Vietnam

America has not disappeared from the Vietnamese memory screen. There are two Americas in Vietnam. One, an America which they vanquished and the other an America which is a possible new ally, at least a friendly power which might make a useful contribution to the economic reconstruction in Vietnam.

After several decades of war and economic and social dislocation, Vietnam began to gradually return to normalcy in the mid-1980s by adopting a series of economic and institutional reforms. Because of the 'stop-start' character of the reform process, the Communist Party of Vietnam is facing significant challenges in the process of transition. The Ninth National Party Congress, held in April 2001, produced as much chaos as cohesion. The dilemma of Vietnam's political leadership is obvious and at least until it is able to make the right choice in the areas of economy and governance, the party will continue to play an influential role in state affairs.

The Government which Indira Priyadarshini adorns, dependent as it is on American food and aid, feels that it can stir itself only up to a point. The moral problem which Vietnam poses is therefore pushed aside. Our Prime Minister cannot proceed beyond the cautious meanderings of early July, and even those were influenced by the extrashort term realpolitik of her visit to three countries of which two are non-aligned and the third belongs to the other bloc. In particular, the last country happened to be the Soviet Union, on which too we depend for the supply of victuals — military as well as economic. Before and since the visit, our official voice has been and is mute. Matter has triumphed over mind.