Vietnam politburo moves positive for reform
HANOI - A decision by Vietnam's
Communist Party politburo to promote a progressive southern
cadre to a key economic post is the best news for accelerating
market reforms in two years, a leading academic said on
Thursday.
Carlyle Thayer, an expert on Vietnam at the Asia-Pacific Center
for Security Studies in Hawaii, said Truong Tan Sang would
bring sophistication and experience with the outside world in
chairing the party's powerful economic commission.
Already a member of the 19-member politburo, Sang is the
party's chief in Ho Chi Minh City, the country's business hub.
Before that he was mayor of the city.
``I view this as the first serious step towards economic reform,
probably since late 1997,'' said Thayer, referring to the
retirement of party chief Do Muoi, an ageing revolutionary
whom diplomats had long regarded as a brake on reform.
``Sang is someone palpably from the reform camp. It doesn't
herald (fresh reforms) tomorrow, but from a logjam position it's
an important step,'' he said by telephone.
While not a highly visible post, as head of the party's economic
commission Sang will act as a virtual watchdog over the prime
minister and other economic ministries.
He will also be closely involved in long-term economic policies
in a country written off by many investors as a place to make
money because of red tape, tough rules and graft.
Official media on Thursday reported the appointment of Sang
but gave no details on when he would take up the post or why
he and other senior cadres would change jobs.
Sang, who is around 50, will replace Phan Dien, who in turn will
move to the central city of Danang and head the party's unit
there, replacing Truong Quang Duoc.
Duoc would move to Hanoi, taking the post of mass mobilisation
boss from Nguyen Minh Triet, who would become the new
party chief in Ho Chi Minh City.
Dien and Triet are also members of the secretive politburo,
which wields ultimate authority in Vietnam.
Duoc is not, but diplomats said because the party regarded the
mass mobilisation job as a key post, he could be promoted to
the politburo, perhaps at the next party congress in 2001.
CONSENSUS STANDS IN SANG'S WAY
The politburo has been sorely divided in recent years over the
pace of economic reform and left the impression of a leadership
adrift and unsure how to deal with a rapidly changing world.
One victim has been a bilateral trade pact with the United States
that has been stalled since last July.
Thayer said Sang could be expected to argue for reform in the
politburo.
However, Sang will face a tough time.
Vietnam's politburo operates on the basis of consensus, and with
diverging and vested interests created by the country's adoption
of economic reforms a decade ago, agreement on major issues
has become elusive.
Sang has kept a low profile over the past two years after gaining
prominence as Ho Chi Minh City mayor in the mid-1990s,
although analysts say that was because he did not want to
appear too reformist in the eyes of conservative party elders.
Apart from Sang, diplomats have identified politburo member
Nguyen Tan Dung as another man to watch. Dung is a deputy
prime minister in charge of the economy and the same age as
Sang.
There previously had been speculation Sang might also take
over the vacant post of deputy prime minister in charge of
industry. Vietnam has five deputy prime ministerial positions.
Diplomats said Dien's move to Danang might not amount to a
demotion because the party wanted a senior cadre to oversee
rebuilding of central Vietnam following two devastating floods
late last year. Triet is regarded as being reformist, while little is
known about Duoc.
Reuters - January 13, 2000.
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