Group Pushing for Democratic Reforms in Vietnam

They came from all over the world to pursue a goal that may not even be accomplished in the next decade: pushing for democracy and economic development in Vietnam to help rebuild the country.

About 350 people from 11 countries gathered Saturday at the third triennial Vietnamese Professional Society international conference at the Anaheim Hilton and Towers to discuss how to press for democratic reforms while the Communist government vows to maintain political control.

“Development is a direct consequence of a free and democratic political system,” said Diem Do, spokesman for the Vietnamese Professional Society. “The two must go hand in hand.”

The group seeks to further the interests of the Vietnamese people and culture by connecting professionals throughout the world who can attack the country’s problems through social, political, economic and spiritual means.

President Clinton decided a little more than a year ago to establish relations with Hanoi, but economic benefits have been slow in coming, mostly because the Vietnamese Communist Party, in conducting its first party congress in five years, has reaffirmed its intent to maintain the status quo.

At the local conference, which runs through today, participants debated new ways in which to motivate people to participate in Vietnam’s development.

Ten workshops will be held, ranging from the threat of AIDS in Vietnam to a policy for helping to improve higher education. New software that translates English writing into Vietnamese will also be unveiled.

The debate about helping Vietnam inspired Hai Pham, 22, of Westminster.

“It got me thinking about what people should do to run a democratic economy,” Pham said. “We need to develop a different formula from the European and American models to find a style that’s right for them.”

Conference organizers said it was not a political forum but an intellectual discussion.

By learning more about the conference, Hoa Truong, 33, of Westminster said that he will debate the ideas put forth with friends and hopefully find ways to get involved.

Hai Vo, 40, of Westminster said the conference has helped him feel good about the future of Vietnam.

“We have a chance to build up our country by bringing Vietnamese together under a common cause,” Vo said. “It’s all a new experience for me.”