THƯ GỬI TỔNG THỐNG BILL CLINTON

 

 

Hanoi, 16 November 2000

The Honorable President Bill Clinton

Your Excellency,

 

On behalf of the Vietnamese who favor freedom and democracy, I would like to warmly welcome you, the first American President who has paid a visit to Vietnam. I believe that this even will be a brilliant landmark in the history which opens a new era of the Vietnam- American relationship, an era full of mutual and fruitful achievements.

 

In fact, our two countries relationship began since former centuries. Just after the Independence Day, The representative of the first American Government in France named T. Jefferson considered import rice from Vietnam. In 1832, seventh American President Andrew Jackson sent an official letter requesting trade relation with Vietnam Minh Mang royal court. In response, in 1873, our diplomat was sent by Tu Duc emperor to meet president Ulysses Grant to ask for help against French colonialists. In the day before the August Revolution, even Mr. Ho Chi Minh went together with American pilot Show to meet American General Shannon to discuss about an anti- Japan fascist joint force...

 

The fruitful era opened is not only followed by a long cultivation, but also by relying on a prior affection of you a man who annually celebrates himself birth day on the same day of our August Revolution anniversary, a man who led an anti - Vietnam - American war demonstration in London in 1969.

 

If there were also millions of Americans and Vietnamese doing the same with you at that time, this senseless war did not break out or very soon stop. Although, let us leave that dolorous and regrettable aspect for our following generations with their objective to discern and just judge. Now, in sight of you, there is an injured and poor country, which resulted in some degree from that war. Therefore, there could not be any merciful and charitable heart, which did not call itself for help to eliminate those miseries. Dioxin victims are asking for help, disarming mines project has developed, and I think that the rich and tolerant United States of America will be able and should give more help to my unfortunate compatriots.

 

Leaving the planned economy for the market one, my country has prospered well. Knowledge economy potentiality of my nation promises that my country will become a most necessary and meritorious associate of the United State of America in this South East Asia area. Hope that the Vietnam American Agreement, while officially operated, will take an important part in the realization of this expectation in the field of economy.

 

However, everyone who often pay much attention to country fortune like me also feel very uneasy about necessary conditions that assure an enduring and healthy social development. Those are freedom, democracy and human rights. The history of a country of more than 200 years that steadily moves from a level lower than many other European countries, becoming a superpower one with a highest position in the world, demonstrates that the USA has gotten many good experiences of the struggle for the sacred conditions mentioned above. Meanwhile, in our country, the democracy that corresponds to the new economy and model society is also very incomplete. Here, because of lacking freedom of speech, corruption is spreading over, right or wrong does not be just decided. Due to absence of real democratic election, great talents, which admired by the people, do not be selected. Brave men who even suggest moderately good political views are also mal treated, suppressed, haphazardly arrested or, at least, isolated. Their properties are confiscated, their private letters are stealthily open, and their phone is taped or cut off ... in illegality.

 

The renovation process is advancing and our people soon or late will surely settle all problems required for our country themselves. However, the concern and support of international friends are indispensable and useful. That?s why, like you, I “believe that the normalization and strengthening of American- Vietnamese contacts will promote freedom in Vietnam ”. Your idea of the agreement for freedom was announced when president Ho used a famous sentence of Thomas Jefferson in American Independence Declaration to preface Vietnam Independence Declaration: “ All Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness ”.

 

Wishing you fulfill all of your purposes eminently in this historical mission. Wishing Mrs. Hillary Clinton becomes an honorable Senator and has good chance to test your good idea that “ changes politics into an art of making the impossibilities into the possibilities ” . Wishing our two countries and every other ones in the world enjoy prosperity, happiness, justice, democracy and liberty.

 

Respectfully

 

Nguyen Thanh Giang

A Vietnamese Citizen