agencies.

1. I was a Party member for 58 years, 1940 - 1998. I have no regret about those 58 years, which were to pay my duty to the Fatherland and the people. And I was well compensated for that. Nobody can erase those 58 years. I joined the Party to voluntarily serve and contribute to the country and the people. [Now,] outside the Party, I still am a citizen. And so for the sake of the country and the people, I will continue to think and struggle for the country and the people. I maintain the opinions I expressed in my writings and am willing to accept the criticism from the public.

2. The Party of today, in its current condition, is different, very different, from that of the 40s, 50s, and 60s. It, therefore, almost no longer was my Party [even before the expulsion]. I do not accept this verdict, yet I will not appeal it. I know, in the current structure, every appeal is meaningless and useless. Those people do not want to heed reasoning. They just want to make decision for others to obey. For that reason, though I did not hope for, I was not surprised by the expulsion.

3. I had never expected those dreams of the old days to build a better society have turned into today's bitter reality of a society and a huge [ruling] machine laden with diseases and vices. This society has independence but not freedom. It was reformed somewhat but still contains no happiness. I live in my country, yet I am under such blatant and strict siege, watch and surveillance. I have been falsely accused and slandered in an immature manner. I do not feel even as safe and free as during the time I worked underground [during the wars]. I did not expect differences of opinions turned into animosity as it did. I do want to communicate with all Party members, from the senior to the young. I want all members to do their best to improve the Party. I think everyone needs to heighten his/her perception to catch up with the fast changing world. I also consider it imperative to analyze the real cause of the diseases and vices - not just fixing the symptoms. I still believe in the future of the country.

4. Sooner or later the Party will have to change. "Reform or Die" is an appropriate slogan for the Party today. It is better if the Party reforms itself. I pray that the Party can reform itself.

5. This expulsion is to gag everyone, to ban all exchange of information while the world has advanced to the point where no flow of information can be [completely] stopped. History is just and shall cast its judgment one of these days.

January 08, 1999
Tran Do