Socialist Republic of Vietnam

VietNamNet – On September 16, Pham The Duyet, Chairman of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) had an online interview with VietNamNet readers about Politburo Resolution 36.

The talk between Mr Duyet and VietNamNet readers, mostly overseas Vietnamese (Viet Kieu), focused on Resolution 36, a document that represents the Party and the State’s policies toward overseas Vietnamese. The resolution was passed in June 2004 and is the first open resolution of the Party that covers a comprehensive list of issues relating directly to Viet Kieu.

Why did the Politburo issue Resolution 36?

The resolution was issued based on the real situation in Vietnam today, the trend of Viet Kieu returning to their homeland. The Party wants to strengthen and expand national unity, particularly by recognising the community of Viet Keiu as an integral and contributing factor. The Party and the State also want to urge Vietnamese people both at home and abroad to be aware of and contribute to nation building.

In addition, the resolution also creates an environment where Viet Keiu can reaffirm a strong attachment to their homeland, to have opportunities of travel and business in Vietnam, and fulfil their hopes to contribute to the country.

Resolution 36 considers Vietnamese people both at home and abroad as an equal part of national unity.

Why has nearly 30 years passed since re-unification before the Party officially has a specific policy for Viet Kieu?

Party resolutions have to fit the period in which they’re issued. After re-unification, knowledge of Vietnamese around the world was limited. After a long period under the old regime, many people were not fully aware of the Communist Party and the State. Some chose to evacuate abroad. In addition, outside factors influenced people.

With the open door policy and global integration, Viet Kieu are in a situation where they know a lot more about their homeland and the Party and the State in facilitating interaction and reconnection with families and villages.

Along with the policy on national unity, the Resolution on religious tasks, the Resolution on ethnic minority people, Resolution 36 is an integral part of national uniting enveloping nearly 3mil Viet Kieu.

Resolution 36 points to many policies, but no timetable to realise them. When will visas be removed and when will Viet Kieu who return home to do business be treated equally?

Resolution 36 has worked out many new policies to facilitate overseas Vietnamese renewed interest in interacting with their home country. However, the Government must realise these policies, like any policy, through proper legal channels and seeking National Assembly approval before implementation.

This will be done as soon as possible. The abolishment of visas for Viet Kieu has also been implemented and will be expanded in the future. The State also has a policy to treat all kinds of businesses equally, no matter where they are from.

How can we know if Resolution 36 will be implemented objectively?

In our situation, there is no room for doubt, we will move ahead with these things, Party resolutions are put forth to be implemented.

Vietnamese State policy endeavours to put the difficulties of the past behind for the future. But why do State bodies continue to examine candidate curriculum vitae’s before recruitment and reject those who had relatives in the former Saigon regime?

It’s normal to check the work history of a candidate. That is done by every government. Knowing candidate work styles means you can better implement their skills. If you recruit someone, you have to know about his/her professional skills, training, and background.

The Party holds no prejudice against the people who worked with the old regime. All good people who want to join the Party are considered. Of course the identity of their direct relatives will be considered. But for them, the Party and the State hold no prejudice and will facilitate bringing their skills into play if they qualify.

Many people say national unity policy is actually just to draw in the community of Viet Kieu and their resources back to Vietnam. What do you think about this?

The national unity policy endeavours to bring together all people, including nearly 3mil Viet Kieu, to realise Vietnam’s development, with the wealthy, and a strong country, in an equal, democratic and civilised way.

That is an open and straightforward policy. There is no problem reaching that target even if the phrase “drawing in” is used. Reaching that target I will also participate in “drawing in” people that can help us. I’m sure that most Viet Kieu don’t see that as “drawing in” but see it as a reconnection to realise the national unity policy.

Limited understanding of the legal and political situation in Vietnam will be a great obstacle for us. When we want to know about the current mechanisms for overseas Vietnamese to invest in Vietnam we also hit a muddled barrier. Representative agencies of the Vietnamese Government in the US are difficult to approach. So even though the mechanism has changed, propaganda among overseas Vietnamese is the same. How can this change?

It is necessary to patiently disseminate Party and State policies to overseas Vietnamese. Vietnam Television (VTV) and the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) are accessible throughout the whole world. We hope that Viet Kieu learn about present day Vietnam through these channels to realise their aspirations, just as you are participating now through VietNamNet.

For Vietnamese agencies abroad that don’t properly realise Party and State policies, Viet Kieu could report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnamese Embassy in their country, the National Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

What measures does the State use to punish State employees who often harass Viet Kieu in dealing with administrative formalities?

It is regrettable that such specific cases of harassment are extremely difficult to track. Without question, we will severely punish those people if we can track them. Let’s adopt the practice of informing these cases if and when they occur.

Why did the Communist Party, not by the National Assembly or the Government, issue Resolution 36?

The Communist Party leads Vietnam. Therefore, the Party, through resolutions, must issue important policies. The National Assembly and the Government implement Party’s resolutions. All resolutions are in the interest of the people, the country, and no one else.

VietNamNet