During such meetings, as well as in their documents, the so-called Vietnamese patriots made slanderous charges against the Vietnamese Party and State. They claimed that article 4 of the current Constitution legalises the one-party regime and monopoly on press, leading to the dictatorial regime which oppresses people’s democratic requirements.

To justify their charges, they painstakingly lobbied some Vietnamese nationals in the US, France and other countries to sign the petition to be sent to their parliaments with the aim of putting pressure on Vietnam regarding human rights and democracy issues.

Such slanderous charges have been made by hostile forces over the past years to sabotage the Vietnamese Party and State. The only difference this time is that they tried by all means to convince the public, particularly powerful agencies in the US and other countries that the charges were true by releasing the declaration and appealing for signatures to their petition.

Notably, the move comes at a time when US legislators are considering the grant of PNTR status for Vietnam, paving the way for the country to join the World Trade Organisation. Despite public opinion holding that it is time the US broke with the past and completely normalised its relations with Vietnam by granting PNTR to the country, some bad elements continue going to great lengths to bar Vietnam’s international integration process, undermine its ongoing Renewal process, and dishearten investors and international friends in the country’s economic development. They are not Vietnamese patriots, but betrayers to their fatherland and compatriots. Their acts are unacceptable to those who have deep love for the country.

Currently, the PNTR legislation has been submitted to the US Senate and the House of Representatives. According to Virginia Foote, President of the US-Vietnam Business Council, the legislation has received strong bipartisan support from congressmen, many war veterans and Vietnamese-born Americans.

She noted that US politicians have adopted active and fair views on human rights and democracy issues in Vietnam. Many have urged the US administration to put aside the past with Vietnam and hoped that President George W. Bush’s plan to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in Hanoi later this year will open in a new chapter in bilateral relations.

It is worth mentioning that under the Vietnamese law, all citizens have the right to freedom of personal life, family, housing and correspondence and that Vietnam has made a constant effort to ensure fundamental rights of its citizens.

The Politburo of the Party Central Committee has recently issued regulations on promoting democracy at the grassroots level, and thanks to this, democratic practice in localities has improved significantly.

With its democratic tradition, the Party and Government of Vietnam always create favourable conditions for its people to discuss and give opinions on key national issues. Certain shortcomings in implementing the regulations in several sectors and localities do not reflect the nature of the regime and the Communist Party of Vietnam. The most important thing is that we have realised these shortcomings in order to perfect democracy in the country.

Democracy and human rights values in Vietnam are undeniable. Any schemes to deny this fact and turn back the wheel of history are doomed to failure.