Hanoi urges war veterans to defend Communist Party

By Adrian Edwards
HANOI, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Vietnam's ruling elite, concerned by recent rural unrest, on Wednesday urged war veterans to defend the ruling Communist Party against civil disorder and subversion.

In a series of speeches marking the opening of a congress of the Vietnam Veteran's Association, top officials said help was needed from the group's 1.3 million members to maintain stability.

``As comrade Do Muoi has said, it is necessary to contribute to maintaining social and political stability, especially in the vast rural areas,'' General Vo Nguyen Giap said in a rare public appearance by the decorated military tactician.

``In case of an emergency, I suggest that war veterans report to higher levels of government for timely instructions to prevent instability from happening in society,'' said the 83-year old Giap.

His comments followed a similar speech by Communist Party Secretary General Do Muoi who said corruption, a heavy-handed officialdom and declining ideological and moral values were providing fuel for Hanoi's opponents.

Wednesday's speeches followed months of sometimes violent unrest in northern Thai Binh province over corruption, and recent clashes between Catholic protesters and riot police in Dong Nai, northeast of Ho Chi Minh City.

Hanoi responded by sacking a number of state officials for alleged corruption and arresting suspected troublemakers.

They also tried to placate farmers by announcing new policies to improve life in the villages. But diplomats and analysts have questioned whether the moves go far enough.

Farmers are reeling under a fall in prices of some commodities over the past year.

Among the government's plan to tackle the problem is to revive agricultural cooperatives -- an uncomfortable idea for those in Vietnam with memories of the failed state farm systems of the late 1970s and 1980s.

Aggrieved war veterans have also been involved in recent protests, signalling further problems.

During the initial demonstrations in Thai Binh, veterans were reported to be organising local villagers into protest groups in areas around the provincial capital.

According to reports in the official press, 22 years after the Vietnam War ended many veterans are disgruntled with inadequate treatment for those injured and crippled, as well as continued economic hardship.