Singapore (Oct 13) - The Singapore Press reported that the Hanoi government plans to "tighten civil controls, including measures to manage demonstrations and closer monitoring of dissidents and foreigners." Hanoi blamed these emerging problems as side effects of its reforms policies implemented since 1987 to improve the economy.
These measures were launched many times in the past, but without much success. The San Jose Mercury News recently reported that the Vietnamese basically ignore their government. Some political analysts said that increasing cooperation (Lien Ket Trong Ngoai) between dissidents in Vietnam and many anti-Hanoi overseas groups alarms the communist government. The recent arrests of many prominent dissidents and former communist members such as Mr. Hoang Minh Chinh, Mr. Ha Si Phu, Mr. Le Hong Ha clearly indicated that the Vietnamese party leadership does not tolerate any kind of political freedom, in contradiction with the flawed theory that a market economy would lead to more political openness.
Another analyst said that Hanoi does not want to project an out-of-control image, fearing foreign companies would withdraw because of political unstability. But already these new measures are signs of emerging conflicts of an intensifying power struggle between fractions led by Party Secretary General Do Muoi and Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet.