VN news (June 24)

[Dam Son <son@fermi.phys.washington.edu>]

Vietnam launches belated effort to compensate war-time volunteers
Vietnamese sages fade away 
Vietnam's Old Guard Resigns, But a New Era Won't Emerge 
Vietnam's blockbuster drugs case returns to court 
Hong Kong sends 233 Vietnamese boatpeople home 
Hanoi, June 23 (VNA) - Highlights of Vietnam's daily newspapers today:
Vietnam Govt Changes Not Seen Sparking Econ Reform: Analysis
Court appeal in Vietnam's biggest drugs case to open Tuesday
U.S. 'responsible' for missed chances to end Vietnam War 

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Vietnam launches belated effort to compensate war-time volunteers

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
06/24/97

Hanoi (dpa) - Vietnam has launched a new effort to reward over one million
wartime volunteers, especially those that were injured during their unpaid
service, offcial reports said Tuesday.

Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet has instructed various government ministries
to work together to located and offer assistance to these previously
"unsung" volunteers, the official Vietnam News reported.

Monthly allowances will be granted to those with injuries, including
those suffering from toxic chemicals used by the U.S. such as Agent Orange,
it added.

The "unofficial" volunteers are distinct from the roughly 200,000 Youth
Volunteers, who answered late President Ho Chi Minh's call for popular
assistance to regular soldiers and were dispatched all over the country.

By contrast the unofficial volunteers helped out in the war effort close
to where they lived.

"They came off villages, farms and streets throughout the country near
where military action or enemy bombing was ocurring, helping to repair
damaged roads, act as cargo beaers and generally assist the war effort
in whatever way they were called upon," the paper explained.

The volunteers are thought to have "borne the brunt of repeated American
bombings" in the staging areas for the Ho Chi Minh Trail just across
the demilitarized zone in North Vietnam, the report added.

Thousands are thought to have been killled or mained and it is only 22
years after the war that the government has the resources to begin to
compensate these unsung contributions.

The announcement comes one day after a high-level conference brought
together wartime policymakers from both countries to examine how they
could have avoided or ended the war sooner.

At a concluding press conference Monday Vietnamese officials insisted
the mistakes were all on the U.S. side but behind closed doors there
was at least tacit admission that Hanoi also missed opportunities to
end the war sooner.

Organizers at Brown University in the Unoited States say they plan to
continue the process with another conference possibly this fall in Massachusetts.

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Vietnamese sages fade away 

The Independent - London
06/24/97

Vietnam's three ageing top leaders are leaving office in a peaceful but
possibly dramatic shake-up. Vo Vien Kiet, the Prime Minister, who is
74, President Le Duc Anh, 76, and the secretary of the Communist Party,
Do Muoi, 80, have not appeared on a list of candidates for coming elections
to the National Assembly, indicating their effective removal from politics.
Officially, they turned down pleas to stay for another term, citing old
age. Analysts believe there is pressure on Vietnam's elderly 12-member
politburo, especially from the military, to become more energetic and
go further with radical economic liberalisation laws. Earlier this year
President Anh reportedly raised tension within the party by delivering
a speech in which he castigated individualism and reform. Matthew Chance

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Vietnam's Old Guard Resigns, But a New Era Won't Emerge 

Hanoi, June 24 (WSJ) -- The old guard is finally stepping down from Vietnam's
Communist Party leadership, but that doesn't necessarily herald an era
of more liberal policies, or economic and political reforms.

Official state media published the list of candidates for National Assembly
elections to be held next month. The party's aging leadership troika
-- President Le Duc Anh, 76 years old; Communist Party General Secretary
Do Muoi, 80; and Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, 74 -- weren't included on
the list, signifying their intention to resign, analysts say.

That means Vietnam should have a new prime minister and president by
September when the National Assembly convenes, since the constitution
requires them to stand for election to extend their terms of office.

General Secretary Muoi's absence from the list doesn't necessarily mean
he will step down at the same time as his colleagues, since he isn't
required to be elected to the National Assembly in his position, but
it does suggest he won't be extending his term for much longer, says
Carlyle Thayer, a Vietnam specialist and head of the School of Politics
at the Australian Defense Force Academy in Canberra.

Infighting Expected

But it's unlikely a strong leadership will emerge from the resignations,
analysts and diplomats say. None of the likely successors have the full
support of the party. An extended period of indecision and political
infighting will likely follow the leadership changes, these observers
warn.

Not one of the leaders' successors has the clear and undivided support
of the National Assembly, which could lead to a period of political infighting
and hardline policies, Mr. Thayer predicts. "There's no consensus on
a single leader," he says.

Le Kha Phieu, the heir apparent to the general secretary, is a leading
political officer in the military and a party secretary. As such, he
"has his foot in both camps," which means he has support, and opposition,
from both the military and political factions of the government, Mr.
Thayer says. He's a hard-liner, however, "and people still haven't decided
if he's a wolf in sheep's clothing."

More Division

Mr. Anh's potential successors -- Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam and
Defense Minister Doan Khue -- have the party even more divided, analysts
say. Judging by a party meeting earlier this month, Mr. Cam may have
slightly more support than Mr. Khue. As foreign minister, he has the
language skills and diplomatic experience to be more open with foreigners,
which could be a positive change, Mr. Thayer says.

If Mr. Cam becomes president, the military will push for Mr. Phieu to
succeed Mr. Muoi so that the military will have representation in the
leadership, Mr. Thayer says. If Mr. Khue gets in, the military will have
their man, but it would be less obvious who Mr. Muoi's successor might
be, and likely that he will extend his term while that's being decided,
most analysts agree.

Mr. Kiet's expected successor, Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, is
less controversial. But as the prime minister's "longtime understudy,"
he's unlikely to bring new blood and sweeping policy changes to the government,
Mr. Thayer says.

Of the 18 Politburo members to choose from to fill Mr. Muoi's position
if Mr. Phieu isn't chosen, one is ill; nine are new, with little leadership
experience; three may be leaving the Politburo, and two are expected
to fill the posts of prime minister and president, Mr. Thayer says. Of
the few remaining to take over for Mr. Muoi, most are "has beens," Mr.
Thayer says. "When I look at the talent pool in the Politburo, I can
see pressure on Mr. Muoi to stay in office for his full term [another
four years], because it's very small," Mr. Thayer says.

Waiting It Out

Either way, there will be a period of political instability in the third
quarter of this year, some analysts say. Decision-making is likely to
slow down, particularly as regards foreign policy, "as people wait for
the chips to fall," Mr. Thayer says.

But it's the policies, not the positions, that are of the most significance,
says Adam Schwarz, a visiting fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute
of Johns Hopkins University. "Until there's a shared view about how to
go forward with reforms, the dissension and contradictory actions and
statements of the party leadership are likely to continue," he says.
"It's going to be hard to regenerate a unified leadership in a policy
environment that's so divided," he adds.

Over the next few years, drastic policy changes are unlikely, Mr. Thayer
says. Major policies were set for the next 40 years by the last Party
Congress. But until strong new leadership emerges, there will be a series
of campaigns against corruption as party members seek to gain points
against their political rivals. Domestic challenges to party rule such
as pro-democracy movements won't be tolerated. "There's nothing suddenly
looming to make things more repressive, but there is that capacity,"
Mr. Thayer says.

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Vietnam's blockbuster drugs case returns to court 

By Adrian Edwards

Hanoi, June 24 (Reuter) - Scores of people gathered outside a court building
in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Tuesday as an appeals trial got underway
in the country's biggest drugs scandal.

Nineteen defendants, including eight sentenced to death, appealed against
their sentences in a case which rocked the powerful Interior Ministry
and sent shockwaves through Vietnam's crime world.

One of those involved in the first trial was given a suspended sentence.
Why only 19 of the 22 sentenced in the initial trial were appealing was
not clear.

Half thse sentenced were border guards or police officials. The notoriety
of the leading defendant, Vu Xuan Truong, who tried to kill himself both
before and during the first hearing, has made him a household name.

But there were no signs of any surprises in store on Tuesday and few
indications the new trial would be anything other than a re-run.

"The drugs traffickers are not stupid," Do Cao Thang, chairman of the
judgement board, said in an interview with the Tien Phong newspaper.
"We cannot guess beforehand whether anything new will emerge."

The case gained prominence last year when a convicted Laotian drugs trafficker,
Sieng Pheng, broke down shortly before he was due to be executed by firing
squad and offered information in exchange for his life. His ultimate
fate remains unresolved.

What unfolded from the Laotian's disclosures was a scandal of unmatched
proportions that pitted the government's determination to maintain the
rule of law against the power and influence wielded by corrupt officials
in a government body charged with upholding it.

Over the following weeks and months a series of arrests netted an impressive
array of Interior Ministry brass, including drug squad officers, border
guards and others said to have flooded the country with hundreds of kilos
of heroin.

When the case came to court in May special security arrangements had
to be put in place to keep the crowds outside the venue and to prevent
co-conspirators from gaining access to those on trial.

A senior lawyer told Reuters the judges had found it necessary to turn
off the loudspeaker relay of court events to prevent people outside the
building from turning into a lynch mob.

This week's appeals trial is scheduled to run for around six days, almost
as long as the initial hearing. Defence lawyers made it clear they were
not happy to be taking part.

"During this appeal eight defendants have said they don't need representation,"
defence lawyer Nguyen Trong Ty told the Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper.

"If the clients don't ask for lawyers we're appointed to defend them
by the Bar Association and get only 30,000 dong ($2.60) a day. Nobody
wishes to defend such dangerous people with such bad reputations who've
been condemned so strongly by public opinion."

Including the 22 people originally sentenced, state authorities have
now arrested a total of around 60 people in connection with the case
and local commentators said the investigation was still expanding.

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Hong Kong sends 233 Vietnamese boatpeople home 

HONG KONG, June 24 (Reuter)- Hong Kong on Tuesday sent 233 Vietnamese
boatpeople home on a forced repatriation flight, but well over 3,000
remained in detention here just one week before the territory reverts
to Chinese rule.

Tuesday's returnees, 220 men, 11 women and two children, had been held
in a camp since arriving here earlier this year, the government said.

The latest repatriation flight brought the number of boatpeople still
in Hong Kong down to 3,462.

China has repeatly told the British colonial government to empty the
detention camp before it takes over the territory at midnight on June
30.

Despite its efforts, however, the government will clearly fail to meet
Beijing's deadline.

It was unclear how China would treat those remaining here after July
1. They are the last of the huge exodus of people who fled Vietnam after
the Communists won the war there in 1975.

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Hanoi, June 23 (VNA) - Highlights of Vietnam's daily newspapers today:

NHAN DAN:

- Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet yesterday paid a working visit to the central
city of Hue during which had talks with the citys senior officials on
its socio-economic development in 1997.

- The Prime Minister has issued a decision on the establishment of some
committees in charge of country projects.

VIETNAM NEWS:

- The Ho Chi Minh City Women's Union wants the Marriage and Family Law
changed to ensure better protection for Vietnamese women marrying foreigners.

- Vietnam will host its first traditional dance competition Talented
Dance Competition 97 to select the country's top dancers on June 25.

HANOI MOI:

- The Prime Minister has issued regulations on investment in the form
of Build-Operation-Transfer for domestic investors.

(VNA)

23-06 1628

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Vietnam Govt Changes Not Seen Sparking Econ Reform: Analysis

Dow Jones International News
06/23/97

Hanoi (AP-Dow Jones)--The old guard is finally stepping down from Vietnam's
Communist Party leadership, but that doesn't necessarily herald an era
of more liberal policies, or economic and political reforms, reports
Tuesday's Asian Wall Street Journal.

Official state media published the list of candidates for National Assembly
elections to be held next month. The party's aging leadership troika
- President Le Duc Anh, 76 years old; Communist Party General Secretary
Do Muoi, 80; and Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, 74 - weren't included on
the list, signifying their intention to resign, analysts say.

That means Vietnam should have a new prime minister and president by
September when the National Assembly convenes, since the constitution
requires them to stand for election to extend their terms of office.

General Secretary Muoi's absence from the list doesn't necessarily mean
he will step down at the same time as his colleagues, since he isn't
required to be elected to the National Assembly in his position, but
it does suggest he won't be extending his term for much longer, says
Carlyle Thayer, a Vietnam specialist and head of the School of Politics
at the Australian Defense Force Academy in Canberra.

But it's unlikely a strong leadership will emerge from the resignations,
analysts and diplomats say. None of the likely successors have the full
support of the party. An extended period of indecision and political
infighting will likely follow the leadership changes, these observers
warn.

Not one of the leaders' successors has the clear and undivided support
of the National Assembly, which could lead to a period of political infighting
and hardline policies, Thayer predicts. 'There's no consensus on a single
leader,' he says.

Le Kha Phieu, the heir apparent to the general secretary, is a leading
political officer in the military and a party secretary. As such, he
'has his foot in both camps,' which means he has support, and opposition,
from both the military and political factions of the government, Thayer
says.

He's a hard-liner, however, 'and people still haven't decided if he's
a wolf in sheep's clothing.'

Anh's potential successors - Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam and Defense
Minister Doan Khue - have the party even more divided, analysts say.

Judging by a party meeting earlier this month, Cam may have slightly
more support than Khue. As foreign minister, he has the language skills
and diplomatic experience to be more open with foreigners, which could
be a positive change, Thayer says.

If Cam becomes president, the military will push for Phieu to succeed
Muoi so that the military will have representation in the leadership,
Thayer says. If Khue gets in, the military will have their man, but it
would be less obvious who Muoi's successor might be, and likely that
he will extend his term while that's being decided, most analysts agree.

Kiet's expected successor, Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, is less
controversial. But as the prime minister's 'long-time understudy,' he's
unlikely to bring new blood and sweeping policy changes to the government,
Thayer says.

Of the 18 Politburo members to choose from to fill Muoi's position if
Phieu isn't chosen, one is ill; nine are new, with little leadership
experience; three may be leaving the Politburo, and two are expected
to fill the posts of prime minister and president, Thayer says.

Of the few remaining to take over for Muoi, most are 'has beens,' Thayer
says. 'When I look at the talent pool in the Politburo, I can see pressure
on Muoi to stay in office for his full term (another four years), because
it's very small,' Thayer says.

Either way, there will be a period of political instability in the third
quarter of this year, some analysts say. Decision-making is likely to
slow down, particularly as regards foreign policy, 'as people wait for
the chips to fall,' Thayer says.

But it's the policies, not the positions, that are of the most significance,
says Adam Schwarz, a visiting fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute
of Johns Hopkins University. 'Until there's a shared view about how to
go forward with reforms, the dissension and contradictory actions and
statements of the party leadership are likely to continue,' he says.
'It's going to be hard to regenerate a unified leadership in a policy
environment that's so divided,' he adds.

Over the next few years, drastic policy changes are unlikely, Thayer
says. Major policies were set for the next 4 years by the last Party
Congress. But until strong new leadership emerges, there will be a series
of campaigns against corruption as party members seek to gain points
against their political rivals.

Domestic challenges to party rule such as pro-democracy movements won't
be tolerated. 'There's nothing suddenly looming to make things more repressive,
but there is that capacity,' Thayer says.

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Court appeal in Vietnam's biggest drugs case to open Tuesday

HANOI, June 23 (AFP) - The appeal hearing in Vietnam's biggest drugs
case, in which eight people have been sentenced to death and six others
to life imprisonment, will open here Tuesday, judicial sources said.

Out of a total 22 defendants in the case, 19 are due to appeal their
sentences which range from a suspended one-year jail term to the death
penalty.

The hearing will last about a week, an official at the Supreme People's
Court said Monday.

Four judges would hear the appeals of the eight sentenced to death, including
former interior ministry police captain Vu Xuan Truong, presented by
15 defence lawyers, the official said.

Six who were given life imprisonment will also appeal their sentences,
while two others with the same sentences will not, the source said.

All 22 were convicted last month for their involvement in a drugs ring
that since 1992 has smuggled into Vietnam 400 kilograms (880 pounds)
of heroin and some 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) of opium from Laos.

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U.S. 'responsible' for missed chances to end Vietnam War 

HANOI, June 23 (Kyodo) - A former high-ranking official of Vietnam on
Monday took the United States to task for missing chances to prevent
the Vietnam War or bring it to an earlier end.

"We hold that the opportunities were missed by the U.S. side, not the
Vietnamese side," former First Deputy Foreign Minister Tran Quang Co
said.

Co made his remarks to the press at the end of a four-day conference
among scholars and former officials of the two countries on whether the
two sides failed to capitalize on opportunities that would have prevented
the conflict or ended it sooner.

"In a war between a major country and a minor one, the latter is not
in the position of deciding to launch the war or not," Co said, adding
it is unreasonable and unacceptable to say that Vietnam did not want
to avoid losses for itself as the war took place on Vietnam's land.

The Vietnam War lasted from 1961 to 1975, taking the lives of about 58,000
Americans and more than three million Vietnamese.

Former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, who headed the U.S. delegation
to the conference, said the communist North Vietnam and his country were
"seriously mistaken" in 1961 in their view of each other's intentions,
which led to the escalation of the war.

"Hanoi saw us as a colonial power opposed to a unified and independent
Vietnam, (and) that was totally wrong," McNamara said.

"Correspondingly, we saw Hanoi as a potential tool of Chinese and Soviet
communists," he said.

After the press conference, McNamara met with Vietnam's legendary general,
Vo Nguyen Giap, the mastermind of Hanoi's victories in the war, who called
for peace, friendship and development of the relations between the two
former enemies that would contribute to the development and stability
of the region and the world over.

"And for the economic and social advance of the whole Vietnamese people,"
McNamara added.

Giap said he looked forward to another chance to discuss again with McNamara
the points of the war on which they still disagree after their one-hour
closed-door meeting.

Organizers said the aims of the conference were also to improve reconciliation
between the two former enemies and to draw lessons applicable to the
21st century.

The U.S. removed an economic embargo against Vietnam in 1994 and normalized
diplomatic relations with its former foe one year later. However, the
two countries exchanged ambassadors only in May this year, and still
have not signed a bilateral trade agreement that would boost economic
exchanges.

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