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April 30, 2018 43rd Anniversary of the Defeat of Long Live Vietnam!
43rd
Anniversary
of
the
Defeat of U.S. Aggression and Intervention in Vietnam 43rd Anniversary of the Defeat of U.S. Aggression and Intervention in Vietnam Long Live Vietnam!
On April 30, 1975, forty-three years ago, the U.S. imperialists had to flee Vietnam as their puppet regime in Saigon collapsed and their armed aggression and intervention in Vietnam was defeated. This war of intervention and aggression by U.S. imperialism goes down in the annals of aggressive wars as one of the most brutal. It left more than three million Vietnamese dead, millions more wounded and homeless and the entire country and its economy in ruin. The devastation caused to the country and the people was similar to that in Korea which was the first place the U.S. suffered defeat. As in Korea so too in Vietnam, U.S. imperialism imposed an arbitrary division and then intervened in the civil war on one side against the other in the name of democracy. But as with the Koreans, the Vietnamese would not permit the division of their country and fought for its unification. On April 30, 1975, they won!
The barbarity of the intervention and aggression against the people of Vietnam by U.S. imperialism was thoroughly condemned by the peoples of the world, including within the United States itself where a vigorous anti-war movement was built. The heroism and courage of the people of Vietnam was such that they successfully defended their nation and prevailed. They fought without flinching for their national liberation, reunification and independence. The heroic people of Vietnam fought for the peoples of the entire world who were also under fire from U.S. imperialism. They won victory in the battlefield. The victorious people of Vietnam, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, not only proved their mettle by defeating the U.S., but also by building a modern country since the war, a country which seeks prosperity for its people, a cause to which everyone can contribute. The Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist)
resolutely
hails the historic victory of the heroic people of Vietnam and
their achievements and successes in their struggle since the war
for peace, independence and prosperity. We condemn U.S.
imperialism and all reactionaries who continue to push private
interests at the cost of the interests of the peoples of the
world, committing crimes against the peace and treating human
beings as "collateral damage" as they did in Vietnam.
Hail the Anniversary of the Victory of
the Struggle
of the Heroic Vietnamese People for
All Out to Strengthen the Bonds of Friendship Between the Peoples of Canada and Vietnam!
Canadians in Vancouver and Toronto, including several of Vietnamese origin, have informed of anti-Vietnam provocations which serve to harm relations between Canada and Vietnam and divide the people, by preying on their lack of information about Vietnam. Amongst other things, the flag of the long-deposed and reactionary Saigon regime, overthrown during the Vietnamese liberation war on April 30, 1975, is being presented in Canada at certain public and official events as if it is the official flag of Vietnam, which it is not.[1] Not only ordinary people who are not well-informed but also municipal councillors and officials at various levels have raised this flag or worn its colours on scarves. While some are clearly reactionaries who oppose respecting Vietnam's sovereignty and have a habit of sowing divisions in the community in Canada and dividing Canadians, others think they are celebrating Canada-Vietnam friendship. They are not happy to learn they are being used as pawns to promote hostility and divisions. The yellow flag represents the regime
that
collaborated with the U.S. warmongers in their war of aggression
against Vietnam. Within the Vietnamese community in Canada which
is 240,000-strong, only a fraction -- some 22,000 -- escaped for
political reasons in 1975 when that regime fell.
That was 43
years ago so not that many remain who are motivated to wreak
revenge to this day. Their cause covers up that it was not the
communists who divided Vietnam, dropped agent orange and committed all
the other crimes against the people. It was the U.S. imperialists.
These anti-communists collaborated with the U.S. regime, themselves
committed crimes against the people and then went all out to save
themselves calling their exit "a journey to freedom." Some were major
drug lords or were those who trafficked women and children and
conciliated with heinous crimes against the people. Their U.S.
patrons lost the war and did not even take measures to protect
them. Their attempt to foment hatred and anti-communism against
the current government of Vietnam and divide Canadians on this
basis is nonetheless facilitated by certain sections of the
Canadian ruling class. These are the same forces behind the
construction of an
anti-communist memorial in Ottawa. They also lobbied for and got a
reprehensible piece of legislation denominating April 30,
celebrated as Reunification Day in Vietnam, as a "Journey to
Freedom Day" to condemn the victory of the people of Vietnam
against U.S. aggression.[2] It is
simply not true. The promotion of the flag of the anti-communist pro-U.S. imperialist regime which was overthrown in Vietnam seeks to undermine the bonds of peace and friendship between the Canadian and Vietnamese people and between Canada and Vietnam. For it to be supported by any official circles at any level during official events and people's festivals is reprehensible and against all norms of diplomatic relations. Canadians can give a fitting response to the provocations of this band of reactionaries who fled Vietnam after the fall of Saigon. They can speak out against attempts to insinuate a revival of the long-deposed and reactionary "south Vietnamese" regime by imposing its illegitimate flag and symbols at official celebrations and community festivals linked to building friendship amongst the peoples. For official bodies to permit themselves to be fooled by flying a flag which does not represent Vietnam, under the hoax that Canada protects freedom of speech for dissenters, is not defensible. The real flag of Vietnam, its history and its people's victory over foreign invaders are known and knowable. Canada and Vietnam this year celebrate 45 years of ongoing diplomatic relations.[3] It is a good occasion to strengthen the bonds of friendship between our two countries and our two peoples. Canadians from coast to coast, from all walks of life, stood second to none along with peace- and justice-loving peoples the world over, in opposing the U.S. aggression against Vietnam. Many Canadians came to this country to dodge the draft or escape the punishment meted out to those who deserted the U.S. armed forces because their conscience would not permit them to commit the crimes which they were ordered to carry out by the U.S. against the Vietnamese people. Let us unite with the people of Vietnamese origin in Canada and all those who fought against the war in Vietnam and opposed the arbitrary foreign division of their country to foment civil war in the name of anti-communism.
Notes1. A representative sampling of cases where the community has been put under pressure to identify as followers of the Saigon regime. - Coquitlam Pageant and Concert May 21, 2017 (Source: BoatPeople.ca) 2. Journey to Freedom Day was brought into being in Canada by the Journey to Freedom Day Act, legislation put forward by Senator Thanh Hai Ngo and passed by the Harper government in April 2015. It seeks to turn history on its head and denigrate and obscure the Vietnamese people's victory over the U.S. invaders. See FYI on the Journey to Freedom Day Act is this issue of TML Daily. 3. Canada established diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1973. It opened an Embassy in Hanoi in 1994 and a Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City in 1997. The Government of Canada notes: "Canada and Vietnam maintain good bilateral relations. In 2013, Canada and Vietnam celebrated the 40th anniversary of their bilateral relations and many activities took place to commemorate this important year. There is an active 220,000+ strong Vietnamese-Canadian community in Canada. "Canada's relations with Vietnam are expanding, particularly through rapidly-increasing trade and investment and a prominent development assistance presence. Vietnam is confirmed as one of Canada's 25 countries of focus. "Canada and Vietnam share membership in multiple multilateral forums, including ASEAN [the Association of South East Asian Nations], in which Canada is a Dialogue Partner; Vietnam was Canada's Coordinating Country for 2006-09. Canada and Vietnam are also members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the ASEAN Regional Forum, the Francophonie and the United Nations." 50th Anniversary of Infamous My Lai Massacre
My Lai massacre took place on March 16, 1968, when 504 unarmed villagers -- 182 women, and 173 children and infants -- in the centre of present-day Tinh Khê Commune, in Son Tinh District, were brutally killed by soldiers of Charlie Company, under the command of Lieutenant Calley. Vietnam commemorated the victims of the massacre on March 16, with various dignitaries in attendance. Former U.S. veterans of the Vietnam War were also present to express remorse and seek forgiveness from the Vietnamese people. One of the U.S. veterans present was former U.S. Army photographer Ronald L. Haeberle. His photos documented the massacre and brought world attention to the crimes, further galvanizing anti-war sentiment in the U.S. and around the world. At the time, Haeberle carried two cameras; one assigned by the U.S. Army with two rolls of black and white film, to follow the action. He returned these rolls of film to the commander of Charlie Company, but kept his own camera, with which he took 18 color photos that were published in Life magazine, exposing the true story. "My photos of the massacre told the world the truth about what happened 50 years ago. The true story had not been told in America and the world. I just wanted to tell everyone about the massacre with my photos from the field," he said during his visit to My Lai this March.
Another U.S. veteran at the ceremony, Roy Mike Boehm, has made regular visits to My Lai, where he would play violin in honour of the victims of the massacre and in promotion of peace. Boehm has established an NGO to raise funds for women, farmers and victims of Agent Orange to buy livestock as well as to support poverty reduction efforts. He calls on other U.S. veterans to visit Vietnam to bridge and promote the relationship between the country and its international friends to alleviate the pain of war. U.S. veteran Mike Hastie, who was in An Khê of Gia
Lai
Province in 1970, joined the commemoration with his only daughter. "The
My Lai massacre was only one of
different massacres during the war. Vietnamese people are respected by
the world when they demonstrated how to protect the country's
independence," he said, adding, "I was born in the
U.S., but my heart belongs to Vietnam. I'm so proud of Vietnamese
people and the country."
Do Ba, a survivor of the massacre, recalled that he was rescued by Hugh Thomson (a helicopter pilot) and Larry Coburn (a gunner on the helicopter) when they stopped U.S. soldiers killing residents of Thuan Yên and Tu Cung hamlets. "I was 7 years old, and I was lucky when the two American soldiers saved me from the killing. It was a bloody day in my life," Ba said. Pham Thành Công, 63, another survivor of the massacre, recalled that the morning on that day was broken by 30 minutes of shelling at around 5:30 am. The assault continued with rockets launched from helicopters. Eight of his 15 family members tried to escape but were shot; the rest were killed by mines or grenades. An eight year-old boy running from the shelter was shot dead, his mouth still full with the morning's rice, he recalled. He said his mother and six brothers were killed in their house. He was seriously injured but was saved by his father. The March 16 ceremony in My Lai was attended by former President Truong Tan Sang; Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hòa Bình, local residents and U.S. veterans. The ceremony inaugurated the My Lai Memorial Foundation, to build connections between the peace-loving peoples of the world. Participants in the event visited the three-hectare My Lai Museum, that retells the massacre through images of damaged thatched roofs and footprints of villagers escaping from U.S. soldiers in March 1968. The main building at the centre of the museum complex houses over 1,000 items and photos, remnants of the massacre. The site also preserves a stream in the village, where American soldiers herded remaining villagers to kill them off, turning the water red. A 41-hectare My Lai Peace Park is also planned for construction in the village, and a square will also be built in the coming years. Dang Ngoc Dung, Vice Chairman of the Provincial
People's Committee,
said the memorial ceremony of the My Lai massacre "reminds the world
that lovers of peace should do
everything to preserve peace forever, and ensure the My Lai massacre is
never repeated."
(Vietnam News Service. Photos: R. Haeberle, Vietnam News Service) Building a Vibrant and Prosperous Nation Joyous Celebrations of Reunification DayVietnam's National Reunification Day is the joyful occasion celebrated on April 30, marking the day in 1975 when the U.S. imperialists were defeated and the north and south of the country were finally reunited. Major celebrations are taking place in Hanoi, Ho Chi
Minh City
and elsewhere. Amidst this celebratory atmosphere, several major
cultural festivals, fairs and other events are being held. Halong Carnival 2018
The Halong Carnival 2018 kicked off on April 28 at the Sun World Halong Park in Halong City in the northern province of Quang Ninh. The theme this year is "Ha Long: Heritage Wonder, Friendly Destination." It is one of the first activities to start the National Tourism Year 2018 in the province and will feature a host of activities including music, art performances, a street parade and fireworks exhibitions. Pham Ngoc Thuy, director of the provincial tourism department, was quoted by local media as saying that the province will promote tangible and intangible cultural heritage events and unique tourism attractions to spur tourism growth this year. It hopes to attract 15 to 16 million tourists, including seven million from abroad, and make total tourism revenue worth 30-40 trillion Vietnamese dong (VND) by 2020 (U.S.$1.3-1.7 billion), the Vietnam News Agency reported. The annual Top City Destinations Ranking report released in November of last year at the World Travel Market event in London listed Halong City, home to the World Heritage-listed Halong Bay, 56th in the world's 100 leading cities in terms of international tourist destinations. Hue Festival
The 10th edition of the biennial Hue Festival is being held from April 28 to May 2 in the former imperial capital of Hue. It is expected to give a significant boost to the province's tourism growth this year. It will feature a street carnival, an international food festival and a hot air balloon show, plus traditional court music and dragon boat races. Danang Fireworks Exhibition
The central city of Danang is hosting the Danang International Fireworks Festival 2018 over a period of two months from April 29 to June 30 with its biggest shows ever. Two years ago, the festival was named "the Leading Festival and Event Destination 2016" by the World Travel Awards. This year's festival, titled "The Legends of Bridges," will feature stories about well-known bridges by teams from Poland, France, the United States, Italy, Hong Kong, Sweden, Portugal and host Vietnam. The total number of visitors to Danang City last year was estimated at 6.6 million, jumping 19 per cent year-on-year, with international tourists accounting for 2.3 million of the visitors. The city expects 7.47 million tourists in 2018, including three million foreigners. Hung King Festival
In the northern Vietnam province of Phu Tho, the Hung King Festival recalls a period in Vietnam's history going back millennia. It is where the Hung Kings founded the country of Van Lang, the predecessor to the modern Vietnam. This festival was held from April 21 to 25. It featured a multitude of traditional and cultural activities evoking long-held customs and ceremonies kept intact for centuries. Participants learned about the history of the Vietnamese nation through art performances, cooking contests, a book fair, and dragon and lion dances. One of the highlights of the festival is hat xoan, the traditional folk music of Phu Tho province performed during the first two months of the lunar calendar. In 2017, UNESCO inscribed hat xoan on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Events in Ho Chi Minh CityA trade and culture exchange program among member states of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) took place in Ho Chi Minh City's September 23 Park from April 18-24 to mark Reunification Day and the third anniversary of the founding of the ASEAN Economic Community. Its purpose was to intensify friendship and cooperation between ASEAN countries and international partners and boost Vietnam's trade, investment, tourism and cultural ties with other nations, especially those from South East Asia The program included a fair with more than 110 trade pavilions and more than 40 cuisine pavilions. Art, martial arts and sport performances are also expected during the event, together with videos promoting tourism and outstanding products in participating countries. Visitors are offered a chance to read books, play folk games and watch Central Highlands gong performances. Meanwhile, the Ho Chi Minh City Television Cycling Tournament takes place from March 29 and April 30. It is celebrating reunification with a record 30 stages for a total length of 3,267 km. Each stage marks a year since the race began 30 years ago. By comparison, the Tour de France has 21 stages. (With files from Saigon Times, Viet Nam News. Photos: Viet Nam News, Vietnam Ministry of Tourism) Outstanding Economic Development
One of the outstanding features of the modern Vietnam since the people liberated the country and seized their own destiny is its economic development. Great efforts have been taken to renovate and develop the country's economy and improve the people's well-being. Following reunification, Vietnam has steadily overcome the damage caused by years of war, which presented challenges beyond its direct control. Today, it has reached a point where its economy is considered amongst the most vibrant. A key part of this has been the Doi Moi (renovation) process of economic reform initiated in 1986, which laid the foundation for the sustained economic growth Vietnam enjoys today. Economic Growth in 2017In 2017, Vietnam's economy grew by 6.81 per cent, the country's General Statistics Office announced this past December. It surpassed the target of 6.7 percent, the highest in a decade. The GDP grew 5.15 per cent in the first quarter, 6.28 per cent in the second quarter, 7.46 per cent in the third quarter and 7.65 percent in the fourth quarter. Vietnam recorded a growth rate of 2.07 per cent in agriculture, 5.14 per cent in forestry, 5.54 per cent in fishery, 7.85 per cent in industry, 8.7 per cent in construction, and 7.44 per cent in services. Among services, a growth rate of 8.36 per cent was reported in wholesale and retail, 8.98 per cent in accommodation and food, 8.14 per cent in finance, banking and insurance, the highest increase in the last seven years, and 4.07 per cent in real estate trading, the highest rise since 2011. Vietnam's nominal GDP in 2017 stood at nearly 5,008 trillion Vietnamese dong (some $221 billion U.S.), the General Statistics Office said, adding that GDP per capita was $2,385U.S., $170 U.S higher than 2016. Regarding the country's economic structure in 2017, agriculture, forestry and fishery account for 15.34 per cent, industry and construction 33.34 per cent, services 41.32 per cent, and value-added tax, special consumption tax, export tax and import tax minus product subsidy, 10 percent. The respective proportions for 2016 were 16.32 per cent, 32.72 per cent, 40.92 per cent, and 10.04 per cent. In November 2017, Vietnam's National Assembly set a target to grow the GDP by 6.5-6.7 per cent in 2018, compared with 6.21 percent in 2016, and 6.68 percent in 2015. (With files from Xinhua)
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