Letter from Dr.
Nguyen Thanh Giang to Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and President George W. Bush
Dr.
Nguyen Thanh Giang, a prominent dissident and human rights activist in Vietnam
has written a letter to Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and President George W.
Bush prior to their official meeting in Washington D.C. Tuesday June 21, 2005.
The following is the translation of the letter:
Hanoi, June 06, 2005
To: Mr. Phan Van Khai - Prime Minister of Socialist Republic of Vietnam
and President George W. Bush of the United States of America
I applaud wholeheartedly the meeting between PM Phan Van Khai and President
George W. Bush in Washington in June 2005. I wish this trip would positively
contribute to a new chapter of the Vietnam-U.S diplomatic relationship. History
has clearly recorded the friendly relationship between our two nations, Vietnam
and America. Right after the founding of the nation, the first representative of
the U.S government in France, Thomas Jefferson, raised the issue of importing
rice from Vietnam. In 1832, the seventh U.S. President, Andrew Jackson, sent an
official letter to begin trading with Emperor Minh Mang. In response, in 1873,
diplomat Bui Vien, under Emperor Tu Duc's request, visited and met with
President Ulysses Grant to ask for his support in fighting against France..
However, the paradox of history also led us into a devastating war lasting for
many years in the late 20th century. We do not know when the deep wound will
stop hurting us. We cannot forget that bitter history lesson, but we need to
look into it with a wiser mind, and a more humane heart, in order to realize it
was extremely regretful mistakes of both countries. Therefore, let us together
be sincerely remorseful, and determine to make amends, to overcome, and to look
for the best solutions to make up for those mistakes.
All those who have clear and objective minds can believe and agree with U.S
Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young when he stated in January 1977: "A
strong and independent Vietnam is consonant with the U.S national interests".
Certainly, it is also the realization and desire of both Vietnamese and American
peoples. Heaven surely supports that. The remaining important thing is that the
mission of motivating and actively realizing it is now heavily weighted on your
shoulders.
Hopefully, sincere and real dialogue between you will lead to the U.S strong
supporting Vietnam's joining the WTO, further opening the close relations in
trade, science, technology, social politics, and military. A U.S quick return to
Cam Ranh Bay on the basis of a mutual agreement of both sides will not only meet
the need of enhancing each country's defense military position, but will also
help stabilize the whole situation in the region.
Let us get close to each other in a sincere friendship and mutual respect for
the sake of our two countries. Nevertheless, in order to do so, we not only need
to overcome our guilty past but also need to get closer to each other in the
acknowledgement of common human values.
Vietnam needs to reform, or to be exact, needs to transform, to get rid of the
outdated political ideology that has been to our bone, in order to approach new
and advanced awareness of freedom and democracy. Democratization of the economy
has brought about wonderful achievements; however, the sluggishness in the
political democratization is pushing Vietnam into an unhealthy development
period full of social evils, of which corruption and inequality are becoming
grave dangers, causing acute crisis, and unpredictable perils.
We can neither let outdated political ideology dominate, nor allow interests of
a group to go against the urgent demand for democracy of people, and of the
whole society. It is also impossible to threaten people of the danger of
democracy. We cannot allow forever the false threat of chaos of democracy to
scare the people. The model of democracy for Vietnam may differ from that of the
U.S and other countries, but the following minimal demands for democracy,
freedom, and human rights must be implemented immediately:
1 - Truly respect people's rights to free speech, and freedom of the press. The
first step is to grant the right in 2005 to a private newspaper to publish
throughout the country. After the government announces its policy, if there is
no one who can immediately register for publishing, temporarily retired Colonel
Pham Que Duong, former Editor of Military History Magazine, and I will take the
responsibility of publishing the first newspaper.
2 - Immediately amend the Election Law for the National Assembly, putting an end
to the phony democracy where the Party appoints and people elect National
Assembly Representatives, and facilitate the 2007 election so that it is a
really free, and democratic election with international monitoring.
3 - Set free all prisoners of conscience, of whom a number were falsely
convicted as spies, such as former soldier Nguyen Khac Toan, reporter Nguyen Vu
Binh, doctor Pham Hong Son (I remember President George W. Bush proclaimed in
your second inaugural speech that "Those who live in tyranny and hopelessness
can know: The United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your
oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.")
My aspirations are numerous, but in the short time, I just want to raise some
urgent suggestions that can absolutely be realized immediately if you are
concerned and highly responsible individuals.
I would like to express my belief in President George Bush who had formally
quoted Abraham Lincoln's words: "Those who deny others' freedom do not deserve
enjoying freedom for themselves; and under the enlighten God, it's impossible to
detain freedom for long". I would also like to express my belief in Prime
Minister Phan Van Khai who had largely contributed to the course of liberalizing
Vietnam's economy. Now that Prime Minister Phan Van Khai is over 70 years old,
and is likely to retire. I wish that for the sake of Vietnam and its people, the
Prime Minister would further rely on his own strong ability and ignore all
threats from evil groups, and make the wise and brave decisions needed in this
historic trip.
Yours truly,
(Signed)
Nguyen Thanh Giang
#6 - The building of Geography and Physics of Airplane
Trung Van - Tu Liem - Hanoi
Tel: 5 534370
Translation from
Vietnamese by: www.doi-thoai.com