Letter of Support for Pr. Chu Hảo and NXB Tri Thức

Statement of Concern over Accusations Directed at Chu Hảo and the Knowledge Publishing House (Nhà Xuất Bản Tri Thức)

To:       Mr. Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Mr. Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Central Inspection Commission of the Vietnamese Communist Party

Cc:       Foreign Embassies in Hanoi

Dear Sirs and Madams:

We, who have signed our names below, are scholars, academics and researchers, who have dedicated much of our careers and lives to the study of Vietnam.  Hailing from universities and research institutes around the world, we are often at the forefront of promoting a deeper understanding of Vietnam, as well as Vietnamese language learning and international educational cooperation.  As part of this work, we regularly seek funding and opportunities for Vietnamese students and scholars to visit, study and work at our respective universities, departments and research institutes.

We write this letter to express our profound disagreement and disappointment with accusations directed at Professor Chu Hảo, Director of the Knowledge Publishing House, by the Central Inspection Commission on October 25, 2018, as well as follow-up comments posted on the Commission’s webpage on October 31.

Chu Hảo’s primary work at the Knowledge Publishing House has been to make more accessible major academic works to Vietnamese students and scholars by translating them into Vietnamese.  This initiative has been both far-sighted and highly important for scientific inquiry.  Such works constitute the foundations of contemporary research and thinking in the social sciences and humanities.  In high schools and universities around the world, they represent a body of essential readings across disciplines and subjects.  Unfortunately, the language barriers that Vietnamese scholars and, especially, students face when trying to access these works puts them at a significant disadvantage when competing for university admissions, scholarships and research funding.

As researchers and educators from around the world, we reject any assertion that these works present a threat to the stable or peaceful development of Vietnam.  Modern education has been founded on an ability to discuss and incorporate a wide range of ideas and theoretical propositions.  Restricting or denying people access to these ideas will only reduce the analytical tools available to them and impoverish their intellectual development.  Even controversial works must be read and analysed before they can be credibly criticized or refuted.

At a time when Vietnam is vying to be internationally competitive in university education and academic scholarship, we find the accusations made by the Central Inspection Commission to be unfounded and disturbing.  In the interests of international cooperation and educational development for Vietnam, we strongly request the Commission to revise its assessment of the important work that Chu Hảo is leading at the Knowledge Publishing House.  We also strongly support the open letter to support Chu Hảo signed by former members of the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and more than 200 eminent supporters.

At the same time, we recommend that the government cultivate wide intellectual discussion of ideas on all topics in Vietnam, and we strongly urge the government to desist from any efforts to harass, intimidate or otherwise punish persons for peacefully expressing their views or opinions.

We thank you for your attention to this matter and we trust that you will respond in a matter that reflects the civility, dignity and educational ambitions of Vietnam.

November 11, 2018

LIST OF SIGNERS

No.Full NameCurrent Position(s) and Institution(s)Country
1Pierre ASSELINProfessor of History, San Diego State UniversityUSA
2Margaret B. BODEMERChair, Viet Nam Studies Group, Professor of History and Asian Studies, California Polytechnic State UniversityUSA
3Pascal BOURDEAUXAssociate Professor, École Pratique des Hautes ÉtudesFrance
4Mark Philip BRADLEYProfessor of History, University of ChicagoUSA
5Pierre BROCHEUXProfessor (retired), Université Paris – Denis DiderotFrance 
6Joe BUCKLEYPhD Candidate, SOAS University of LondonUnited Kingdom
7BÙI Xuân QuangEditor, Viet Nam Infos, and Independent Researcher, ParisFrance
8Jim COBBEEmeritus Professor of Economics, Florida State UniversityUSA
9Nguyet DANGPhD Researcher, Erasmus University RotterdamNetherlands
10ĐỖ Đăng Giu CNRS Research Director (retired), University Paris–SudFrance
11ĐOÀN Cầm ThiAssociate Professor, InalcoFrance
12George DUTTONProfessor of History and Director for Southeast Asian Studies, University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA)USA
13Dominique FOULONCarnets du Viet Nam, and Independent Researcher, LyonFrance
14Laurent GEDEONAssociate Professor, UCLy, Lyon UniversityFrance
15Francis GENDREAUDemographer (retired), Institute of Research for Development (IRDn), ParisFrance
16Christoph GIEBELProfessor of History, University of WashingtonUSA
17Christopher GOSCHAProfessor of History, Université du Québec à MontréalCanada
18François GUILLEMOTCNRS Research Engineer, ENS de Lyon, Lyon Institute of East Asian Studies, LyonFrance
19HÀ Dương TườngProfessor of Mathematics (retired), University of Technology of CompiègneFrance
20Erik HARMSAssociate Professor, Anthropology and Southeast Asian Studies, Yale UniversityUSA
21Bill HAYTONIndependent ResearcherUnited Kingdom
22Judith HENCHYAffiliate Faculty, Jackson School of International Studies, University of WashingtonUSA
23Caroline HERBELINLecturer, University of Toulouse Jean JaurèsFrance
24Carina HOANGAuthor/Publisher, School of Humanities, Curtin UniversityAustralia
25Hue-Tam HO TAIProfessor Emerita, Harvard UniversityUSA
26Rob HURLELecturer (retired), Australian National UniversityAustralia
27Charles KEITHAssociate Professor, Department of History, Michigan State UniversityUSA
28Ben KERKVLIETProfessor Emeritus, Australian National UniversityAustralia
29John KLEINENAssociate Professor Emeritus, Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR)Netherlands
30Gary KULIKWriter and Vietnam-War VeteranUSA
31Scott LADERMANProfessor of History, University of MinnesotaUSA
32LÊ Minh Hằng Hydrologist (retired), Vietnam Hydro-Meteorological ServicesVietnam
33LÊ Trung TĩnhEngineerUnited Kingdom
34Christian C. LENTZAssociate Professor of Geography, University of North CarolinaUSA
35Ann Marie LESHKOWICHProfessor of Anthropology, College of the Holy CrossUSA
36David MARRProfessor Emeritus, Australian National UniversityAustralia
37André MENRAS (HỒ Cương Quyết)Documentary Filmmaker and Independent ResearcherFrance
38Pamela MCELWEEAssociate Professor, Department of Human Ecology, Rutgers UniversityUSA
39Edward MILLERProfessor of History, Dartmouth CollegeUSA
40Dominique De MISCAULTArtistFrance
41Anthony MORREALEPhD Student, University of California – BerkeleyUSA
42Jason MORRIS-JUNGSenior Lecturer, Singapore University of Social SciencesSingapore
43NGÔ Như BìnhHarvard UniversityUSA
44Lam NGOInformation Specialist, Special Collection Services, Leiden UniversityNetherlands
45NGÔ Vĩnh LongProfessor of History, University of MaineUSA
46NGUYỄN Thế AnhProfessor Emeritus, École Pratique des Hautes Études, ParisFrance
47NGUYỄN ĐiềnIndependent ResearcherAustralia
48NGUYỄN Ngọc GiaoLecturer (retired), Université Paris – Denis DiderotFrance
49NGUYỄN Trọng HiềnPhysicist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, PasadenaUSA
50NGUYỄN Đức HiệpAtmospheric Scientist, Office of Environment & Heritage, NSWAustralia
51Huong NGUYENEditor, The 88 ProjectUSA
52NGUYỄN Thanh LamPhD, California Institute of TechnologyUSA
53Lien-Hang T. NGUYENProfessor of History, Columbia UniversityUSA
54Viet Thanh NGUYENWriter and Professor, University of Southern CaliforniaUSA
55Le Anh Tu PACKARDSenior Economist (retired), Moody’s AnalyticsUSA
56Natasha PAIRADEAUBye Fellow, Murray Edwards College, University of CambridgeUnited Kingdom
57PHẠM Xuân YêmPhysicist, CNRS Research Director (retired), Université Paris–SorbonneFrance
58Chloé PHAN-LABAYSLecturer, University of Lyon 3France
59Emmanuel POISSONCentre de Recherches sur les Civilisations de l’Asie Orientale (CRCAO), ParisFrance
60John PRADOSSenior Fellow, Intelligence Documentation and Vietnam Projects, National Security ArchiveUSA
61Benoit QUENNEDEYAuthor of books and articles on East AsiaFrance
62Sophie QUINN-JUDGEAssociate Professor (retired)USA
63Frédéric ROUSTANAssociate Researcher, Institut de Recherche Asiatique (IrAsia)France
64Christina SCHWENKELAssociate Professor and Director of Southeast Asian Studies, University of California, RiversideUSA
65Mark SIDELDoyle-Bascom Professor of Law and Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin-MadisonUSA
66Balazs SZALONTAIAssociate Professor, Korea UniversityKorea
67Tai Van TAFormer Lecturer and Associate, Harvard Law SchoolUSA
68Philip TAYLORProfessor Emeritus, Australian National UniversityAustralia
69THÁI Văn CầuSpace Systems SpecialistUSA
70TRẦN Hữu DũngProfessor Emeritus, Wright State UniversityUSA
71TRẦN Hải HạcAssistant Professor (retired), Université Paris XIIFrance
72Nhung Tuyet TRANAssociate Professor, University of TorontoCanada
73Qui-Phiet TRANEmeritus Professor, Schreiner UniversityUSA
74Richard TRANAssistant Professor, Ca’Foscari University of VeniceItaly
75TRỊNH Văn ThảoProfessor Emeritus, Aix-Marseille UniversityFrance
76TRỊNH Xuân ThuậnProfessor, University of VirginiaUSA
77William TURLEYProfessor Emeritus, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleUSA
78Kieu-Linh Caroline VALVERDEAssociate Professor, University of California – DavisUSA
79VŨ Quang ViệtFormer Chief of National Accounts Statistics at the United NationsUSA
80VŨ Đức VượngEditor, Trồng Người, A Clearinghouse on Education in Vietnam, San Francisco – Sai GonUSA
81Peter ZINOMANProfessor of History, University of California – BerkeleyUSA

Source : Tieng Dan

PDF en ligne : Viet Studies

Illustration “à la une” : © NXB Tri Thuc


OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
indomemoires (14 novembre 2018). Letter of Support for Pr. Chu Hảo and NXB Tri Thức. Mémoires d'Indochine. Consulté le 11 septembre 2024 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/q5zf


3 réflexions sur « Letter of Support for Pr. Chu Hảo and NXB Tri Thức »

  1. Mesdames, Messieurs,

    Vos travaux, écrits et recherches sur le Vietnam sont de tous de grande qualité et très intéressante. Cependant votre Lettre de soutien à M. CHU HAO est incompréhensible.

    Monsieur Chu Hao a fait l’objet d’une mesure disciplinaire de son Parti qui a engendré tant de drames dans ce pays depuis qu’il a imposé un régime totalitaire le plus sanguinaire.

    M. Chu Hao est certes un homme respectable, un intellectuel qui a découvert récemment les valeurs humanitaires, de pluralisme démocratique. Devançant la menace disciplinaire de son Parti, il a préféré s’exclure de lui-même de ce parti communiste.

    Je vous remercie de bien vouloir éclairer ma lanterne, obscurcie par les injustices, les crimes commis au nom de ce Parti Communiste Vietnamien : votre intervention a-t-elle pour but de vous immiscer dans la vie interne d’un parti communiste ? voire vous désireriez faire réintégrer M. Chu Hao au sein de son Parti Communiste ?

    Cette mesure disciplinaire et d’exclusion du Parti, est en réalité une mesure interne d’un parti, dont les membres ont maintenu d’une main de fer le petit peuple dans la misère. Ils ont spolié en bande organisée depuis tant d’années les biens publics comme le révèlent les récents procès.

    Votre appel à la clémence d’un Parti communiste m’interpelle étrangement. Je ne peux croire que vous soyez partisans du Parti communiste vietnamien ? D’autant plus M. Chu Hao a remis sa carte du Parti communiste, devrait-il la ramasser pour quémander la grâce de son secrétaire général et Président ?

    J’apprécierai par ailleurs de votre part une intervention internationale aussi véhémente en faveur du peuple vietnamien en lutte pour la liberté et la justice.
    Bien cordialement.

    Votre humble lecteur.

    1. Cher M. Lê,

      Il ne s’agit en aucun cas de nous intéresser aux affaires internes de ce parti (vous avez raison cela le concerne, bien qu’il en fasse moult publicité sur la toile). Il s’agit par contre de soutenir l’action d’éditeur de M. Chu Hao et de façon plus large la liberté d’expression au Viêt-Nam. Cependant, l’injonction disciplinaire du Parti communiste vietnamien (PCV) émis par la Commission centrale d’enquête le 25 octobre dernier apparaît comme une mise en garde générale contre les intellectuels du pays et contre la liberté académique plus généralement, raison de notre mobilisation.

      En soutenant le professeur Chu Hao, nous pensons également à nos nombreux collègues vietnamiens victimes de harcèlement politique lorsqu’ils tentent d’organiser des manifestations scientifiques “hors des clous” ou non validés par les Comités d’éducation et de propagande du PCV. Notre action est aussi un soutien moral à nos partenaires vietnamiens.

      Vous avez raison de rappeler que M. Chu Hao a pris lui-même ses responsabilités en démissionnant du PCV dès le vendredi 26 octobre 2018. Son expulsion officielle du PCV aujourd’hui jeudi 15 novembre 2018 était donc prévisible et confirme notre inquiétude.

      Comme je ne suis qu’un des nombreux signataires, cette réponse n’engage que moi.
      FG

      1. Monsieur,
        Merci pour votre réponse et votre explication sur le but de votre appel aux dirigeants du PCV.
        Voyez-vous, chaque désertion ou exclusion du parti des milliardaires communistes vietnamiens m’enchante un peu plus, car le camp des compatriotes démunis et opprimés en gagne un de plus si toutefois chaque ancien membre du parti se donne de la voix pour condamner et les horribles crimes, et les exactions, et les spoliations, commis par leurs camarades depuis plus demi siècle sur cette terre du Viêt Nam.

        A quand une condamnation internationale claire et sans équivoque envers ce régime ?
        LE

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