The Vietnam Populist Party (VPP), also known in Vietnamese as “Dang Vi Dan”, is a political party in Vietnam, formed on January 1, 2006. The party campaigns for democracy in Vietnam.
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Vietnam is a one-party state. Despite the party's non-violent policies, it is still viewed as an illegal organization by the Vietnamese government.
Organisation
The party was founded at the beginning of 2006, initially the result of a formation of five pro-democracy groups. The party introduced the New Vietnam Platform, which is a political roadmap with aims to form a multi-party government and democracy in Vietnam. The VPP's immediate goals are for a free and fair elections in the country, liberty, peace, prosperity and progressivity, which are all grouped under the New Vietnam Platform.
In 2007, the Vietnam Populist Party (VPP) and Vietnam Progression Party (VNPP) formed the Lac-Hong Coalition.
Several people have been arrested for their connections to the party. Hong Trung, the VPP's Representative in Vietnam, was arrested by Vietnam authorities in February 2007. Others include Truong Minh Duc, and student Dang Hung.
The whole platform had been evaluated by groups of pro-democracy movements inside Vietnam and overseas.
On April 28, 2010, the Vietnamese government announced the arrest of Phạm thị Phượng who is, according to the government, linked to this organization, for an attempt to bomb the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Basilica (Nha Tho Duc Ba) on April 30, 2010. The Vietnamese government considered VPP to be a terrorist organization.
Structure
The VPP is organized as several independent chapters inside Vietnam for its security purposes.
According to the VPP's Liaison Office, due to the security issues in Vietnam, leaders and members of the party in Vietnam are currently keep their identities confidential from public.
VPP's liaison office in Houston, Texas is its only public contact.
Radio Hoa Mai
Radio Hoa-Mai is based in Southern California, dedicated to promote human rights and democracy in Vietnam.
Radio Hoa-Mai formed in February 2005, started with Webcast broadcasting program.
In May 2005, Radio Hoa-Mai contracted with KHWR Corp., an international radio broadcasting provider, expanded its Vietnamese language service with a shortwave program, broadcasts two days a week to Vietnam. The radio broadcasting programs serve the mass of millions Vietnamese with majority in rural areas.
In February 2006, the program extended to three days a week, consisting of pro-democracy news, educational of human rights and democracy, and commentary on non-violent campaigns for democracy in Vietnam. It also relays voices of the oppressed people to the world via webcast programs, and broadcast back to Vietnam via shortwave programs as well.
All broadcast programs are archived for public access at www.RadioHoaMai.com.
Radio Hoa-Mai is privately funded by democracy advocates, and operated by a group of young professionals and volunteers in the United States of America. The studio of Radio Hoa-Mai is currently located in Houston, Texas.
Radio Hoa-Mai currently has two Vietnamese language programs. The specific purposes of the shortwave radio program are:
- Helping victims of oppressions, labor abuses, corruptions, etc. to raise awareness of the corrupted system in Vietnam.
- Promoting democracy as well as help spread news about activities campaigning for a free Vietnam inside Vietnam and overseas as well.
- Supporting all efforts of fighting against human trafficking and children sex slaves.
- Campaigning for a peaceful political solution for Vietnam, especially a Free and Fair National Election in Vietnam, to pave a way for forming a democratic government without a bloodshed.
- Introducing policy, roadmap to democracy and plans of the Vietnam Populist Party (VPP) to help building Vietnam afterward.
Hoa Mai Newsletters
Hoa-Mai Newslletters (Tập san Hoa-Mai) is a non-commercial prints, published monthly inside Vietnam, and on the VPP’s websites. Hoa-Mai Newslletters publishes articles about VPP’s policy and its activities. It also introduces pro-democracy articles and researches.