Carlyle Thayer
Thayer Consultancy
18 June 2013
Last night it was reported that Dr. Cu Huy Ha Vu‘ has begun a prison hunger strike (see Amnesty International).
Dr. Vu’s wife said yesterday that he’s protesting against poor treatment in prison(rather than, say, making a political statement against the party’s leadership). We request your assessment on the strike’s larger, symbolic implications, especially inlight of the recent no confidence vote in the National Assembly and intensifying crackdown on bloggers. In other words, what does this hunger strike — by the son of a revolutionary poet who has sued the prime minister — show us about Vietnam today? And how do you think the party elite may view Dr. Vu’s situation?
ANSWER: Cu Huy Ha Vu‘s hunger strike comes amidst a continuing crackdown on bloggers in Vietnam. Dr. Ha Vu’s hunger strike has attracted significant attention not only in Vietnam but in the United States and Europe by those who closely follow developments in Vietnam. Dr. Ha Vu’s hunger strike is in response to his treatment inprison. Nevertheless, the publicity surrounding his hunger strike has served to rekindle interest in his unjust imprisonment for peacefully expressing his views including his high-profile attempt to take legal action against the prime minister. Dr. Ha Vu’s case is an illustration of the counter-productive policies of the Vietnamesecommunist regime that seek to intimidate and silence critics. Dr. Ha Vu’s revolutionary background only serves to undermine the legitimacy of the communistregime. He cannot be dismissed as an agent of the “plot of peaceful evolution” by hostile external forces acting in conjunction with political reactionaries in Vietnam. In sum, patriotic youth and members of revolutionary families are lumped togetherby the regime and subject to repression. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung pledged last year to crackdown on bloggers. That is about the only promise he has kept. His recent poor showing in the National Assembly’s confidence vote undermines his credibility. Dr. Ha Vu’s hunger strike puts the onus on the government to conduct a credible investigation into his complaints and to take remedial action. No matter what actions the government takes it will be criticised by bloggers thus amplifying the plight of Vietnam’s new class of political prisoners. Once again this demonstrates the counterproductive nature of repressionin Vietnam. In the long term Vietnam’s inability to accommodate peaceful protest by its politicalelite could produce fissures within the ruling party.
Source: Cribd
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July 14, 2013
Vietnam: Prominent Dissident On Hunger Strike
by Nhan Quyen • Cu Huy Ha Vu
Carlyle Thayer
Thayer Consultancy
18 June 2013
Last night it was reported that Dr. Cu Huy Ha Vu‘ has begun a prison hunger strike (see Amnesty International).
Dr. Vu’s wife said yesterday that he’s protesting against poor treatment in prison(rather than, say, making a political statement against the party’s leadership). We request your assessment on the strike’s larger, symbolic implications, especially inlight of the recent no confidence vote in the National Assembly and intensifying crackdown on bloggers. In other words, what does this hunger strike — by the son of a revolutionary poet who has sued the prime minister — show us about Vietnam today? And how do you think the party elite may view Dr. Vu’s situation?
ANSWER: Cu Huy Ha Vu‘s hunger strike comes amidst a continuing crackdown on bloggers in Vietnam. Dr. Ha Vu’s hunger strike has attracted significant attention not only in Vietnam but in the United States and Europe by those who closely follow developments in Vietnam. Dr. Ha Vu’s hunger strike is in response to his treatment inprison. Nevertheless, the publicity surrounding his hunger strike has served to rekindle interest in his unjust imprisonment for peacefully expressing his views including his high-profile attempt to take legal action against the prime minister. Dr. Ha Vu’s case is an illustration of the counter-productive policies of the Vietnamesecommunist regime that seek to intimidate and silence critics. Dr. Ha Vu’s revolutionary background only serves to undermine the legitimacy of the communistregime. He cannot be dismissed as an agent of the “plot of peaceful evolution” by hostile external forces acting in conjunction with political reactionaries in Vietnam. In sum, patriotic youth and members of revolutionary families are lumped togetherby the regime and subject to repression. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung pledged last year to crackdown on bloggers. That is about the only promise he has kept. His recent poor showing in the National Assembly’s confidence vote undermines his credibility. Dr. Ha Vu’s hunger strike puts the onus on the government to conduct a credible investigation into his complaints and to take remedial action. No matter what actions the government takes it will be criticised by bloggers thus amplifying the plight of Vietnam’s new class of political prisoners. Once again this demonstrates the counterproductive nature of repressionin Vietnam. In the long term Vietnam’s inability to accommodate peaceful protest by its politicalelite could produce fissures within the ruling party.
Source: Cribd
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