CPV celebrates anniversary in state of massive challenge

By Philippe Perdriau

HANOI (AFP): Vietnam's ruling Communist Party (CPV) celebrates its 70th anniversary on Thursday with even some of its most loyal members admitting it faces a crisis of identity.

After changing the course of 20th century history by defying the military might of the United States, Vietnam's communists enter the 21st century facing another massive challenge -- guiding the country's integration into the world economy while clinging on to political power.

Party leaders have decided that the anniversary should be marked in style and an extensive program of "sacred celebrations" have been scheduled to coincide with the Lunar New Year.

The festivities will continue up until the end of April, which coincides with the 25th anniversary of the "fall of Saigon," which brought an end to the Vietnam war and allowed the country to be reunified.

"The goal of the sacred celebrations is to strengthen the people's solidarity and to prepare them to implement the economic and social tasks of the year 2000," Dao Duy Quat, the vice- president of the powerful ideological and cultural commission of the CPV's central committee, told AFP.

Founded by Ho Chi Minh in 1930, the party still counts 2.5 million Vietnamese as members, including 114,000 who obtained party cards in 1999.

Since 1987, when the CPV adopted its policy of doi moi (renewal), Vietnam and its economy have been progressively opened up to the world along the lines followed by its northern neighbor China.

But the party has shown no sign of being ready to loosen its grip on the levers of political power.

All forms of opposition to the party's rule are systematically repressed and any moves towards a multiparty system have, for the moment, been categorically ruled out in the name of political stability -- the necessary condition, according to current party doctrine, of economic development.

The Vietnamese press remains subject to strict censorship and news from outside the country is particularly tightly controlled.

The party has however made efforts in recent years to change its image abroad through a series of measures including an extension of religious freedom, a series of amnesties and the freeing of prominent political prisoners Doan Viet Hoat and Nguyen Dan Que.

The party has also attempted to portray itself as ready to listen to the concerns of small farmers, war veterans and intellectuals as it seeks to adapt to the new situation in the country.

CPV Secretary General Le Kha Phieu and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai will address the public during major rallies to be held on Wednesday and Thursday in the capital Hanoi and the southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon.

Exhibitions of photographs, concerts and films eulogizing the CPV will be held throughout the country.

"The leadership of the party remains critical to Vietnam because it has created the appropriate mechanisms for a market economy while limiting its negative effects," said Gen. Nguyen Dinh Uoc, 73, a party veteran of 50 years.

But with economic growth at its lowest level in a decade, the party is confronted from within by the twin threats of corruption and an ideological, moral and political crisis.

"To ensure its survival, the CPV has to be more effective at fighting corruption among its cadres, many of whom have grown apart from the people," said Nguyen Duy Quang, a 71-year-old colonel who fought for the party against both the French and the Americans.

"These trends threaten the unity and discipline of the party and weaken it politically."