Considering that :
- To counter the current trend of one-Party
dictatorship, a popular alliance composed of different religious
and political tendencies should be formed to lay the foundations
of a democratic and pluralist government. Specifically,
Article 4 of the Constitution [on the supremacy of the
Communist Party and Marxist-Leninist doctrine] should be
abolished (...) ;
- To counter the entrenched control of the
totalitarian regime, all UN human rights instruments and international
covenants on political and civil rights to which Vietnam is
state party must be fully implemented. Concretely, freedom
to form associations should not be subjected to approval by
the Fatherland Front, which is a political tool of the Vietnamese
Communist Party (VCP) ; freedom of expression should not
be subordinated to Marxist-Leninist doctrines and thinking ;
freedom of the press should include the right to publish privately-owned
newspapers independent of VCP control ; freedom to form free
trade unions outside VCP structures to protect worker rights
should be fully guaranteed. The respect of these fundamental
freedoms will safeguard the free expression of the people’s
democratic aspirations and the exercise of their right to life
;
- To counter the blind imposition of an alien,
imported ideology upon all aspects of the society and state,
the renaissance of a tradition-based Vietnamese civilization
should be encouraged. This civilization should uphold the
national cultural heritage whilst remaining open to cross-cultural
communication, with the capacity to absorb the quintessence
of cultural currents from all over the world to enrich its own
culture.
The Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam
(UBCV) calls upon, and pledges its full support to, all individuals
or organizations that seek to realize the eight-point political
programme for national salvation underlined below :
1. To build a tolerant, peaceful, pluralist
and egalitarian society, one that refrains from internal and
external warfare, governed by democratic institutions within
a multiparty system;
2. Dismantle all discriminatory, antidemocratic
mechanisms of control, notably the threefold mechanism of the
ly lich (curriculum vitae), ho khau (compulsory residence permit)
and the network of cong an khu vuc (local security police).
Organize free and fair general elections under United Nations’
supervision to elect a National Assembly truly representative
of the people ; guarantee universal suffrage and the right to
run for office of all independent candidates and political formations
outside the VPC. Separate the powers of the executive, legislative
and judiciary organs and build a society grounded on the rule
of law, based on the principles enshrined in the UN Universal
Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights ;
3. Definitively close down all Reeducation
Camps. Release all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience
detained in northern Vietnam after the 1954 Geneva Agreement
and in southern Vietnam since 1975, and encourage all former
prisoners with specialist skills and knowledge to participate
in the process of national reconstruction. At the same time,
encourage all professionals, intellectuals, scholars, business
leaders, individuals and organizations within the Vietnamese
exile community who left Vietnam as "boat people"
after 1975 to return home and contribute the techniques and
experiences learned in advanced countries to rebuilding their
homeland. Repeal all arbitrary legislation and restrictions
on religious freedom, and prohibit the practice of "administrative
detention" ;
4. Guarantee the right to private property,
free enterprise, and the right to establish free trade unions.
Accelerate policies to industrialize agriculture and modernize
the rural economy, and improve the living standards of the peasants
and farmers, who form the potential of our nation. Abandon the
"market-based but socialist-orientated economy". The
manifest failure of the outdated socialist economy to generate
prosperity and growth after a 74-year experiment in the Soviet
Union provoked the enmity of its people and led ultimately to
its demise in the early 1990s. Develop the free market sector
in accordance with Vietnamese societal norms, stimulate the
development of a knowledge-led economy and protection of the
environment. Embrace the trend towards globalization as a means
of enhancing sustainable development and promoting global peace
and security, but combat the serious dangers posed by the current
economic globalization process, which promotes free trade without
due respect of human and worker rights. Concentrate all efforts
on reducing the widening gulf between the rich and poor, which
is alienating our people and splitting Vietnamese society apart
;
5. Protect our territorial sovereignty.
Make a clear separation between politics and the military; the
army, security and secret services should not be used as instruments
of any one political party. Reduce the manpower of the armed
forces to that of normal peacetime strength. Reduce the military
budget and transfer excess spending to education and health.
In the field of education, urgently train people of talent and
specialists capable of restoring the nation’s prosperity ; encourage
the emergence of a young transitional generation - young
people who can forge a transitional path [towards democracy]
between the aspirations of the old, revolutionary generation,
partisans of war and anachronistic class-struggle (...)and the
modern preoccupation with consumerism, money-worship and the
daily pressures of making ends meet. Health access must be improved.
Priority should be given to solving the grave problem of child
malnutrition and improving health infrastructures in rural areas
;
6. Abolish all degrading forms of imported
culture and ideologies that pervert Vietnamese spiritual and
moral values. Promote the development of vibrant, traditional
Vietnamese culture based on a spirit of openness, creativity
and the capacity to absorb the richness and diversity of cultures
from all over the world. Uphold the fundamental moral values
of Humanism, Wisdom and Courage exhorted by our ancestors. Guarantee
social justice, the equal status and full participation of women,
nondiscrimination between religions; respect the autonomy and
cultural differences of ethnic minorities ; protect the interests
of foreigners living and investing in Vietnam through due process
of law, on the basis of reciprocity ; guarantee the rights and
dignity of Vietnamese living abroad ;
7. Respect the territorial sovereignty
of neighbouring nations. Promote a policy of friendship, dialogue
and cooperation on an equal footing with neighbouring countries
in all economic, cultural, religious and social domains. Consolidate
efforts to promote peace, security and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific
region. Join with neighbouring countries in a common effort
to foster the values of Asian humanism. By maintaining mankind’s
central place within society, we can prevent the free market
from becoming a slave market where human beings are reduced
to simple commodities of trade ;
8. In foreign policy, uphold the Vietnamese
tradition of friendly and peaceful relations, and implement
"tam cong" ("winning the hearts") diplomacy
in relationships with countries around the world. Promote dialogue,
cooperation and mutual aid in order to bring reciprocal benefits
to one and all without sacrificing national identity and sovereignty.
Apply this policy as basis for accelerating economic growth
and expanding industrialization on a parallel with social progress,
in order to catch up and keep pace with the civilized, progressive
and prosperous democratic nations of the world at the dawn of
the 21st century.
(Translated by the Vietnam Committee on
Human Rights)
I
SUPPORT THE APPEAL
