The Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP), one of the last few hold-outs of Communism of the Stalinist era, has just gone through its Tenth Congress in Hanoi, a quinquennial ritual to rubber stamp its Politbureau’s choice of candidates for the 3 most crucial political positions in the country: General Secretary, President, and Prime Minister. The Congress is also an occasion for party members to discuss the action plan for the next 5 years. Its took place on the eve of the 31st anniversary of the take-over of South Vietnam by northern Communist forces on April 30, 1975. This Commentary by Le Duy Can of the Vietnamese Canadian Federation discusses corruption in Vietnam and the Manifesto 2006 petition by 118 Vietnamese citizens to demand democracy from their government.   more »

urls to sign petitions in support of 118 dissident religious leaders and professionals in Vietnam in demanding Freedom and Democracy. CONTENTS AND SIGNATURES OF ORIGINAL PETITION ON PREVIOUS BLOG POSTING, APRIL 8 Jean Libby Viet-Am Review   more »