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Straits Times June 25, 2007
ASIA INTERVIEW
Vietnam's ex-premier pushes for faster reforms Outspoken leader also calls for greater tolerance of political dissent
By Roger Mitton
HO CHI MINH CITY - VIETNAM'S former prime minister Vo Van Kiet is not pleased about the pace of reform in the country he ran for more than six years.
Mr Kiet is the architect of doi moi, the economic renewal programme that set the country on the path to more openness and a market-oriented system.
But he is disappointed that the present government under Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has not accelerated the renewal process to keep pace with today's globalised world.
In an exclusive interview with The Straits Times earlier this month, Mr Kiet said: 'The reforms are following the right road map, but not at the right speed.
'It might have been acceptable in the past when we first introduced doi moi, but not now when the country has changed and moved ahead so much.'
Appearing as fit and feisty as ever, the 84-year-old former premier always speaks out when he feels his successors have blundered.
Over the past year, he has chastised the ruling communist regime for trying to close down a private tiger park that helped maintain stocks of the dwindling Indochina species.
He also controversially suggested that perhaps the Communist Party should be more tolerant of criticism by political dissidents, as long as it is done within the bounds of the law.
And despite Vietnam's economy humming along at around 8 per cent growth annually, his criticism indicates that he feels far more can and should be done.
In his view, the government should speed up integration with the global economy and should fight domestic constraints such as corruption and red tape more robustly.
He praises private citizens who have exposed bribery and calls for hotlines to be set up so that people can report unjust practices and express dissatisfaction with the authorities.
Said Mr Kiet: 'The government's determination to fight corruption and red tape is quite high, but the effectiveness of the fight has not lived up to expectations.'
He added: 'Prime Minister Dung and the rest of the Cabinet have not been perfect.'
Still, he expressed guarded optimism that when the Premier reshuffles his Cabinet in the next few weeks, the new team may be more effective and rev up the reform process.
Mr Kiet made it clear that he supports the induction of more youthful, forward-looking ministers to replace some of the diehard conservatives.
He said: 'Generally, I support young forces who are brave, responsible and accountable.'
He mentioned young technocrats such as Education Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, Agriculture Minister Cao Duc Phat and Industry Minister Hoang Trung Hai.
The three are widely expected to receive promotions or have their ministries enlarged in the coming reshuffle.
The former premier had shepherded the careers of several current leaders, including PM Dung, President Nguyen Minh Triet and former premier Phan Van Khai - all of whom are fellow southerners.
Although Prime Minister Dung, who celebrates one year in office on Wednesday, is viewed as having done well in his first year in office, Mr Kiet felt it was too early to give an assessment.
'I cannot say whether I am happy or unhappy with certain aspects of the PM's performance, because I need more time for my evaluation. But I've been impressed by his determination.'
As well as faster economic reform, Mr Kiet said, other areas of society need to open up more. But he saw no need to allow more political parties.
'If a single party can lead the country and develop the economy, maintain stability, and satisfy the people, then it's not necessary to have new parties,' he said.
Still, he expressed disappointment that within the one-party system, there has been little evolution in the National Assembly, Vietnam's legislature.
In last month's legislative polls, there was a widespread sense of apathy among voters, which analysts said may have accounted for the reduced number of non-party members and independents who were elected.
Mr Kiet, who has criticised the candidate selection process as too restrictive, said he hoped there would be changes in the future to ensure the election of a stronger legislature.
He said: 'Personally, I think Vietnam should have raised the level of the election to new heights because we have lots of favourable conditions to do that.
'We should have a more intellectually capable and powerful National Assembly.'
As for foreign affairs and relations with the world's superpowers, Mr Kiet said Vietnam was trying to maintain a good relationship with its giant northern neighbour, China.
In the past, the two have clashed often and Mr Kiet conceded that even now there are still thorny issues to be resolved, namely the sovereignty dispute in the East Sea (South China Sea).
That said, he insisted that Vietnam would never work with one nation to hold back another.
'We are not developing our ties with the US and Japan in order to obstruct China or any other country, and vice-versa,' he said.
While ties with the US are improving, Mr Kiet still chided the US for its criticism of Vietnam.
'Each country has its own views about human rights and democracy, and each has the right to criticise others, including America,' he conceded.
But he queried whether Washington's chastisement was appropriate, given Vietnam's culture and current state of development.
'We have the right to define what is proper for us in terms of democracy and human rights,' he said.
And despite the criticism and the tragic loss of his first wife and four children in the Vietnam War, Mr Kiet displayed no animosity towards the US or the American people.
rogermitton@gmail.com
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Career highlights
Born: Nov 23, 1922, to a peasant family in southern Vinh Long province
Milestones:
1960: Elected alternate member of the Communist Party Central Committee
1972: Became full member of the committee
1976: Appointed deputy secretary of the Party Committee and chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City
1987: Became first deputy prime minister of Vietnam
1988: Appointed acting prime minister
1991: Became prime minister, serving until 1997
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Kiet's viewpoints
ON CURRENT GOVERNMENT'S PERFORMANCE
'The government's determination to fight corruption and red tape is quite high, but the effectiveness of the fight has not lived up to expectations. Prime Minister Dung and the rest of the current Cabinet have not been perfect.'
ON VIETNAM'S GROWING TIES WITH THE WORLD'S POWERS
'We are not developing our ties with the US and Japan in order to obstruct China or any other country, and vice versa.'
ON U.S. CRITICISM OF VIETNAM'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORDS
'We have the right to define what is proper for us in terms of democracy and human rights.'
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