Posted on 05/11/2002 7:44:34 PM PDT by zapiks44
HANOI, Vietnam -- Protests by groups of citizens near government buildings show that democracy in Vietnam has become "excessive," the head of the ruling Communist Party said Friday.
Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh said citizens with complaints should confine themselves to filing grievances with local government agencies.
"The fact that people gather with placards is abnormal," Manh said. "Other countries would not allow that. Our democracy is in many cases excessive."
Public protests, once a rarity in Vietnam, have become more frequent in recent years. Many of the protesters are villagers who have been unable to settle disputes over land taken by local officials for development projects or for other purposes.
During a six-month period last year, 97,952 people registered complaints and criticisms at government offices. More than 80 percent involved land and housing grievances, according to the State Inspector's Office.
Manh, who is running for re-election to the National Assembly in May 19 polls, said in a campaign appearance that disputes over land and housing should present "no problem" if handled well, since "they have nothing to do with politics."
"However, we should not underestimate the issue. It could become political as a result of influences from outside or opportunists from inside," he said, referring to overseas and domestic groups critical of the communist government.
On Thursday, a group of 30 to 40 Hanoi residents protested with placards and banners near the Communist Party headquarters over the displacement of more than 100 families from land slated to become a public park.
The protesters' signs said they had been unfairly pushed out of their homes in Hanoi's Thanh Cong district without being compensated.
On Wednesday, two police officers in Ho Chi Minh City were seriously burned when they tried to stop a 72-year-old man from lighting a can of gasoline to protest low compensation from city authorities for his house and land.
Sorry I couldn't help myself :>}
And what goes around.........comes around!!
Always good to see a liberal speaking his mind.
Well, actually, the actions of the U.S. were intended to prevent this kind of crap. But once the Commie bastidges took over the rest of the country, they began to run roughshod over everyone - still do.
New York, NY -- The fact that Hillary Clinton became an elected Senator shows that democracy in New York has become "excessive" ...
Mark W.
Greg
That is basicaly socialism/communism/Nazism etc. Ideologies are inherently tyrannical and cultist, because they impose the idea. At least in religions one can claim the designs of God are different that from the cleric's ideals, and plurality has a chance.
But since when a man could not be master of his own consciousness and basic autonomous functions, properties, knowledge and experiences on his dominion? Since the left said we all should be dead and them thinking.
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