May 23, 2021, is the day that Vietnam’s authoritarian regime propagates and calls as “All people go to the polls” day. Accordingly, voters across the country will go to the polls to choose those who is “virtuous and talented” for the 15th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term. This is considered an important political event of the country after the 13th National Congress of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).
This event was strongly propagated by the authorities in the mass media of the country. Meanwhile, on social networks, there are articles and status lines boycotting this election, typically the case of medical doctor-former army lieutenant colonel Dinh Duc Long in Ho Chi Minh City.
In Facebook status published on May 9, Mr. Long cited several reasons why he refused to vote, such as he had never met face-to-face, or heard the above candidates speak about themselves, as well as the their action program; he did not know on what basis to know that the contents of their biography were true because he had never met the candidate. He noticed that the 14th Ho Chi Minh City National Assembly delegation did not fulfill the duties of the people’s deputies…
Another reason cited by Mr. Long is that the candidates’ biographies do not have any information about their assets so that voters have the opportunity to monitor whether they have signs of changes in property ownership since becoming elected.
Talking to RFA on the evening of May 14, Mr. Long said:
“The public boycott of such an election, in my opinion, is very rare nowadays. Up to this point, they only use ‘posts’ to lock nicks or delete posts, but they haven’t dared to confront me. I’m waiting for them to confront me. I dare to conclude that the delegation of the HCM City National Assembly delegation did not fulfill its duties and violated the law and I have documents in hand. I just need them to invite me up and I’ll show them. Maybe they got bored of me there.
The danger is always there. Without this, it was still dangerous because when I quitted the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) I received text messages threatening to kill me. I still have it on my computer. A regime, a party that claims to be moral and civilized, is trying to show harmony and reconciliation with those on the other side of the front line but threatens to kill a person who has been a comrade for decades just because others are different from themselves. They just squeeze themselves. When they see that we are not afraid, they find another way. They have a lot of tricks.”
Mr. Dinh Quang Tuyen, a democracy activist in the country said he will not vote because he does not recognize the current regime:
“It’s simple. To this day I still have a very clear position that I do not recognize the name of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. I consider myself a person ruled by a group, so I reject as much as I can.
I’m oppressed so of course, I’m in its cage, but I don’t acknowledge its legitimacy. I do not accept the regime nor the regime’s parliament. They want me to vote for something that doesn’t matter to me. My number one priority as a victim is to get my freedom back. As long as equality comes, I can vote. And now they see me on a completely different level, it’s impossible for me to vote.”
Before the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Central Commission for Propaganda and Education launched a news page with the aim of helping people better understand the direction and viewpoint of building and defending the country at the same time, it is also a place to exchange, receive and respond to opinions of socio-political organizations, senior cadres, scientists, writers and artists, overseas Vietnamese, and people from all walks of life. At the same time, the People’s Army newspaper at the end of March published a series of articles “Exposing the unscrupulous ‘democracy’ tricks in the election” in the column “Dealing with the strategy of “peaceful evolution.”
Recently, at the 12th meeting of the Election Committee of the National Assembly and People’s Council deputies for the 2021-2026 term, Mr. Vo Van Hoan, vice chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, suggested that authorities punish those who slander candidates online.
As a voter, Mr. Pham Cong Ut said that since 1975 he has never voted. Mr. Ut explained the reason:
“I absolutely believe in the policies and guidelines of the Party and State. The Party and State choose who they choose, but since liberation but I have not voted so far. The Party and the State do all and my voting is useless. What else do I vote for?
For example, Vietnam has a new prime minister and a new state president before the election. The election may just be the legalization of the titles of the Party and the State.”
Article 27 of the 2013 Constitution stipulates: Citizens who are full eighteen years old or older have the right to vote, and twenty-one years old or older have the right to stand for election to the National Assembly or the People’s Council. The exercise of these rights is prescribed by law.
Thus, the right to vote is the right of citizens. In the Election Law as well as in the 2013 Constitution, there is no regulation on people’s duty to vote or not. Therefore, if people find it necessary, they will automatically exercise this right by voting on May 23.
Regarding the candidacy, the 2015 Law on Election of the National Assembly and People’s Council stipulates: By the date, the election is announced, citizens of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam must be twenty-one years of age or older has the right to run for office. The regulations do not indicate age or medical condition limits for candidates.
However, a self-nominated candidate for the 15th National Assembly was disqualified due to age-related reasons. That is Professor Nguyen Dinh Cong. “People keep complaining about being unhealthy,” he said. They say so, but it’s not really. That’s just an excuse. In fact, people are trying to get rid of me.”
As of April 2, 2021, Hanoi City has 72 candidates for the 15th National Assembly. Of these, six have applied for withdrawal and one has been detained by the police for investigation. The total number of candidates for the 16th term Hanoi People’s Council is 188. Of which, 11 have applied for withdrawal.
Thoibao.de (Translated)
