Thich Quang Do issues Tet appeal

In an open letter for the lunar new year (Tet), Ven. Thich Quang Do urged intellectuals to take a leading role in furthering the cause of democracy in Vietnam, stating the country cannot develop properly without democracy and pluralism. He told Communist Party leaders they should have nothing to fear in cooperating with this process, as Communist parties have successfully made the transition in East European countries and now peacefully compete with other parties. Ven. Quang Do, head of the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, had in 2001 launched an "Appeal for Democracy in Vietnam," and was consequently sentenced to two years administrative detention. (Que Me, Feb. 11).