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Thayer Le Cong Dinh Dissident Arrested
Thayer Le Cong Dinh Dissident Arrested
Thayer Le Cong Dinh Dissident Arrested
strategies, and most importantly, new leadership. The Le Cong Dinh case will most definitely
cast a chill over party members who would like to see greater political liberalization.
Q3-Would you say the way the Vietnamese authorities are handling this case since the lawyer
was arrested reveals something special, more general, about Vietnam now, its political
system, the human rights situation, the way the authorities are handling those issues ?
ANSWER: The most important aspect of the Le Cong Dinh case is that it demonstrates the
ruthless application of the government’s recently approved policy of using ‘information and
propaganda’ to project its case in a more sophisticated and targeted manner by acting more
proactively.
Recall the case of Father Nguyen Van Ly which was broadcast on closed circuit television to
foreign diplomats and observers. This attempt to manipulate his trial to serve the ends of the
state backfired when Father Ly was physically muzzled and his photo was sent around the
world. Vietnam, instead of retreating, has developed a new playbook to manipulate
information to justify its actions.
The Le Cong Dinh case illustrates several aspects about contemporary Vietnam. First, it
demonstrates that the regime will repress any person who makes contacts with overseas pro-
democracy parties, whom the regime brands as ‘terrorist’ and ‘reactionary’. Second, the Dinh
case is aimed at intimidating and silencing domestic critics who might have become
emboldened to become more politically active. As Vietnam moves to convene the eleventh
party congress, the public will be invited to make comments on key policy documents. The
response in 2006 was overwhelming. The communist regime is demonstrating that it will
suppress any criticism that questions its legitimacy to rule. Third, the Dinh case may be
viewed as a kind of shadow play directed by conservative forces within the party, mainly
centred in the public security bloc and information ministry and departments, to demonstrate
their strength as Vietnam enters the political season in the lead up to the eleventh national
party congress. They want to preempt the discussion on the future nature and shape of
political reforms in Vietnam.