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Communist Medieval Justice Caught by the 21ST Century Technology |
Ðằng Vân
Point of View
Week Ending 1 April 2007
The images of Catholic Priest Father Nguyen Van Ly being inhumanely manhandled by CPV’s (Communist Party of Vietnam) prison security personnel at the Thua Thien Hue People’s Court and his subsequent sentencing, on 30/3/07, to 8 years imprisonment for “Spreading Propaganda Material against the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” are the most dramatic illustrations of rough Communist justice so far into the 21ST Century.
His associates were also convicted and sentenced:
Mr. Nguyen Phong 6 years
Mr. Nguyen Binh Thanh 5 years
Ms. Hoang Thi Anh Dao 1 ½ years to be suspended
Ms. Le Thi Le Hang 1 ½ years to be suspended
These barbaric images, vividly captured by a digital camera, thus easily propagated around the world, on the information superhighway of the 21ST Century, help the rest of humanity understand the deep plight of the people of Vietnam. They are enduring the indescribable suffering inflicted upon them by a totalitarian regime whose brutality is medieval but caught up in the time-warp of the new century.
These images are the more dramatic when Father Ly summed up all his remaining strength to cry on the face of this Kangaroo Court: “Down with the Communist Party of Vietnam!” Whereupon, the whole world saw the panic stricken faces of the three prison security guards accompanying him. One of them hurriedly and clumsily gagged Father Ly with his bare hands.
The white panic, inhumanity and clumsiness of these prison officers are symptomatic of the CPV regime itself.
The CPV is indeed stricken with panic because it knows that it has lost control of the hearts and minds of the people.
In order to hang on to absolute political power, it must resort to inhumane treatments of all dissidents.
But with the information revolution of the new century, such treatments can no longer be hidden from its people or the peoples of the world community. The clumsiness of the regime in setting up firewalls, in issuing decrees to restrict freedom of expression and association, in suppressing religious expressions is only as effective as the bare hands of this prison security guard on the golden mouth of Father Ly. Too late! His voice had reached resonance in the hearts and minds of our people:
“Down with the Communist Party of Vietnam”
A fellow Catholic priest Father Pham Van Loi who had been at the trial pointed out at two significant aspects of the proceedings:
These two aspects clearly contravene provisions of all the international covenants and conventions on religious, civil and human rights ever entered into by the CPV regime in Vietnam.
The CPV is resorting to similarly desperate measures not only against a religious leader such as Father Ly, but also against other religious figures such as The Most Venerable Patriarch Thich Quang Do of the United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation; Mr. Le Quang Liem of the Hoa Hao Buddhist Sect.
In so doing the CPV is really digging its own grave.
Its modus operandi seems to be absolute power or death.
Vietnamese people are extremely religious. Their religious leaders are widely revered. Antagonizing them is certain to generate immense anger.
How can a regime survive such deep rooted anger from its own people?
Did their teacher Ho Chi Minh teach them to do so?
If so was he mad?
The most reasonable explanation is that the regime is losing control and is reacting irrationally without regard to the consequences of its own action.
Meanwhile, it is a sad fact that Western Nations have failed the Vietnamese people:
It appears that the West has only paid attention to regimes such as the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe, the Military Regimes in Burma, and the Rule of the Mullahs in Iran.
Yet when compared to leaders of the ruling Communist regimes in North Korea, Cuba, Mainland China and especially Vietnam, the above dictators look like angels in fairy land.
Have you ever heard of an opposition leader in Vietnam? You have one in Zimbabwe even though he is not immune to severe thrashing by the regime.
Can you imagine a situation where Aung San Suu Kyi was physically dragged to Court and gagged like Father Ly? Of course not. The Burmese regime leaders are no wild beasts like leaders of the CPV.
How does Iran compare to Vietnam? Does Iran have one single political party? No. It has more than one party and it has genuine elections. Although politicians have to play second fiddle to the mullahs.
The west is responsible for the birth of the Communist monster in Asia, including Vietnam. Now it has the hypocrisy of washing its hands off our people’s struggle to free themselves from the claws of this monster.
As far as Western responsibilities are concerned:
Wasn’t it a mad German philosopher who gave birth to Marxism?
Wasn’t it French imperialist hunger for territorial conquest in Indochina that gave the Communist the perfect opportunity to take root and prosper in Vietnam?
Wasn’t it short-sighted and ignorant American military and diplomatic initiatives that delivered South Vietnam and indeed the entire Vietnam nation on a plate to the Communists?
Wasn’t it selfish and short-sighted British diplomacy that allowed their mates the French colonial administration to return to Vietnam to disarm the Japanese in 1945, when the later surrendered, instead to returning Vietnam to the control of a proper nationalist administration?
It is utterly unfair that the West now pretends that all is quiet in Vietnam, turn their back on us and leave our people with a monster of their making.
To the peoples and leaders of Western democracies:
Of course, our people shall deal with this Communist curse and eventually rid ourselves of it altogether. But remember you are morally responsible, and do not forget to lend our people a hand by mandating human rights and democratic reforms on your trade and diplomatic initiatives.
As far as the Catholic church is concerned:
Father Ly is a child of the Holy See. He needs your loving protection.
It appears that the latest attempt by the Holy See to resume diplomatic relations with Vietnam has resulted in no benefit for Father Ly and his associates whatsoever.
Experience teaches us that as far as the CPV is concerned, it has never signed any treaty with any other state worth the paper on which it is written.
The severe suppression of Catholic followers in Vietnam seems to have even gathered momentum since the visit of the Vatican delegation.
As the spiritual super-power in the world, the Holy See should realize that the CPV only understands the language of force. Thus it is time for the Holy See to exercise its moral influence on the minds and hearts of all Catholics in the Community of Nations to bring to bear on the CPV, with a view to implementation of religious freedom and democratic reforms. This would be not only for the sake of millions of Vietnamese Catholics but for the sake of all Vietnamese citizens.
As far as that other temporal super-power the USA is concerned:
It looks as though it is high time that you have to restore the so-called Socialist Republic of Vietnam to this infamous roll of Countries of Particular Concerns in your esteemed State Department.
Ðằng Vân
3 April 2007