Riots a threat to Vietnam Communists - defence chief warns

12:01 a.m. Dec 15, 1997 Eastern
HANOI, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Vietnam's defence minister warned on Monday that the ruling Communist Party was under threat from groups seeking its overthrow, and called for a strengthening of the country's defence forces against acts including rioting.

Pham Van Tra, appointed defence chief in September, said in a newspaper interview that a new alertness was needed against a range of enemy activities.

``Enemy powers still consider Vietnam an important place for their battles,'' he told the Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People's Army) daily, echoing Cold War rhetoric.

``They continue to implement a strategy of 'peaceful evolution, riot, overthrow' in order to eliminate socialism in Vietnam.''

Tra made no direct reference to recent problems of rural unrest in northern Thai Binh province and clashes between Catholics and police in southern Dong Nai, but referred to ``hotspots'' around the country where he said local militia units had failed in their roles.

He said new efforts were needed to strengthen political and ideological control in the military, and to raise defence awareness that opponents of the government were using subversive methods which might not be easily discernible.

``Their short-term strategic task is to transform and change the colour of the Communist Party of Vietnam, to promote liberalisation in politics and in the economy, and from that to transform Vietnam,'' he said.

Tra's comments follow a year of growing economic, social and other problems for Hanoi, which is attempting to balance the need for further reform while ensuring the leading role of the Communist Party.

The question has become complicated in recent months by the emergence of unrest and a protracted leadership debate which is still unresolved.

Political analysts say all three issues -- unrest, leadership personnel and new economic renovation -- will feature prominently at a key meeting of the Communist Party's Central Committee expected before the end of this month.