The following Open Letter was written by Prof. Doan Viet Hoat on the arrest of Vietnamese dissident Nguyen Thanh Giang. Prof. Hoat is a former prisoner of conscience from Vietnam, imprisoned from most of the period from 1976 until he was forced into exile last September. Like Dr. Giang, Prof. Hoat's only "crime" was his non- violent advocacy of democratic reforms in Vietnam. (Steve Denney)
On March 4, 1999 the Communist Government of Vietnam arrested geologist and writer Nguyen Thanh Giang on the street reportedly for possessing anti-party documents. The police refuse to disclose his whereabouts or any formal charges.
Professor Nguyen Thanh Giang is a prominent geologist, President of Vietnamese Geology Society until his retirement in 1996. He got his doctorate in Geology in 1980 and since then has represented Vietnam in many international conferences on geology, at Kuala Lumpur (1982), Washington D.C. (1989), Chicago (1991) and Los Angeles (1996). International geologists evaluate him as a well-informed intellectual, with expertise not only in his specialty but also in the humanities. He is also respected by the Vietnamese young people for his knowledge and integrity.
From 1980 until his arrest Dr. Nguyen Thanh Giang hascontinuously and positively contributed his ideas and initiatives to the renovation of the country. He observes that there now emerges in Vietnam "a new capitalist class based on smuggling and corruption. This class includes party and government officials at all levels and branches." For him, "corruption is not simply a by-product of the market economy, but mainly the heritage of privileged power and benefits." Professor Nguyen Thanh Giang calls upon the Communist Party of Vietnam to promulgate a new constitution, relinquishing the party's monopoly of power and accepting free press, democracy and free elections.
Professor Giang has written many essays advocating freedom and democracy, among which include "Human Rights, the Thousand Years" (1996), "Elections and the National Assembly" (1997), and "Let's Discuss the Vietnamese Workers" (1998).
Long before arresting Professor Nguyen Thanh Giang the Vietnamese authorities have frequently harassed him for his independent and critical yet peaceful expression of opinions. Professor Giang's arrest, followed not long after dissident retired General Tran Do's expulsion from the party, clearly reveals the reality of political suppression in Vietnam where no freedom of any kind is permitted. This policy of repression and dictatorship not only jeopardizes the process of openness and liberalization, but also inhibits the opportunity for economic development and prosperity.
Without a free press, freedom of expression and free flow of information, the fight against bureaucracy, corruption, abuse of power and lack of transparency will not bring about concrete results. The rule of law cannot be applied when the player is the arbiter at the same time. Consequently any economic and financial assistance and trade relations will only serve to strengthen the power of the governor and not ensure the welfare of the governed.
I call upon democratic governments, human rights organizations, American and international public and mass media to pressure the Communist government of Vietnam:
1. to release Dr. Nguyen Thanh Giang immediately and unconditionally;
2. to release all political prisoners and to stop all measures of political and religious oppression;
3. to allow for freedom of expression and the press.
I call upon all of you to support the peaceful campaign of the Vietnamese people, both overseas and inside Vietnam, for a Vietnam of Freedom, Democracy, and Respect of Human Rights.
Washington, DC, March 12, 1999
Doan Viet Hoat
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