In recent decades, the implementation of ‘Doi Moi’ (renovation) policy has helped Vietnam to intergrate into the unique mainstream of the modern world and turn its stagnant economy into one of the most rapid growths in Asia. As an official member of ASEAN, APEC, and WTO and with its integral achievements that have been well actualized, Vietnam has come to establish its diplomatic relations with many countries, join international organizations and attract a wide range of foreign investments. This results in the fact that Vietnam is becoming more active and creative than ever before, and seems to be wealthier in general. However, recent social situations have shown that the country’s economy is losing its orientation and in lack of sustainable development and human values; simply because its economic reform does not keep abreast of its political reform; and its economic growth has loose links with its social and well-rounded human development.The letter from the Conference of God’s People being organized by Vietnam’s Catholic Church in 2010 called on all the Catholics to try to identify and discern “ Vietnam’s social situation in the light of Catholic Faith”. In this point of view, on behalf of the Vietnamese - citizens and catholic, the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace of Vietnam’s Bishop Conference would like to express its appraisal, thought and concern about Vietnam’s current situation.
Economy
Although Vietnam is said to have gained its remarkably economic growth in the last two decades, getting out of low-income countries, the economy of this country in recent years has showed some precarious drawbacks impinging on people’s life and the country’s future. These are some undeniable proofs illustrated by its bad economic management, state-run economic groups making heavy loss, numerous enterprises going out of business while banks earning large profits, high inflation, wide gap between the rich and the poor, people’s quality of life reducing, many people caught in poverty traps, etc. Is such an economic model enriching privileged groups rather the grass roots?
Economy mainly based on state-run groups is the root of exclusivity and abuse of power, and deforms operations of the market-led economy. State-owned enterprises make a minor contribution to the country’s economic growth but are given numerous privileges and prerogatives that are unfair to private enterprises and restrain their own development. The country’s increasing foreign debt and trade deficit weaken the economy and put it under an unsteady place. Rising inflation is also the root of poverty and causes problems to people and enterprises. Massive waves of strikes show that workers’ interests are not respected. Some controversial projects - bauxite exploitation in the Central Highlands and nuclear power plants in the central province of Ninh Thuan - are still carried out by the government despite the people’s disapproval.
Law on land ownership
The current law on land in Vietnam, which is against nature and shows disrespect for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is the root of 80 percent of the land-related complaints, ranking from individuals to communities, from written documents to gatherings and violent actions.
The law ruling that land belongs to the people and is managed by the State, offers millions of people a sense of loss and no rights to work on their own land used by their generations. In reality, collective ownership is not the best way to manage land, and state ownership gives special privileges to levels of government authorities in making plans and withdrawing land from people, which takes basic rights away from people.
Inadequate compensation in land disputes also upsets people. To solve disputes about compensation between land evictees and the government, investors have to be awarded compensation equivalent to their loss, and their life should be better or as good as it is. As land price increases enormously after projects run, land evictees should be offered profits by various ways. It is important that the land law be amended immediately so that people enjoy their ownership and land withdrawal of government authorities is limited.
Social Environment
There are matters of concern to the society in Vietnam. Deceptiveness and violence, which Vietnam bishops highlighted in 2008, feature among them. They spread not only in streets, business affairs and state-run media but at schools and government organization.
In addition to social evils, there are consumerism, selfish behavior, respect for fame and fortune, emotionlessness to people’s pain, etc. They show a sharp decline in moral values which used to maintain a high standard in society.
Government corruption is widespread, legendary and serious but so far no particular cases have gone to trial as a word of warning. As a result, people are losing their trust in the government.
Complaints, mainly related to land disputes including religious properties, take place in complicated and serious ways, and cause tense and insecurities to people. Recent land disputes in Tien Lang district in Hai Phong city and Van Giang district in Hung Yen province have concerned all people of goodwill. Those cases also force the government to look back on its solution to land disputes and to amend land laws in terms of land area limit, duration of land use and compensation, if the government has yet to decide to respect private ownership.
Another urgent concern is government officials’ way of working in an authoritarian, dubious and unprofessional way. The visible manifestation of imposing state views and lifestyles on society is that public policies discriminate individuals working for the State against business people and casual workers, between urban residents against migrant workers.
The Law
The constitution and law in each country reflect its cultural and traditional characteristics and particularities, but have to obey international legal principles. Vietnam’s legal system is large but works inefficiently from legislation to the executive since it lacks publicity, transparency and especial judicial independence.
Law enforcement, arbitrary and not strict in localities make many people become victims of injustice or place them in a state of deadlock. In some cases, several arrests break the Vietnamese Criminal Procedure Code and international declaration and convention Vietnam adopts.
Detaining people but not bringing them to trial is disguised as “sending to education camps” within a certain time limit and this punishment imposed on dissidents is in violation of human rights. The “education” punishment used to be used by French colonists in Vietnam, later reiterated in Resolution 49/NQ-TVQH on June 20, 1961 and imposed on former South Vietnam officials and soldiers. It was declared invalid in 1989 by Ordinance on handling of administrative violations, but has taken effect again from 1995. It is hoped that this kind of punishment will be abrogated in the future.
Poor management and governance by levels of government authorities are only resolved when the country builds a real state of law and establish an active civil society. This growing political trend could not be reversed despite present challenges.
National Boundaries, Islands and Sovereignty
There were military conflicts on East Sea in the last decades of the previous century. In recent years, marine disputes between Vietnam and China have been steadily escalating.
China uses both honeyed words and strong actions to claim its sovereignty over the East Sea.
At the same time, Vietnam seems to produce nervous reaction to its neighboring state. That creates opportunities for enemy forces to criticize its policy. It is surprising that the government has been cracking down on patriotic organizations and individuals who have protested against China’s clear invasion. People are dissatisfied with government leaders’ ambiguity and inconsistency in marking the national boundaries and defending its sovereignty over East Sea. Patriots and Intellectuals warn the government of risks of national security posed by major projects allowing foreigners to mine for Bauxite or rent forests and land. Moreover, information on this matter is not provided properly and publicly. As a result, unskilled workers from foreign countries rush to work on those sites, which arouses a feeling insecurity in society at the moment and in the future.
Environment
Experts forecast that Vietnam will be one of the world four countries who will severely suffer climate change. That is due to the impact of global climate change and especially Vietnam paying little attention to protection of the environment and sustainability of development.
It is worried that we make awkward and hasty decision on commercial exploitation of the mineral resources. In recent years, the State allows foreigners to invest in numerous projects that pose real risk to damage to the environment, and ecological and climate change: commercial exploitation of bauxite in the Central Highlands, and upstream forests in 18 provinces rented by foreigners. Foreign protection of the environment.
Intellectuals’ Roles
1,000 years ago, our ancestors founded Quoc Tu Giam and were aware that talented and moral people are the nation’s life-sustaining sources. If the nation has such numerous sources; it will be powerful and affluent. Without such sources, conversely, it will be poor and have no power. This saying is still relevant in the era of grey matter, the age of knowledge economy.
Regardless of countless doctors who are suspected to have poor quality, Vietnam has a lot of real intellectuals of good will. It is regretted that their roles are not fully appreciated and even are marginalized or ignored. In some cases, the reason is they have different views on social realities or the nation’s future vision. Is the state mechanism inadequate and not open enough to attract intellectuals? Has it yet reformed radically by the modern society’s needs? When is the civil society’s role recognized and given welcome opportunities to build the country?
Education and Health Care
The nation’s future largely depends on education. It is an undeniable fact that the nation’s education has produced several talented people and made great contribution to the country’s development. During the past decades, however, our education faces numerous problems of its contents and teaching and learning methods. The country has made efforts to reform the education system but has not achieved major breakthroughs. Why? We painfully admit that we lack fundamental philosophy of education and long-term educational strategy.
We face growing evil deeds in education, school-age children crimes, and qualifications trade as a serious consequence of the above situation. Now the country runs the risk of trailing in many fields.
Thanks to applying new technologies for years, Vietnam’s health care has gained great achievements in medical treatment in overcrowded hospitals and hospitals fee increase that burden poor patients, people also complain about health care givers’ attitude towards patients such as insensitivity, irresponsibility, harassment and immorality.
The state has called for privatization of education and healthcare, it should create conditions for local religions to directly participate in the two sectors.
Religion
In the past time, the government gave favorable opportunities to religious activities. Religious facilities that were destroyed in wars were repaired or rebuilt, and new facilities have also been built. However, regulations on religions remain unhelpful and have yet to meet religious people’s expectation, especially religious organizations’ legal entity. The crucial problem is that religious are recognized but not given legal entity. So they are unable to carry out and safeguard their constitutional rights like other organizations.
The government plans to issue a decree “detailed regulations and measures implementation of some clauses of the Beliefs and Religious Ordinance”, replacing the Decree 22/2005/ND-CP issued March 1, 2005. It is appreciated if the new decree is drafted in the light of renovation and goodwill; it will create conditions for followers of religions to enjoy freedom and serve their compatriots and defend the Fatherland. However, some people fear that the new decree may restrict religious activities more than the present decree. The serious question remains that when do religious citizens get as fair treatment as others by the constitution and civil laws, not a religious ordinance?
The above perspectives are from our Christian faith and civic responsibilities, wishing to make a contribution to the country’s sustainable development, democracy and humanity. In this case, Pope Benedict XVI’s speech to Vietnam’s bishops on June 27, 2009 is still relevant to the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace: “the Church never wants to replace the government, but wish that in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation, the Church can make its contribution to the nation’s life and serve all people.”
May 12, 2012, on the 121th anniversary of the encyclical Rerum Novarum
Episcopal Commission For Justice and Peace of the Vietnam Bishops’ Conference
