Indigenous peoples or “ethnic minorities” in Dak Lak, Central Highlands have been “expropriated from their ancestral lands” where the Vietnamese government applies a “colonial” policy. And if the ‚ethnic minority‘ is considered as “blood brother,” the government needs to have a policy to protect the “ethnic brother.” This is an opinion that an observer and analyst of Vietnamese political news shared with Radio Free Asia on June 19, 2023.
Responding to a question from RFA Vietnamese on Monday, addressing a number of current and political – social issues of Vietnam, the first question is whether the incident that happened in Dak Lak on June 11, 2023 will is simply a “terrorist” or “spontaneous” act of a group of people without any particular cause, or may be directly or indirectly related to a certain cause, from Saigon, economist Bui Kien Thanh, responding from his own point of view:
“In the policy of developing the Central Highlands, the state has deployed large-scale migrations from provinces, including the Central and Northern regions, to settle down.
Meanwhile, ethnic minorities have been dispossessed of their ancestors‘ land for thousands of years, which their descendants have the obligation to preserve.
In my opinion, considering the ethnic minorities as blood brothers, the state needs to have policies to protect the „ethnic brothers“ of the minorities.
Having accepted them as compatriots and citizens of the same country, the state must respect and protect their citizens‘ rights.“
RFA: As a consultant on strategy and policies for integration and development for Vietnam, having worked as a policy advisor for many years as a policy advisor to the state leadership and the Communist Party of Vietnam, according to your observations today, what is it? It is necessary to draw lessons from the policies, models and methods of state governance in Vietnam for the Central Highlands in particular, the regions that are also known as the three regions named the Northwest, the Central Highlands, and the Southwest?
Mr. Bui Kien Thanh: I think the state must have a policy of respecting the customs and habits of the localities.
An alien „civilization“ should not be imposed on a society with respectable indigenous cultural origins.
It is necessary to ensure security and order, but not to impose a „superior“ style, to respect the „village elders“ and to be tolerant in relation to the „brother“ community.
In my opinion, it is necessary to study what went wrong in the policy of land ownership, in order to make reasonable compensation for the compatriots.
Need to help compatriots instead of grabbing their land
RFA: In order for Vietnam to have the necessary social stability and create favorable conditions for sustainable and equitable development, is there anything in the governance policy of the Vietnamese state here that needs attention or revise, abolish, or amend or supplement?
Mr. Bui Kien Thanh: The State, with its responsibility to protect and promote the citizenship of people in these regions, in this regard, I think one, it is necessary to have policies to support the development of education, farming, setting up farms or plantations with the „lowland“ people, instead of grabing their land which leads to riots.
Second, try to train ethnic people’s managers, really give local state management responsibilities to cadres of local origin, instead of sending cadres from far away, who do not understand local customs, not even knowing how to speak the language of the local people.
The State needs to seriously study and review policies, behaviors and methods of management and treatment of ethnic minorities, and consider what is wrong and what has not been achieved.
As mentioned above, the state has applied a „colonial“ policy, sending people from the plains to reclaim and establish hamlets, violating the sovereignty of ethnic minorities. This needs to be corrected, corrected, reasonable, reasonable.
RFA: By the way, I would like to ask you to add that you once said that Vietnam now needs to carry out a political reform and renewal, including renewing political thinking to pave the way for reform and renewal. Institutions and political regimes to suit the times, in your opinion, how should this be started? Are there any ’necessary and sufficient‘ conditions required for success, if there is such an innovation?
Mr. Bui Kien Thanh: After nearly forty years of launching the „Doi Moi“ policy, I affirm that Vietnam urgently needs to implement the goals set out in the text of the Resolution originating from the Doi Moi Congress – The Sixth Congress of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1986 with the spirit and content of building a state „For the rich people, a strong country, a democratic, just and civilized society, a state governed by the rule of law, by the people and for the people. „.
In my opinion, Vietnam can no longer be a state under the regime of „dictatorship of the proletariat„, but needs to move towards a „democratic, just and civilized“ institution in harmony with democratic societies in the world.
The policy line has been clearly outlined, the responsibility of the contemporary leaders is to strive to implement, no longer hesitate before the supersonic development speed of the democratic and civilized social community in the world. that Vietnam needs to be determined to join.
Here, I think that there is no problem waiting for the necessary and sufficient conditions for a successful launch and destination, but must enlist the unanimity and unanimity of all classes of people for the cause. the.
RFA: Someone said, if Vietnam wants to change, wants to democratize, it has to wait for its neighbor „with the same ideology of Communism“ as China to change first, what do you think? What is the relationship between the external environment and internal forces, in that innovation perspective, if any?
Mr. Bui Kien Thanh: Vietnam is an independent and sovereign country, with a determined leadership team, a heroic nation, a talented team that is not lacking, strong internal resources, and external opportunities favorable, according to me, just follow the heavens and practice the path, starting to complete.
From the day the country was built and declared independence, Vietnam is a country based on the spirit of „Independence, Freedom, Happiness„. That is the ultimate goal that every citizen needs to keep in mind. No matter how difficult it is, it will not give up.
As for me personally, I still have a breath, looking at the bowl of rice on the table is to see the merits of the compatriots, the country raised us from the very beginning, is to see the duty and responsibility towards the nation’s ancestors. A day, an hour without contributing anything to the country, for me personally, is a crime against the people.
On this occasion, I would like to have a message and share more with the young people and compatriots of Vietnam that the country is a common property, fighting for democracy, freedom, and happiness is the mission of each and every person. All of us should act and dedicate ourselves in the spirit of „developing human resources„, that is, the more you try to do your best, the country, nation, and nation will „understand heaven’s destiny„, that is, the sooner you will see the future. , better mechanics.
RFA: Thank you very much Mr. Bui Kien Thanh for this interview.
The above is the opinion from the personal point of view of Economist Bui Kien Thanh, born in 1931, an expert in economics and finance, former Representative of the National Bank of Vietnam (of the Republic of Vietnam) in New York, former Assistant to the President of the Republic of Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem, former Chairman of General Director of American International Insurance Company (AIU), former Chairman of Vietnam Insurance Association, founding Chairman of VABCO Binh Dien Company ( now PINACO).
Mr. Bui Kien Thanh used to advise the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese government to develop Doi Moi policies, advise the Vietnamese government on economic and financial development issues; remove US embargo, establish Vietnam – US diplomatic relations; advising on the legal basis of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the continental shelf of the East Sea; Consulting on building large economic groups, integrating into the world economy; Rectify and build a strong and clean Party, and promote the Rule of Law State, etc.
Thoibao.de (Translated)
