Hanoi (AP) Feb. 13, 1999--A second general has openly voiced dissatisfaction with the ruling Communist Party, criticizing it for corruption, lack of democracy and failure to live up to revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh's teachings.
Lt. Gen. Pham Hong Son said in an open letter that unlike governments in capitalist countries, Vietnam has two ruling mechanisms: the party and the government, which are both cumbersome and costly.
"The party decides everything ... even the right to arrest and detain people illegally," the general said.
"Many trials have to seek advice of the party organizations. Elections of the National Assembly and local people's councils must seek party approval. The Fatherland Front, which is under ultimate leadership of the party, nominates people for the top government leaders."
The letter, faxed anonymously Saturday to The Associated Press, said one eye- catching trend is that many party and government officials have big houses, cars and luxurious lifestyles while many people live in poverty in one of the world's poorest countries.
Son cited a letter by Ho Chi Minh that was dated Oct 17, 1945, more than a month after independence:
"We should understand that government at all levels is the servant of the people. It means we have to shoulder the common task of the people, not to dominate people like under the French and Japanese rulers."
The Communist Party has seemed recently to show growing intolerance of increasingly open dissent. Gen. Tran Do was ousted from the party last month for openly criticizing the party in a series of letters.