Vietnam
(Socialist Republic of Vietnam)
3 March 2005
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Statistics
Population: 82,689,518 (July 2004 est.) [R1]
The population of Vietnam is made up of 54 distinct ethnic groups. The Vietnamese account for more than 85% of the population. The minorities include Chinese (1.6%), Hmong/Mien (1.6%), Thai (4.8%), Khmer (4.1%), Cham, and mountain groups [R2]
Religions (estimated): Buddhists (50%), Roman Catholic (8-10%), Cao Dai (1.5-3%), Hoa Hao (1.5-4%), Protestants (1.5-2%) percent of the population), and Muslims (0.1%). Many believers belong to organisations that are not officially recognised by the Government. Many others consider themselves non-religious [R3].
Government Type: Communist State
Independence: 2 September 1945 (from France)
Chief of State: President Tran Duc Luong (since 24 Sept. 1997)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Phan Van Khai (since 25 Sept. 1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (since 29 Sept. 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Vu Khoan (8 Aug. 2002) and Pham Gia Khiem (since 29 Sept. 1997).
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of the Prime Minister and ratification of the National Assembly.
Vote: NA
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Vietnam, a country recently known by its battle against a worsening bird flu epidemic of which 14 people have died since January 2005 (The Star, Mar 1, 05), is also condemned by several international groups in its reluctance to improve civil and political rights.
Although the 1992 Constitution provides for every citizen the freedom of belief and of religion (any person “can follow any religion or follow none”), the International Religious Freedom Report has designated Vietnam as a “country of particular concern” that violates religious freedoms:
Respect for religious freedom remained poor or deteriorated for some groups, notably ethnic minority Protestants and some independent Buddhists, though it slightly improved for many practitioners… Oversight of recognised religions and harassment of followers of non-recognised religions varied from locality to locality, often as a result of varying local interpretations of national policy. Religious groups faced restrictions on training and ordaining clergy and on conducting educational and humanitarian activities… In 2003 the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and Government moved more formally to recognize and more fully to support the role of "legal" religious activity in society. At the same time, the CPV cited the overriding importance of "national unity" to assert more explicitly its control over religious groups.
Government Type: Communist State
Independence: 2 September 1945 (from France)
Chief of State: President Tran Duc Luong (since 24 Sept. 1997)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Phan Van Khai (since 25 Sept. 1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (since 29 Sept. 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Vu Khoan (8 Aug. 2002) and Pham Gia Khiem (since 29 Sept. 1997).
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of the Prime Minister and ratification of the National Assembly.
Vote: NA
(The World Factbook, 10 February, 2005)
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Political and Human Rights Development
Vietnam is a one-party state, ruled and controlled by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). According to the 1992 Constitution, CPV has the exclusive power in leading the country. However, ‘obedience’ to ideological orthodoxy has become less important than economic development as a national priority in recent years. The CPV gradually reduces its formal involvement in government operations and allows the government to exercise discretion in implementing policy. The Constitution, however, does not provide the right for citizens to peacefully change and freely choose their government.
The National Assembly is the highest representative body of the people and the only organisation with legislative powers. It has become more vocal and assertive in exercising its authority over lawmaking in recent years, but remains subject to CPV direction. About 80% of the deputies in the National Assembly are party members. The government's human rights record remains poor to date, and its officials continue to commit serious abuses.
The International Human Rights Reports [R4] recount the widespread longstanding societal discrimination against ethnic minorities and the continuous harassment of some highland minorities (particularly the Hmong in the northwest provinces and several ethnic groups in the Central Highlands) for practising their Protestant religion without official approval. Several credible sources report disappearances of persons and incidents of absolute detention of citizens for peaceful expression of political and religious views. The Government significantly restricts freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association. Individuals are prohibited to question the role of CPV, criticise government leaders, promote pluralism or multiparty democracy, or question the government policies on sensitive matters such as human rights. The lack of judicial independence contributes to constant denial of fair public trial. The CPV practically controls the courts closely at all levels, selecting judges for their political reliability.
The Government does not favor a particular religion, and virtually all CPV officials as well as the vast majority of National Assembly delegates are formally "without religion." Although citizens are allowed to practice individual worship in the religion of their choice, it is tolerated within the context of state-regulated religious groups. Some organisations of six religions – Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Cao Dai, Hoa Hoa, and Islamic faiths – rather than the religions themselves are recognised by the government. In some areas, including Ho Chi Minh City, some unregistered religious organisations hold services with little or no interference from local officials. However, the constitutional right of religious freedom is interpreted and enforced unevenly among the localities.
The Ordinance on Belief and Religion (issued on June 18, 2004), which has taken effect in November 2004, restates citizens' right to freedom of belief, religion, and freedom not to follow a religion and that violation of these freedoms is prohibited. It advises, however, that abuse of such freedoms to threaten the country's unity, harmony and independence is illegal and warns that religious activities will be suspended if cultural traditions are negatively affected. The ordinance also restates the principle of government control and oversight of religious organisations, specifying that religious groups must be recognised by the Government and must seek approval from authorities for activities, including the training of clergy, construction of religious facilities, preaching outside a recognised facility, and evangelising [R5].
National security and national solidarity override guarantees of religious freedom. Article 258 of the Penal Code allows for jail terms of up to 3 years for "abusing the rights to freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of belief, religion, assembly, association and other democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State" [R3]. In the name of threatening national security and unity, Protestant evangelical churches (found mainly among ethnic minorities) and other unregulated groups are actively suppressed. Harassment, arrest, imprisonment and torturing of evangelical Christians. Many of them are pressured to recant their faith.
Despite the provisions in the Constitution and the Ordinance, religious freedom remains a 'concern,' attacks on freedom of expression and association continue throughout the year, government and societal discrimination against some ethnic minorities, violence and societal discrimination against women and child prostitution continue to be problems.
Bureaucracy and corruption are two special features in the Communist administration that leads to monopoly of power. As a result, the economy is underdeveloped and weakened despite the increased number of foreign investment.
Suggested prayer items:
1. For the government at all levels from the central to the local will recognise God's sovereignty and they will give up their prejudices towards the ethnic minorities and the Church, and stop all forms of persecution and hindrances to the Church's activities.
2. For God to raise up reformists and just leaders, and that religious freedom may be realised.
3. For Christians who are suffering for their faith in prisons and those who are risking life and liberty to meet for worship and fellowship
Reference:
- CIA Factbook, 2005
- Operation World 2001
- International Religious Freedom Report (released September 15, 2004)
- The International Human Rights Reports (released February 28, 2004)
- http://www.ird-renew.org/Liberty/Liberty.cfm?ID=974&c=29 Oct 7 2004
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