he Terrible Tiger

Foreign Policy ^ | APRIL 17, 2012 | BY DUSTIN ROASA

[ThanhPhero]

The Terrible Tiger Vietnam may look like a success story, but with Burma's recent thaw, it's now the most repressive country in Southeast Asia.

Nearly four decades after the end of the Vietnam War, America's former foe is seen globally as a success story. It boasts a booming economy, a growing middle class, and thriving tourism and manufacturing industries. But as political reforms transform Burma, Vietnam is in danger of becoming something else: the most repressive country in Southeast Asia. This week, prosecutors at a court in Ho Chi Minh City charged three Vietnamese bloggers for "conducting propaganda against the state," the latest in a series of arrests designed to silence a growing opposition movement. As Burma liberalizes, Vietnam continues to crack down on dissent. Since January 13, when the Burmese junta released hundreds of political prisoners ...

[ThanhPhero]

If Washington will recommence leaning on Hà Nội in the matter of rights and liberalization as it did with Clinton and Bush at the helm, the improvements will be steady and solid. With the accession of Mr. Obama the US quit paying any attention to the domestic situation in Việt Nam and the country has slid backwards. The bosses in Việt Nam are very sensitive to American pressure.