VNA Flood claims 99 lives in Mekong delta Floods in the Mekong delta have killed 99 people including 47 of Dong Thap, 33 of An Giang, 8 of Can Tho, 5 of Long An, 3 of Kien Giang and 3 of Tien Giang as of September 16, reported the Southern Flood and Storm Control Sub-committee. Initial losses are estimated at VND 108.8 billion for the Mekong river delta, excluding Dong Thap, of which Long An, VND 47 billion; An Giang, VND 34.1 billion; Can Tho, VND 20 billion; Kien Giang, VND 4 billion, Tien Giang, VND 3.8 billion. Floodwater has submerged 36 districts of Long An, Dong Thap, An Giang, Kien Giang, Tien Giang and Can Tho provinces. The floodwater inundated nearly 124,000 households, damaged 5,000 households, 776 schools, causing the schooling suspension of 189,000 pupils in Dong Thap Muoi (Plains of Reeds) and Long Xuyen Quadrangle areas. Floodwaters have also caused loss of 2,500 hectares and damaged nearly 11,000 hectares of summer-autumn rice crop and inundated 547 hectares for vegetable crops, nearly 1,500 hectares of fruit trees, 900 hectares of forestry trees, 577 hectares of aqua-culture and nearly 5,000 fish breeding ponds. In addition, 144 kilometres of highways, and 1,500 kilometres of inter-district and inter-commune roads were flooded. Floodwater also damaged 500 bridges and eroded 32 kilometres of road. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sympathy extended to people in flooded areas The Standing Committee of the Vietnam Central Fatherland Front has sent a message of sympathy to people in the provinces of An Giang, Long An and Dong Thap who are suffering serious flood consequences. The committee has also distributed VND 100 million each to An Giang, Dong Thap and Long An provinces to help these localities overcome the flood consequences. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tourism programme for peace, dialogue developed The Vietnam Administration of Tourism has called on local tourist agencies to make concerted efforts to increase cultural exchanges between local communities and tourists in response to the World Tourism Day on September 27 with this year's focus being peace and dialogue between different cultures. This includes programmes to improve public understanding of the need for tourism development, environmental preservation, hygiene and social security and safety for tourists. Travel agencies are told to co-operate with the local cultural and information services in helping people better understand the recently-passed Law on Cultural Heritage, and are holding painting and writing contests and quizzes on this year's World Tourism Day topics. Traditional arts performances, discount tours, and tourism promotion campaigns both at home and abroad are also encouraged. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnam, Angola strengthen relationship Vietnamese and Angolan senior officials have reiterated the traditional friendship between the two countries, which has been maintained and developed over the past tens years. This was during a Vietnamese government delegation's official friendship visit to Angola. While there, the Vietnamese delegation, led by Nguyen Phu Binh, assistant to the Foreign Minister, was received by, and held talks with, high-level senior officials of Angola's Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and Rural Development, Health, Education and Culture, Tourism and Hospitality, and Petroleum and Energy, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. These talks took place in an atmosphere of frankness and mutual understanding. The Vietnamese side said they highly valued Angola's achievements in recent years, and Angola's position in international and regional organisations. They expressed the belief that Angola would soon recover peace and embark on national reconstruction, turning to good account its great potential in natural and human resources and contributing to maintaining peace and co-operation in Africa and the world. At the talks, the two sides agreed to arrange exchanges of high-ranking visits in a bid to accelerate bilateral co-operation for mutual benefit in conformity with the world trends of integration and co-operation. The Vietnamese delegation concluded its Angola visit on September 15. (VNA) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Meetings against so called �Vietnam Human Rights Act� Women from all walks of life around the country gathered in a meeting in Hanoi on September 17 to protest against the so-called 'Vietnam Human Rights Act' passed by the US House of Representatives on September 6. In a statement, the participants, representing millions of members of the Vietnam Women's Union, described the 'Vietnam Human Rights Act' passed by the US House of Representatives as a brazen violation of international law, especially the UN Charter. They warned that the Act would create a dangerous precedent in the relationship among sovereign nations. They said those US Congressmen "have no right to judge the human rights in Vietnam" when the US administrations themselves had launched a prolonged, bloody war in Vietnam, causing untold suffering to the entire people, especially women. "That criminal war claimed more than three million lives, injured more than 600,000 others and left almost 300,000 missing. Its consequences are still felt today with mothers losing their sons, wives losing their husbands and babies born with congenital deformities caused by Agent Orange" the statement said. However, the statement pointed out, the Vietnamese people, with their love for peace and justice, have tried to put aside the past and look towards the future. They have worked hard to normalise relations with the United States on the principle of respect for each other's independence and sovereignty and in the interests of peace, independence and development. While the international community, including the American people, are giving support and assistance to Vietnam's efforts for national reconstruction, the US administration is pursuing its hostile policy against Vietnam, the statement said. It added: 'The Vietnam Human Rights Act' is a brazen fabrication, a distortion of the reality in Vietnam, and an interference into Vietnam's internal affairs. The US administration wants to shirk its obligations and responsibility to contribute to healing the wounds of war in Vietnam. "The Vietnamese women strongly condemn and reject the Act. They are resolved to join the national efforts in defending the national independence and sovereignty, and prevent any outside intervention into the nation's internal affairs. "On behalf of the Vietnamese women of all strata, the Vietnam Women's Union calls on women and the world community, especially those conscientious and justice-loving people in the United States, to help prevent the US Senate from approving the Act," concluded the statement. * The Trade Union of Vietnam Transport and Communications Sector held a meeting in Hanoi on September 18 to condemn the US House of Representatives� approval of the so called �Vietnam Human Rights Act� and demand that this injudicious document be abrogated. Nearly 100 trade unionists of corporations, companies and representatives of workers were informed by Vu Minh Tam, the chief trade unionist of the sector, about the US House�s approval and the opinions of over 100,000 staff and workers of the sector were demonstrated against the act. The statement of the sector�s trade union says that: "We are always aspiring to exercise the basic rights of man, that is the right to live, work and build happiness in peace. The trade union of the transport and communications sector will never allow any violator of the rights of the nation." The sector�s trade union called upon all workers and transport and communications trade unions in the world, including the US workers to raise their protest against the unreasonable act. * As many as 147 of Ho Chi Minh City�s trade unions at grassroot levels, over 300 workers and representatives of workers held a meeting to protest against the act in Ho Chi Minh City on September 18. The participants affirmed that all workers and labourers of Ho Chi Minh City would constantly and faithfully follow the Communist Party of Vietnam and are determined to build a Vietnam of �a rich people, strong country, equitable, democratic and civilised society�. They also called for the workers of the world as well as workers of the US, to take appropriate action to prevent approval and promulgation of the wrongful act. * Bac Giang province�s War Veterans Association held a meeting to protest against the act and condemn the US House of Representatives� approval of the so-called �Vietnam Human Rights Act�. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hanoi, Seoul to boost urban management co-operation President of the Hanoi City People's Council Phung Huu Phu and Vice President of the Seoul City People's Council Min Yang-Sik have discussed co-operation in urban management and development work. During his reception of the Seoul guest in Hanoi on the September 17 afternoon, Mr Phu spoke of his city's socio-economic achievements in the recent past and its orientations for development in the new decade as well as the activities of the Hanoi People's Council. He noted with pleasure the further development of friendship and co-operation between Hanoi and Seoul. Min Yang-Sik, who is visiting Hanoi from September 15-20, thanked the Hanoi authorities and people for their hospitality, and expressed his wishes to further accelerate both cities' bilateral co-operation for mutual benefits and for regional and world peace, stability and development. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hanoi wants to boost co-operation with UNESCO members Luu Minh Tri, president of the Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Preservation Association expressed hisdesire that all UNESCO clubs, centres and associations in Vietnam and the Asia-Pacific region would further contribute to promoting peace, friendship and mutual understanding. Mr Tri told AFUCA President Kim Ran Soo, who is in Hanoi for the 14th conference of the Asian and Pacific Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations (AFUCA), during the former's reception on September 17. Mr Tri, permanent Deputy Director of the National Steering Committee for 1,000th Thang Long celebration, also informed his guest of the city's rich traditional culture. (VNA) _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
