Guantanamo Prion

The nightmare goes on. 

The U.N.'s top expert on torture on Wednesday said reports from sources indicated at least one inmate was still being tortured at the U.S. detention centre in Guantanamo Bay and reiterated his request to visit.

Nils Melzer, the U.N. special rapporteur on torture, said he had received information that torture using noise and vibrations was continuing against one of the suspected 9/11 plotters being held at Guantanamo.

He accused Washington of violating an international torture ban and also criticized the country for not holding U.S. officials accountable for using abusive practices in the past.

Melzer pointed out that a U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee report published three years ago acknowledged the Central Intelligence Agency's use of torture in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

"To this day, however, the perpetrators and policymakers responsible for years of gruesome abuse have not been brought to justice, and the victims have received no compensation or rehabilitation," he said in a statement.

"By failing to prosecute the crime of torture in CIA custody, the U.S. is in clear violation of the Convention against Torture," he said, warning that Washington was "sending a dangerous message of complacency and impunity to officials in the U.S. and around the world."

Melzer voiced particular concern about detainees who had been held for long periods of time in almost complete isolation.

He highlighted the case of Ammar al-Baluchi, the nephew of alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who himself stands accused of arranging the financing for the attacks that killed almost 3,000 people.

Torture ban 'absolute' 

Al-Baluchi was named 153 times in the Senate report, and is said to have suffered "relentless torture" at CIA "black sites" for three and a half years before being moved to Guantanamo Bay, where the torture is reported to continue, Wednesday's statement said.

"Mr. al-Baluchi has been held in isolation at a severely restricted-access facility at Guantanamo Bay for more than a decade," Melzer said.

"In addition to the long-term effects of past torture, noise and vibrations are reportedly still being used against him, resulting in constant sleep deprivation and related physical and mental disorders," he said.

The U.N. expert alleged that al-Baluchi was not receiving adequate medical attention for those disorders.

Melzer stressed that the international ban on torture and ill-treatment was "absolute" and "one of the most fundamental norms of international law."

"No circumstances, however exceptional and well-argued, may be invoked to justify torture," he insisted.

He urged Washington to "live up to its legacy, to end its policy of impunity and to bring its own perpetrators to justice."

The U.N. expert also reiterated a long-standing request to conduct an official visit to the Guantanamo Bay detention centre and to interview inmates.

"I very much regret that, despite repeated requests, my predecessors and I have consistently been refused access to Guantanamo," he said.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama outlawed brutal interrogation techniques like water boarding, used by the CIA following the 9/11 attacks. He also attempted throughout his presidency to shutter Guantanamo.

But his successor Donald Trump has said he wants to send more "bad dudes" to Guantanamo and spoke positively about torture during his election campaign.

He has however since said he will follow the advice of his top aides, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who opposes the practice.

Relevant organisations and agencies should work together to create a safer internet environment for children, said Deputy Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Dao Hong Lan.

Lan made the remarks at a ceremony held in Hanoi on December 12 to release the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)’s annual report on the “State of the World’s Children 2017: Children in a Digital World”. She said that it is necessary to equip children with the necessary skills to access to a safe internet environment and children should be of fundamental concern when building digital policies. Meanwhile, Youssouf Abdel-Jelil, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam, said that digital technology can be a life changing tool for marginalised children, particularly disabled and ethnic kids, and those living in disadvantaged areas. He went on to say that online protection does not mean the control of children’s internet use but to better protect their safety when using the internet, adding that the Government needs to work closely with the private sector to safeguard children, especially the disadvantaged. UNICEF’s flagship report stated that despite children’s massive online presence – 1 in 3 internet users worldwide is a child – too little is done to protect them from the dangers present in the digital world and provide access to safe online content. The report explores the advantages digital technology can give to the most marginalised children, including the impoverished and those affected by humanitarian emergencies. The benefits offered include increasing their access to information, building skills for the digital workplace, and giving them a platform to connect and communicate their views. However, millions of children are missing out, the report said. Around one third of the world’s youth – 346 million – have no access to the internet, exacerbating inequities and reducing the children’s ability to participate in an increasingly digital economy. The report examines how the internet can increase children’s vulnerability to danger, including the misuse of their private information, access to harmful content, and cyber bullying. The report notes that the ubiquitous presence of mobile devices has led to unsupervised online access for many children – a potentially dangerous situation.  Furthermore, it also recommends that policies are needed to facilitate internet access for children, protecting them from online threats like abuse, human trafficking, and online bullying, and safeguarding their privacy and identities. Officially connected to the Internet in 1997, Vietnam had 64 million internet users as of June 2017, accounting for 67% of the total population. Social media has been popularised with 64 million Facebook users, most of whom are children and teenagers.

Realities of the Vietnamese revolution have highlighted the significance of “diplomatic front” to the previous cause of national liberation and the current one of building and defending the Homeland alike. According to Resolution of the 12^th National Congress of the Vietnamese Communist Party, “deepening relationships with partner nations, especially strategic ones and great powers, is essential to national development and security, effectively translating established relationship framework into practice”. This fundamental consistent viewpoint is not only indicative of the Party’s developed theoretical thinking on carrying out two strategic tasks of building and defending the Homeland in the process of development and integration, but a lodestar for the Party, people, and the Army in their entirety to effectively conduct foreign affairs with a focus on properly handling relationships with great powers in the new situation.

President Tran Dai Quang talks with leaders of delegations taking part in the 25th APEC Summit (photo: VNA)

The current world situation has seen a gradual shift from unipolar world order to multipolar one with the emergence of various international power centres. Major powers have made adjustments to their strategies in which on the one side, they cooperate and compromise with each other; on the other, they contain and compete with one another, thereby impacting greatly on regional and global complexion characterized by two-way interrelationship and interdependence amongst small and major powers through diverse, multi-tiered and multi-dimensional links as a result of objective needs of intertwined interests. Located in geostrategically significant position and possessing development potential in Asia Pacific region, Vietnam is always great powers’ focus of attention on various aspects, particularly on defence and security ones in positive and negative terms, which presents high demands for the work of foreign affairs in general and handling relationships with major powers in particular. To this end, it is essential to fully comprehend and seriously execute Party and State’s diplomatic line and promote a sense of solidarity and unity among the Party, people, and the Army in their entirety as a basis for the key measures to be taken synchronously as follows.

First,  for the sake of high consistency in awareness and action, continuously perceiving the Party’s diplomatic line and viewpoints to properly handle relations with great powers in the new situation. This acts as a central measure to achieve high consistency in awareness, ideology, and action among the Party, people, and the Army in their entirety towards the work of foreign affairs in general and proper management of relationships with major powers in particular in a bid to protect national independence, self-reliance and sovereignty in the process of active and proactive international integration. It should be noted that it is more important to carry out guidelines and policies than to formulate those which will be of little values without being propagated, grasped and enforced in reality no matter how creative and sensible they are. Therefore, great importance should be attached to the work of propagation so that cadres, party members, and people are able to thoroughly grasp Party lines and viewpoints, notably Resolution of the 12^th National Party Congress; Resolution of the 8^thPlenum of the Party Central Committee (11^th tenure) on Strategy for defending the Homeland in the new situation; Resolution No. 22-NQ/TW by the Politburo on “international integration” and Resolution No. 806-NQ/QUTW, dated 31-12-2013 by the Central Military Commission on “defence international integration and diplomacy towards 2020 and beyond”, with a focus on contents of Resolution of the 12^th Party Congress on further promoting and deepening relationships with partner nations, especially major powers towards national development and security for the sake of high implementation effectiveness among the Party, people and the Army in their entirety.

For the sake of efficient propagation, branches, sectors and local governments at levels need to comprehend the fundamentals of international integration, particularly those of cooperative relationships with great powers. Accordingly, in addition to strictly abiding by the principle of supreme national interest in accord with the foreign line of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralization, there are correlative and intertwined challenges and opportunities in the relationships with great powers. Grounded in those viewpoints, forms and contents of propagation should be diverse and practical whilst the work of propagation should be carried out in a comprehensive, persuasive, genuine and objective fashion with prominence given to Party line and viewpoints on foreign policy, preventing hostile forces from using loopholes to damage our friendship relations with other nations. When it comes to the work of propagation, it is best to cover opportunities and challenges as well as the strengths and weaknesses in an objective, cautious and upbeat manner.

The realities have shown that it is important but sensitive to propagate the work of foreign affairs, especially relationships with great powers. Hence, it is essential to elaborately design plans, forms, contents and solutions concerning the work of propagation on a basis of Central Propaganda Department’s directions whilst tightly combining the domestic media with our foreign media in Vietnamese expatriates’ communities. In addition, it is crucial to foster defence and security training for the whole people, particularly key cadres at all-level sectors and localities with emphasis placed on promoting  national independence, self-reliance and sovereignty in our relations with major powers, thereby generating profound transformation in their awareness and sense of responsibilities.

Second, regularly grasping situations regarding national independence, self-reliance and sovereignty, especially the moves by great powers in order to formulate appropriate counter-measures in cooperative relationships. To properly deal with relationships with great powers, first of all, it is important to firmly grasp the situations and accurately evaluate partners of cooperation and objects of struggle with direct respect to national independence, self-reliance and sovereignty in the immediate and long term. According to Resolution of the 8^th Plenum of the Party Central Committee (11^th tenure) on Strategy for defending the Homeland in the new situation, our Party affirmed any country that honours Vietnam’s independence and sovereignty, and wishes to establish and expand friendly relations and cooperation on a basis of equality and mutual benefits with Vietnam is its partners of cooperation; any force that plots and acts against Vietnamese goals in the cause of Homeland protection and building is its objects of struggle. That statement is the Party’s inclusive and consistent line on partners of cooperation and objects of struggle that needs to be thoroughly perceived and flexibly applied by all-level sectors and forces in the process of integration, collaboration, and development. Amidst current complex situations, in-depth research of resolutions and empirical knowledge enable us to realize that partners of cooperation and objects of struggle are closely intertwined and interrelated in line with different specific contexts. In other words, a great power is now a partner of cooperation, now an object of struggle. Thus, it is vital to comprehend that principle to deal with relationships with great powers in a proper and proactive fashion.

Continuously stimulating the work of situational analysis and prediction pertaining to great powers and groups of great powers, particularly positive and negative developments and moves to the cause of national independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, thereby identifying nature, reasons, and development trends, and analyzing implications for international relations and national defence and security, etc. as a basis for proposing proper countermeasures and policies on foreign relations to the Party and the State. The current international context has seen fierce strategic competition amongst major powers, impacting greatly on regional and global situation, including Vietnam. Hence, the work of situational analysis and prediction must be comprehensive and focalized with emphasis placed on great powers.

Third, flexibly carrying out both cooperation and struggle, suitably applying countermeasures to every great power. It is noted that great powers always have a crucial role to play in international relations. Therefore, our Party and State’s strategic line is to promote cooperative relations with great powers. Still, the relationships with great powers are always characterized by opportunities and challenges, even imposition and dependence. We will be highly susceptible to be at a disadvantage unless handling those relationships consciously and wisely. Additionally, amid globalization trends, for the sake of their own interests, great powers themselves have a need to form a relation with such  the so-called small nations like Vietnam. Yet, relations among nations based on respect for principle of equal rights regardless of their size. A certain nation is small, but geostrategically significant. Conversely, a certain nation is geographically and demographically huge, but its status is relatively low in international community. Therefore, it is necessary to feel confident, not inferior in relationships with great powers, thereby carrying out both cooperation and struggle via appropriate countermeasures in an active, proactive and flexible fashion which is considered to be a lodestar for handling relations with great powers in a bid to promote national development and firmly safeguard national independence, self-reliance and sovereignty amidst integration trends. To this end, it is essential to thoroughly grasp and strictly implement the Party’s diplomatic policies based on principle of independence and self-reliance in relationships with other nations, especially with major ones whilst proactively enhancing collaboration and confidence with other partner nations in which it is tactful not to lead other nations to think that Vietnam is “shaking hands” with this nation to oppose the other to the detriment of national interests.

At present, Vietnamese relationships with great powers have been flourishing, thereby contributing greatly to the national renewal process and the cause of building and defending the Homeland as well as to Vietnamese enhanced status on the international stage. However, far from complacent about attained results, we must be conscious of positive and negative aspects of our relationships with every major power, and proactively brace ourselves for every possible situation, especially in the event of conflicts of interests. Therefore, Party line on partners of cooperation and objects of struggle must be firmly grasped as a basis for carrying out both cooperation and struggle over every specific issue under the motto: promoting agreement, reducing disagreement, formulating flexible and sensible countermeasures to avoid confrontation, tension, and dependence on the principle of ensuring national independence, self-reliance, and supreme national interests.

Continuously adopting “equidistance policy”- an inevitable choice in maintaining relationships with great powers. Yet, amidst incrementally complex regional and global situations, in spite of the fact that this policy is of the essence, we need to take a more flexible approach for the sake of optimal interests. Accordingly, in parallel with deepening comprehensive partnership and comprehensive strategic partnership with every great power, it is necessary to foster our relations with other developing countries through appropriate mechanism for cooperation, dialogue, and exchange, thereby enlisting the relationship with this great power to influence the relationship with the other in order to deal with complex incidents, and avoiding being “a pawn” in great powers’ interests in the international relations.  Fourth, regular attention is paid to reinforcing strong national potential as a basis for not only handling relationships with great powers, but enhancing Vietnamese status and prestige in the international arena. In addition to laying down national diplomatic line, policy, and approach, national potential is essential to enhancing national status and prestige in the international arena  as far as international relations and relationships with great powers are concerned. Therefore, regularly  intensifying stronger national potential has not merely further facilitated Vietnamese international integration in an active and proactive fashion, but contributed to its deepened relationships with strategic partners and major powers as stated in Resolution of the 12^th Party Congress “strengthening international integration on the basis of maximizing the inner strength, and promoting national synergy and competitiveness”, ensuring that Vietnam is a friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member in the international community.

Over the past years, particularly following more than 30 years of Party-led national renewal process, Vietnam has attained enormous and historical achievements, thereby increasing national potential. From a sanctioned country with underdeveloped and “closed” economy, Vietnamese economy has been thriving robustly. To date, Vietnam has established its diplomatic relationships with over 170 nations, expanded commercial and economic relations with 221 nations and territories, thereby contributing to Vietnamese people’s visibly increased social securities and living standards. In 2015, Vietnam was one of the nations that achieved the goal of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger 10 years in advance in the implementation of the UN Millennium Development Goals. Moreover, Vietnam has joined and become an official member of various regional and international organizations, namely the 150^th member of the WTO in 2007; non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the 2008-2009 period; the President of the UN Conference on Disarmament in 2009, etc. Those serve as a solid foundation for recognizing Vietnamese status in the international relations in general and relationships with great powers in particular.

Fifth, strengthening international defence-security cooperation with great powers. In general, as the world economic hubs, great powers have the edge on all fronts, particularly in the field of politics, military, and scientific and technological potential. Hence, strengthening international defence-security cooperation with great powers is of great importance because on the one hand, it promotes mutual understanding and confidence in the international relations, maintains a peaceful environment for mutual cooperation and development, and enhances national status and prestige; on the other, it helps enlist all resources and shared experiences to build people’s armed forces and boost national defence-security potential. Simultaneously, it acts as a strategic orientation for defending the Homeland from afar via peaceful means.

On perceiving those viewpoints, over the past years, Vietnam has effectively facilitated and expanded its defence-security cooperation relations with many nations, including great powers via breakthrough and appropriate solutions. Up to now, Vietnam has formed its defence relations with over 80 nations on different levels, including 5 great powers in their capacity as permanent members of the UN Security Council, thereby creating enabling conditions for the cause of building and defending the Homeland. In particular, in 2010, Vietnam successfully hosted the first ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus with the participation of some great powers, thereby increasing Vietnamese People’s Army’s status and kudos regionally and globally, especially in the eyes of great powers. Alongside other external activities, this acts as a significant prerequisite for continued promotion of Vietnamese defence-security cooperation relations with great powers. Subsequently, for the sake of unified leadership, Ministry of National Defence and Ministry of Public Security in their advisory capacity on defence-security foreign policy need to continuously increase the quality of strategic research and the work of situational analysis and prediction on great powers as a basis for proactively mapping out comprehensive strategies as well as synchronous solutions in which it is necessary to formulate sustainable defence-security relation projects with major partner powers with developed defence industry with emphasis placed on strategic research, modernization of people’s army and public security; enhancement of national defensive capability, and handling traditional and non-traditional security challenges on a global scale. Besides, it is crucial to enlist support of great powers in carrying out the project of sending Vietnamese people to work in international organizations, particularly in the UN affiliates.

Bilateral defence-security cooperation with great powers has been continuously expanded in a comprehensive and focalized fashion with a focus on effectively implementing signed cooperation agreements with every great power. In terms of defence cooperation, it is necessary to combine military commercial, economic, and technical activities and military industrial collaboration with other military cooperation activities to successfully meet stated targets of integration and foreign activities. Cautious and strategic approach is taken to set up modern equipment and arms sales cooperation with great powers, ensuring that possible incidents and scenarios concerning technology transfer and cooperation, etc can be fully foreseen in an effort to avoid passivity and dependence on partner nations. In addition, it is essential to facilitate regular and effective coordination amongst Ministry of National Defence, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other central ministries and sectors and localities in relevant external activities to create the total strength in defence-security cooperation with great powers.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on Wednesday brought global criticism, with some countries urging Washington to reverse course. Standing in the White House Diplomatic Reception room with Vice President Mike Pence behind him, Trump said that “today, we finally acknowledge the obvious: that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital”.

Right after Trump’s declaration, hundreds of angry Palestinians took to the streets to denounce Trump. Demonstrators burned tires in the towns of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, across Gaza City and in the southern Gaza Strip’s towns of Khan Younis and Rafah.Protests were also reported in Turkey, and images circulated online of demonstrations breaking out throughout the region.

The international community does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the entire city, believing its status should be resolved in negotiations. No other country has its embassy in Jerusalem.

Important U.S. allies in Europe and the Middle East such as Britain, France, Germany and Saudi Arabia criticized Trump over his decision and questioned the wisdom of such a move, both prior to and following the announcement. Saudi Arabia’s Royal Court issued a statement Thursday, calling the decision “dangerous” and  “irresponsible.” Similar concerns were voiced by the United Arab Emirates.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel responded to the pronouncement on Wednesday evening, saying that the “German government does not support this position, because the status of Jerusalem is to be resolved in the framework of a two-state solution,” according to a tweet by her spokesman.

Her words were echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who criticized the move as “a regrettable decision that France does not approve of and goes against international law and all the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council.”

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson similarly indicated that such a move could further disrupt efforts to reach peace in the region.

In the Netherlands, criticism of Trump was unusually strong. “We think it’s an unwise step and a counterproductive step. If we want to solve at some moment the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis, we need a two-state solution, and a one-sided step is not going to help,” Dutch Foreign Minister Halbe Zijlstra said in an interview.

Perhaps the strongest warning came out of Sweden, where Foreign Minister Margot Wallström said the changes are “obviously going to lead to massive effects and unease.” “It’s catastrophic,” Wallström said.

Belgium’s Foreign Minister Didier Reynders criticized Trump’s move as “very dangerous,” adding that it made a surge in violence in the region more likely.

“This step is prejudging, dictating, closing doors for negotiations and I think President Trump tonight disqualified the United States of America to play any role in any peace process,” said Saeb Erekat, the main Palestinian peace negotiator.

That may be why Arab leaders, even key U.S. allies, protested the move so strongly, knowing the president’s move won’t play well among their populations. Turkey’s top diplomat, Mevlut Cavusoglu, was unsparing in criticism that was far harsher than any the U.S. is accustomed to from a NATO ally.

“The whole world is against this,” Cavusoglu told reporters as he awaited Tillerson’s arrival for their meeting. He said he had already told Trump’s chief diplomat that it was a “grave mistake.” Cavusoglu said he planned to “tell him again.”

Indonesia joined a chorus of criticism from Muslim-majority countries, with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi saying that Indonesians “condemn” the decision. “Democracy means respecting the international law, (and) the recognition does not respect various U.N. Security Council resolutions,” Retno said at a democracy forum in Jakarta while wearing a Palestinian scarf. “As a democratic country, the U.S. should know what democracy means,” she said.

The rebukes, made at an emergency Security Council meeting called over Mr. Trump’s announcement, constituted an extraordinarily public denunciation of American policy on the world’s most prominent diplomatic stage, leaving the United States alone on the issue among the council’s 15 members.

One by one, the ambassadors of Sweden, Egypt, Britain, France and Bolivia, among others, reiterated their view that President Trump’s announcement had subverted the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a longtime bedrock of the United Nations position on resolving it. The ambassadors of Britain, France, Sweden, Germany and Italy issued a joint statement outside the council’s chambers condemning their American ally’s change of position, saying it was “not in line with Security Council resolutions and was unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region.”

“This is a dangerous precedent,” the Egyptian ambassador said. “These are the resolutions of the Security Council.” He said the resolutions constitute “the law that governs the status of Jerusalem. All countries have pledged, according the U.N. charter, to implement and abide by it.”

Pope Francis voiced "profound concern" over the move, making a "heartfelt appeal to make everyone's commitment to respect the status quo of the city, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions."

Critics have said that recognizing Israel’s claim to Jerusalem without acknowledging a Palestinian claim broke with international consensus and prejudged the outcome of any negotiations.

There are fears Trump's action will trigger violence against Americans and US interests and a wider Middle East conflagration, especially in countries where leaders support the US government. The US Consulate in Jerusalem warned Americans to be wary of demonstrations after Palestinian factions called for "three days of rage" across the West Bank.

"These procedures do also help in the extremist organizations to wage a religious war that would harm the entire region, which is going through critical moments and would lead us into wars that will never end, which we have warned about and always urged to fight against," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a televised address following the US announcement.

"President Trump tonight made the biggest mistake of his life," Erekat told CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "Instead of encouraging the parties to sit together, the parties to put all core issues including Jerusalem on the table and negotiate in good faith, he dictates."./.

The World Bank has revised its 2017 growth forecast for Vietnam to 6.7% from the projection of 6.3% made last October, citing stronger momentum in domestic demand, manufacturing, and services.

This means that Vietnam is expected to meet the growth target aimed for by the government, which many experts had earlier written off as an elusive goal given the weaker-than-expected growth in the first half of 2017. According to a Taking Stock report released on December 11 that domestic demand remained buoyant, fuelled by a low inflation rate and rising real wages, while global demand recovery helped Vietnam’s manufacturing and agricultural sectors. According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), Vietnam’s economy strengthened in the third quarter, growing by 7.46% from the same quarter last year, thanks to a strong performance in the manufacturing of electronic and steel products.  “Growth momentum picked up across major economies and global trade recovered in 2017,” said Ousmane Dione, the World Bank Country Director for Vietnam. “With incomes rising and poverty falling, Vietnam’s economy had another good year of strong growth and broad macroeconomic stability.” Low inflation and rising real wages sustained buoyant domestic demand and private consumption, while the stronger global economy helped Vietnam’s export-oriented manufacturing and agricultural sectors. Job growth continued, with 1.6 million new jobs added in the manufacturing sector over the past three years, and 700,000 additional jobs in the construction, retail, and hospitality sectors, leading to higher aggregate labor productivity. Labor demand also contributed to rapid wage growth, with wages increasing by 15 percent cumulatively between 2014 and 2016. Despite progress in resolving non-performing loans, risks remain, including the lack of robust capital buffers in some banks, especially amidst rapid credit growth. The World Bank said that Vietnam’s near-term outlook has improved over the past six months but warned that a slowdown in structural reform could weaken the ongoing recovery and weigh on Vietnam’s medium-term growth potential. Sebastian Eckardt, the World Bank’s lead economist for Vietnam, said structural reform remains a central priority in view of tepid productivity growth. He added that by building on progress already made, Vietnam can further lift productivity growth by making investments in needed infrastructure and skills as well as through deeper reforms of the business environment, state-owned enterprises, and the banking sector./.

The arrest of Dinh La Thang, former Chairman of the Member Council of PetroVietnam (PVN) drew public attention, with widespread support for the anti-corruption efforts of the Party and its General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Thang, currently a member of the Party Central Committee and deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, was arrested on December 8 for investigations into two serious economic cases. Thang was also Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee from 2016 to 2017.

The Politburo banned Thang from Party-related activities from December 8, 2017 and suspended his membership of the National Assembly.

Criminal proceedings have been launched against the former official.

Nguyen Van Niem, a war veteran in Thanh Xuan district of Hanoi commented that the detention of Thang made Party members confident in anti-corruption work, as it means there are no sacred cows in eliminating corruption, abuse of power and vested interests.

Lauding the Party and State’s moves, Dr. Quach Thi Ngoc An from the National University of Art Education said that the Party and State are working to purify the Party organisation, with positive results.

But An said that this is just only first step as group interests, red tape and wastefulness are still common, requiring strong spirit and determination, as well as “iron hands” to cleanse the whole system.

Lauding the decision to arrest and prosecute Thang, Pham Ngoc Huyen, a lecturer from the Banking Academy said that from the media she has learnt hesitation in fighting corruption is still seen in some officials, especially at lower levels.

“Our country is still facing many difficulties. I hope that national leaders will work hard to seek solutions to bring a prosperous and happy life to the people,” added Huyen.

Colonel Tran Trong Kinh, a former defence official residing in Tan Binh district, Ho Chi Minh City, asserted that the fight against corruption is tough, but the recent handling of many corrupt officials is a sign of progress, reinforcing the confidence of people and Party members nationwide.

Sharing Kinh’s opinion, Phan Minh Hue, a Ho Chi Minh City resident, expressed delight at the outcomes of anti-corruption work recently, but stressed that the efforts must be continued and stepped up.

Meanwhile, Duong Anh Duc, a Party member in District 11 of Ho Chi Minh City, stated that fairness is key in the Party. Anti-corruption acts have been more practical and effective, he said, stressing that only by purifying the management system, can the country develop.

“The case of Thang is a lesson for all officials and Party members nationwide,” held Duc./.

The arrest and detention of Cù Huy Hà Vũ (Cu Huy Ha Vu in English) in November 2010 and his trial in April 2011 has attracted more media coverage than any other dissident case in recent memory in Vietnam. The incident has engaged many human rights organizations and self-claimed human rights groups in a propaganda war against the Party and State of Vietnam. They criticized Vietnam of lacking human rights and democracy. But is it really like that? We must all find out the true essence of this incident.

 Born in 1957 and raised in a notable revolutionary family, Cu Huy Ha Vu is a son of poet Cù Huy Cận, who gained his political position in Vietnam thanks to being a companion of Ho Chi Minh during the Indochina War and Vietnam War. Cu Huy Cận went on to serve in Vietnam's first National Assembly. Vũ's mother, Ngo Thi Xuan Nhu, was the sister of the poet Xuân Diệu. Vu obtained a doctorate in law in France and ran a law firm with his wife in Hanoi before being detained. Vu is not a practicing lawyer. He is not certificated for a licensed lawyer in Vietnam.

Cu Huy Ha Vu joined a growing group of self-proclaimed corruption-busting human rights lawyers and legal defenders, including Le Cong Dinh, Nguyen Van Dai, Le Thi Cong Nhan, Le Tran Luat, Ta Phong Tan, Tran Quoc Hien, Le Quoc Quan and Nguyen Bac Truyen, which held a lot of illegal activities like spreading false arguments, inciting protests and contacting with hostile foreign forces to go against the country.

From 2009 to 2010, Vũ attempted to sue Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng on several occasions like filing a suit against Mr. Dung for granting a Chinese mining company rights to a bauxite deposit and for signing Decision No. 136, but without no evidence and strong allegations. It is his freedom to file a suit against someone, even it is the Prime Minister. But when Vu also called in interviews for the revision of Article 4 of the Constitution of Vietnam, which stresses the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, it is against the constitution of the country, against the people’s aspiration. In October 2010, Vũ and his law firm began to engage and incite people to demonstration in the case of Catholics of Con Dau parish in Da Nang. His activities now violated laws that must be punished by laws.  

Yes, what will be will be, on November 5, 2010, Vũ was arrested at a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City with a woman who was not his wife. He is half-dressed. After that, when searching Vũ's home and law office, officials later found that Vu had produced documents that opposed the State of Vietnam, employed propagandistic rhetoric as a form of a psychological warfare, demanded the overthrow of the regime and the realization of pluralism and a multiparty system, opposed the interest of the nation, and called for foreign intervention.

On 4 April 2011, Vũ was tried on an indictment accusing him of disseminating anti-state propaganda via the Internet, interviews with international media, and other writings against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in violation of article 88 of the penal code. Media and reporters were allowed to watch the proceedings via closed-circuit television. Of course, Vũ stated to the court that "This criminal case was invented against me. This case is completely illegal." But, with all evidences, the judge stated that Cu Huy Ha Vũ's behaviour is serious and harmful to society. Vu was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment. But, due to Vietnam’s pardon policy, on April 6, 2014, Vu was released from prison and taken to Noi Bai International Airport to be flown to Dulles International Airport, U.S., along with his wife.

As usual, the U.S. and other human rights organizations criticized the sentence, with the U.S. State Department saying that the "apparent lack of due process" at Vũ's trial was troubling. Amnesty International declared him a prisoner of conscience and urged his immediate release. Roman Catholic churches held prayer vigils for Vũ in recognition of his work defending the rights of the country's Catholics. Human Rights Watch described the trial as "one of the most important cases involving a political dissident in the recent history of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam". The organization stated that Vũ was being "tried for his political bravery in peacefully challenging abuses of power, defending victims of land confiscation, and protecting the environment ... Reporters Without Borders "deplored" the verdict, stating, "We call on the authorities to end their harassment of dissidents, and to begin respecting free speech and the right of each citizen to freely express an opinion. Vu must be freed without delay." The World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights stated "their deepest concern" for Vu in a joint statement, with OMCT saying that "This case is sadly yet another example of the ongoing repression of fundamental rights in Viet Nam, and human rights defenders in particular have borne the brunt of such repression."

So much attention and costing much time and space for this case, but they do not understand the real situation and look so eager to criticize the Party and State of Vietnam. The U.S. and those organizations have been violating international laws of not interfering with internal affairs of a sovereignty and independent country like Vietnam. Vietnam handles violations of the law in accordance with Vietnamese and international laws, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

In Vietnam, citizens’ rights to freedom and democracy, including freedom of speech, are regulated clearly in the Constitution and other legal documents.

So sorry that, Vu is the son of Cu Huy Can, who was a member of revered founding President Ho Chi Minh’s provisional cabinet from 1945 and a celebrated poet, and a nephew of Xuan Dieu, also one of the country’s famed poets. Vu has shamed the family’s names and turned back with his country./.

The nation’s population policy must be integrated with other socio-economic factors including national defense and security to ensure rapid and sustainable development, experts said at a policy dialogue on population and sustainable development organized on November 29 in Hanoi to discuss the draft Law on Population.

The draft law will be submitted to the fifth National Assembly session for discussion.

Truong Hai Cuong, member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, said the country’s population was aging rapidly, so the draft law should have provisions that ensure the rights, interests and responsibilities of the elderly, and encourage senior citizens to do suitable jobs, based on their health and experience.

Quach Sy Hung, also with the VFF, said the draft law should have clear regulations on responsibilities of relevant ministries and agencies on family planning services and taking care for old people.

International principles and commitments should be adhered to in building population policies, said Nguyen Ngoc Quynh of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam.

She said the draft law should meet international standards and comply with human rights principles, including the right to decide to have babies, time to have babies and the number of children.

Regulations should ensure the provision of full and clear information, education and qualified services on reproductive health, with priority given to population in disadvantaged areas, she said.

Dialogue participants also discussed and shared their experiences on the development and implementation of population and development policies; raising awareness and changing societal behavior; and integrating population variables into development policies.

The dialogue is organized by the VFF, the UNFPA in Vietnam, the General Office for Population and Family Planning and the Ministry of Health.