A secret directive of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam on the issue of “national security” has just been leaked, in the context of Vietnam’s international integration.
Observers evaluate and worry about the possibility that the Communist Party of Vietnam has been increasing its repression of individuals, organizations and activities, allegedly endangering the Party’s monopoly and totalitarian leadership.
On March 1, Voice of America (VOA) reported that “Project 88 denounces Directive 24 of the Vietnamese Politburo for violating human rights.” The news said that Directive 24-CT/TW of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam, issued on July 13, 2023, was revealed.
Notably, this document was signed just 2 months before US President Joe Biden officially visited Hanoi in mid-September 2023, and Vietnam upgraded its relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership with USA.
This is a plan to deal with what the Party considers a “threat to Vietnam’s national security.” Thereby, the Party is willing to systematically violate human rights.
Project88 said that Directive 24 aims to control democracy in public and economic policy, while strengthening the one-party regime in Vietnam.
BBC Vietnamese said that there are a total of 9 contents given in Directive No. 24 for Party Committees at all levels to implement, of which 7 notable contents are:
- Regarding going abroad: Strictly manage cadres, party members, and Vietnamese citizens going abroad to work, study, exchange, visit, and travel.
- Regarding democracy: Do not allow opposition political organizations to form in the country.
- Regarding compliance with international agreements on workers’ rights: Do not establish workers’ organizations in the form of ethnicity or religion; Review and promptly and strictly handle labor organizations that are established and operate illegally.
- Regarding international cooperation: Raise vigilance, prevent serious threats to national security, take all actions to prevent the forming of opposition political organizations, “color revolution,” and “street revolution.”
- Regarding international funding for Vietnam: Strengthen the management of receiving aid from abroad, especially projects related to policy and law development; state agencies will not accept foreign funding for legal development projects with complex and sensitive content.
- Regarding freedom of speech: Promoting the role of the press and media, fighting against trends of populism, civil disobedience, wrong views, and sabotage of hostile forces.
- Regarding the right to assemble: Fight against all plots and activities of enemy forces, reactionaries, political opponents, and all types of criminals, especially insider activities and inciting protests. love, riots…
According to analysts, this is evidence that there has been a new wave of repression on democracy and human rights issues, following the trend of Western democratic countries, which are considered by the Party as “hidden danger to political security in Vietnam”?
For many years, the US and Western countries have always said that strengthening relationships with Vietnam will help promote human rights. However, Directive 24 put an end to this view, and these were efforts to “end foreign influences in promoting civil society and domestic opposition political groups.”
In essence, this policy aims to strengthen the one-party regime and prohibit people from participating in meetings, forming associations, demonstrating… More importantly, it prevents international funding for civil society organizations, and if implemented, this directive will kill civil society organizations.
However, Professor Carl Thayer from the Australian Defense Force Academy said that this directive does not signal a new wave of repression against civil society and democracy activists, but is just a normal activity. That is, continue to suppress any activities of advocacy groups, civil society and democracy activists that challenge the absolute power of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Notably, according to Mr. Carl Thayer, the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with the United States was signed by General Secretary Trong, not President Vo Van Thuong. Likewise, Directive 24 was signed by Ms. Truong Thi Mai – Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat.
That shows that Directive 24 is the Party’s response to officials and the Government. It may be because these officials oppose or are too cautious in upgrading the relationship between Vietnam and the United States, as well as with other major economies, to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
In short, according to the BBC, Professor Carl Thayer said that their response is to strengthen supervision, management and suppression of all activities that they consider contrary to the interests of the Communist Party of Vietnam./ .
Tra My – Thoibao.de
