From: ltran@dsp.lsil.com (Tran Thai Linh)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.vietnamese
Subject: Re: NEWS: VN's national assembly approves new c
Summary: Comments on the news of Vietnam's new constitution
Date: 16 Apr 92 15:30:12 GMT
Reply-To: ltran@dsp.lsil.com
Followup-To: soc.culture.vietnamese
Organization: LSI Logic Microprocessor Group


	Some comments on the news.

In article 23096@news.media.mit.edu, tran@peora.sdc.ccur.com (Nhan Tran) writes:
>
>VIETNAM'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES NEW CONSTITUTION
>
>BANGKOK, THAILAND (APRIL 15) UPI - Vietnam's National Assembly Wednesday
>approved a revised constitution that seeks to strengthen the market economy but
>reaffirms the political monopoly of the Communist Party, state-run Hanoi Radio
>said.

	A strange mariage. Some would say that the current government is flexible.
Some other could certainly retort: the government try to cling to power.

	A note from purely academic view. A political monopoly of the
Communist Party may create interference with the free-market economy,
since monopoly of power could be defined and reinforced by dipping into
populace's freedom.

>
>The new constitution is the fourth since Vietnam's independence from France in
>1946. It replaces a constitution enacted in 1980, which the government declared
>was ''no longer appropriate.''

	I wonder how a piece of paper of such importance could be changed
so many time BY THE SAME PARTY (and almost same people vote for them each time).
This demonstrates either:
	- those made the Constitution was incompetent;
	- or the constitution is a mere toy that reflects whatever the mood of
		the government; it would be changed soon if the mood swings;
	- or the constitution do not reflect the needs and rights and obligations
		of Vietnamese people;

>
>The new charter aims to cement recent moderate economic and political reforms
>approved by the ruling Communist Party.
>
>The economic reforms provide for greater private enterprise and less government
>control over the economy.
>
>''The private capitalist economy may develop in those sectors beneficial to the
>nation and people,'' the draft of the constitution said.


	Since the news didn't specify what sectors are excluded, I hope that those
sectors are limited to healthcare, education, welfare, regional disparity 
correction, military expeditions,...

	All other sectors regarding production of goods and many other services
MUST REMAIN FREE ENTERPRISES, include farming.

>
>It specifically allows foreign investors to join with state and private
>Vietnamese enterprises.
>
>The political reforms increase the power of the National Assembly and clarify
>the separation of the Communist Party and local government bodies, such as the
>people's committees that govern provinces and cities.

	This is good news. I hope we will see local elections started in the
near future. Democracy may be practiced at the root. 

	How about suggesting that a bunch of people could be elected to run
the daily concerns of cities and villages? For instance, could we elect people
who will decide how frequent the garbage is collected, the zoning of the cities...?

>
>It also provides for increased rule by law instead of party policy.

	Good news.

>
>However, the revised constitution rejects any moves toward allowing an open
>multi-party system, maintaining that the Communist Party must remain the
>''leading force of the state and society.''

	Bad news.

>
>The constitution has been debated for more than a year and has gone through
>three complete drafts as the government struggled to find a compromise between
>conservatives who want the party to retain as much power as possible and
>reformers who feel the party must adjust to new circumstances.

	This is why .

>
>The National Assembly was expected to approve two bills aimed at reorganizing
>the legislature and the system of electing deputies. The proposed new laws
>would ensure deputies are more qualified, but also make it easier for anyone to
>stand for election.

	As an overall conclusion, this is still a good step forward, although
we should never stop here and say that it is sufficient. There is sign that
the communists yield to freedom a little bit. hope that they will continue
to do so.


---
____________________________________________________
Linh T. Tran
ltran@dsp.lsil.com
____________________________________________________
Newsgroups: soc.culture.vietnamese