A new helmsman takes over

The task before Vietnam is to set its house in order and go in for economic modernisation, writes Amit Baruah. Is the communist party under a new chief up to the task?

COMMUNIST PARTIES may have been squeezed out or battered into submission the world over, but some continue to survive and even thrive. The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), which recently held its Ninth National Party Congress in Hanoi, is a case in point. At a time when the forces of globalisation and free trade are on the rampage, the CPV Congress, with all the red flags, may seem an anachronism to many. But not in Vietnam where the Communist Party, with all the country's problems, remains firmly entrenched.

The four-day Congress saw the exit of Mr. Le Kha Phieu as party supremo. In his place, Mr. Nong Duc Manh, National Assembly Chairman, was elected general secretary, without question the most important job in Vietnam. It would appear that the ethnic unrest last month in the country's Central Highlands sealed Mr. Phieu's fate. Earlier, in January, in the run- up to the Congress, it appeared that Mr. Phieu was on his way out, but he bounced back.

Vietnam-watchers, however, are of the opinion that Mr. Phieu could not hang on to the job on account of the serious unrest in the Central Highlands. The former General Secretary had already drawn the ire of three powerful advisors - Mr. Do Muoi, Mr. Le Duc Anh and Mr. Vo Van Kiet - who had circulated a letter about Mr. Phieu's performance to Central Committee members. They had suggested that all those over 70 should not hold office.

While the debate that went on in party forums was intense, the final changeover itself was smooth. ``The Congress took note of important contributions made by Comrade Le Kha Phieu during his term of office to further enhancing the leadership of the party central committee and the politbureau to ensuring national stability and development, expanding external relations, and raising the country's status in the region and the world as a whole,'' Mr. Manh said in a tribute to his predecessor.

The change in leadership also shows the consistency of post-Ho Chi Minh politics in Vietnam. While party leaders have been powerful since the death of Ho, none has been able to dominate the party and the country. Leaders have come and gone - a change in leadership is not seen as unnatural in Vietnam.

Available information suggests that the new general secretary will adopt a consensus-driven style of leadership, something which he displayed in the National Assembly as well. A soft approach towards ticklish internal issues and an intensification in the battle against corruption is also expected. A nine-member Inspection (Control) Board, headed by Mr. Le Hong Anh, a politbureau member, has been set up. It is intended as an instrument to combat sources of corruption. Talk to entrepreneurs and ordinary people in the country and they will tell you how serious the problem is.

In yet another change, both the politbureau and the central committee have a definitely younger look. With seven politbureau members having been replaced, it has a younger look as does the Central Committee.

A reading of the political report presented to the congress makes it clear that the party is aware of the problems and pitfalls in the drive for economic opening up and modernisation. ``It should be underlined that corruption and degradation in political integrity, ethics and lifestyle of not a small segment of party officials and members are hindering the implementation of party guidelines, decisions and policies, causing resentment among the population and eroding their trust.... ours remains an economically underdeveloped country where the people's living standards are still low, where international competition is becoming increasingly fierce; if we do not rapidly surge ahead, we will lag even further behind economically,'' the political report said.

Scathing criticism? There's more. Another sample: ``The living standards of the population, especially farmers, have been too low in certain localities.... the rich-poor polarisation has augmented rapidly among the various regions, between urban and rural areas, and among different sectors of the population.... complaining and petitioning by the people in many localities have dragged on and become complicated, but not yet timely responded to by the authorities at various levels...''

For the moment, the Party and the Government remain focussed on the task of economic transformation and ``proactive'' integration into the ``international and regional economies''. In the period 2001-2005, a target of 7.5 per cent annual GDP growth has been fixed. Increasingly, the country's foreign policy, too, has been geared to expanding economic opportunities.

``Our task in the field of foreign relations consists of the continued preservation of a peaceful environment and creation of favourable international conditions for accelerated socio- economic development, national industrialisation and modernisation....'' the political report added.

There is little doubt that a country like Vietnam with excellent literacy levels and improving living standards can emerge as a major economic powerhouse if it can manage its economy well. Vietnam, however, will do things in its own way and at its own pace. As demonstrated more than once, the country can deal with any kind of adversity. The challenge before Vietnam is to set its house in order and go in for economic modernisation programmes which will benefit the largest number of its citizens. Is the communist party up to the task?

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Opinion
Previous : The divide runs deep