VNA Half a million people join Party About 530,000 people joined the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) over the past five years (1996-2000), almost doubling the recruitment of the previous period (1991-95) and being the highest number since 1981. About 50.6% of the new recruits were members of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union; 29.9%, women; 12.6%, ethnic minority people; and 10.6%, workers. The recruitment figures were more than 91,000; 103,000; 106,000; 114,000 and 113,000 in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000, respectively. The number of woman recruits grew by 8.1% and that of minority people, by 1.1%, while the number of workers increased by 0.4% compared with the previous five years. The number of new recruits from the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union rose from about 46,000 in 1996 to 51,000 in 1997, 57,000 in 1999 and 60,000 last year, and the new recruits from students increased from 800 in 1996 to 2,200 in 2000. The number of new recruits being university, college or higher education graduates surged from about 16,000, accounting for 17.4% in 1996, to 28,000, or 24.5% in 2000. (VNA) **** More Heroes of Armed Forces recognised State President Tran Duc Luong signed on April 10 decisions to recognise more Heroes of the People¹s Armed Forces. Under the decisions, 116 districts, towns, villages, townships, military units and militia units will be presented with the honourable title while 13 individuals receive their hero title posthumously. This is in recognition of their special, excellent achievements in the two resistance wars against French invaders and the US for national salvation. **** World opinion about Ninth Party Congress Political poster on Party Congress in Hanoi. Photo by Richard Vogel (AP).Communists and friends all over the world have shown keen interest in the preparations for the Ninth National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) scheduled to open on April 19. In a recent interview granted to Havana-based Vietnam News Agency correspondent, President of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power Ricardo Alarcon said that the Ninth Party Congress of Vietnam was a special event of Vietnamese communists and people and an opportunity for the CPV to work out guidelines for the Vietnamese revolution in the new stage. Meanwhile, member of the Cuban Communist Party Central Committee and former Ambassador to Vietnam Raul Valdes Vivo expressed his confidence in the success of the Ninth Party Congress. He said that the Cuban people have never forgotten the Vietnamese communists' valuable support for and assistance to Cuba. The China News Agency, Xinhua, affirmed that the Ninth Party Congress of Vietnam will reflect the Vietnamese people's aspiration, goodwill, intellect and determination to build and defend the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the early years of the 21st century. An article published by the South China Morning Posts wrote that Vietnam was entering an important stage with the organisation of the Ninth Party Congress. The paper said that public opinion not only in Vietnam but also in the world, particularly in the region, have paid attention to the congress. It emphasised that Vietnam has emerged as a country playing an important role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The International Herald Tribune said that the Communist Party of Vietnam has launched a website on the Internet in anticipation of its congress, the that the website will help concerned people in the world get access to the history, policies and guidelines of the CPV and study works by President Ho Chi Minh as well as works by Marx, Engels and Lenin. (VNA) **** Russian experts honoured Vietnam has presented the Labour Order to three Russian experts and the Friendship Order on another for their contributions to Vietnam's oil and gas industry. Oleg Popov received the Labour Order, first class; Yuri Tronov and Victor Krasneyev, the Labour Order, third class; and Otto Chubanov, the Friendship Order. The presentation ceremony was held in Moscow on April 16. Russian External Economic Federation, Zarubezhneft, General Director Torariev Nicolai Petrovich said he hoped that co-operation between Russia and Vietnam, particularly in oil and gas industry, would be further developed for the benefit of both peoples. Zarubezhneft is in co-operation with the Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation, PetroVietnam, to build the country's first oil refinery - the Dung Quat - in the central province of Quang Ngai. The refinery has a total investment capital of US $1.3 billion including a legal capital of US $800 million equally shared by the two parties. It will have an annual capacity of 6.5 million tonnes of petroleum, diesel oil, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas and propylene. It is expected to start production next year. (VNA) **** France donates wheat flour France will donate 6,000 tonnes of wheat flour worth some VND 12 billion to Vietnam as food aid for 2000 and 2001. The money from selling the wheat flour will be used to set up a corresponding fund to sponsor food security assurance projects in central and southern provinces which were badly damaged by natural calamities in 1999 and 2000. An agreement to this effect was signed in Hanoi yesterday by Deputy Minister of Finance Le Thi Bang Tam and French Ambassador to Vietnam Serge Degallaix. On this occasion, the two sides initialled a decision to fund two irrigation projects in two northern provinces of Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc. Total funding, VND 7 billion, comes from the food aid corresponding fund of the year 1997. **** Disabled people hold exchange An exchange between disabled people of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City was held in Hanoi yesterday by the Hanoi Association for the Disabled and Orphans, the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Young Disabled People and some other associations of disabled people. This is on the occasion of the Vietnam Day for Protection and Care of the Disabled, April 18. Participants to the exchange discussed experiences in studying, working and job promotion to help each other integrate into the community. **** Following example of Major Ho Van Ha A campaign to follow the bright example of Major Ho Van Ha, deputy head of the Borderguard Station 152, Nghe An province, was launched in Hanoi on April 17 by the Party Committee and the Borderguard Commands. At 8pm, April 14, implementing anti-smuggle campaign, a patrol group led by Major Que Dinh Su, deputy head of the station, examined the group¹s assigned area. The members of the group found a suspected ship about 1,000 metres away off the coast. They got close to the suspected ship and small boats loading smuggled goods made a head on collision with the body of the patrol ship. Meanwhile the owner of the smuggling ship cut off the anchor to try to escape. With a great determination to capture all the smugglers, Mr Su fired a warning shot and commanded the patrol ship to accelerate speed to get closer to the smuggling ship. According to the tactics, Major Ha jumped onto the front part of the ship and his colleagues jumped into the back area. The smugglers fought back fiercely. Major Ha had to fight with four smugglers and got severe injuries. He was pushed into the sea in the dark. The patrol group caught six smugglers while Major Ha lost his life. Major Ho Van Ha was born in a farmer¹s family in Quynh Ngoc commune, Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province on March 13, 1964. He joined the army in March 1983, and was admitted to the Party in 1985. During his career, Major Ha had always set a good example of modesty and responsibility, winning respect and confidence among his colleagues and local people. His sacrifice is a good example in fighting crime, deserving being named Uncle Ho¹s Soldier. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
