Forum Conference

The Forum on Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam will hold its tenth conference in Vientiane in June 2001. A draft agenda is available at www.usirp.org or by requesting a copy of the September 2000 Interchange from FRD.

New Publications Available from FRD

VIETNAM EDUCATION AND TRAINING DIRECTORY (new edition) produced by the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET). This is an indispensable book for those wishing to work with Vietnam’s large and complex higher education system. It includes chapters on the organizational structure of the education system, a comprehensive survey of education from the primary to the post-graduate level, strategy for development to the year 2020, and descriptions of every tertiary institution with contact information. 284 pages, $10

VIETNAM MUSEUM OF ETHNOLOGY catalogue produced with French and American assistance as a guide to one of the most interesting places to visit in Hanoi. High quality color photos and maps accompany text about the principle ethnic groups. Good as a “coffee table” gift or for library use. 123 pages, $25

NATIONAL CENTER FOR SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES (NCSSH) has produced a new color illustrated directory describing its 27 specialized institutes, centers and publications with contact information. 62 pages, $4 To order, please use form on page 31.

Visit Cuba with FRD

The Fund for Reconciliation and Development is planning a trip to Cuba in April of 2001. It will provide a general introduction for individual and organizations in the FRD network to the accomplishments and challenges faced by a country with similarities to and differences from Indochina. The trip will offer a special opportunity for US NGOs, foundations and universities now working in Indochina to meet with Cuban counterparts. For information, contact Zach Berman at uscuba@igc.org or 212-367-4287

PS From the Editor...

As Bill Clinton concludes his Presidency, we should give due credit to how much his Administration has contributed to the process of reconciliation. Steady progress with Vietnam is well documented, concluding with the historic visit described in this issue.

A lesser known story is Cambodia where this Administration played a significant role in moving the US from partisan intervention during the civil war of the 1980s (effectively in league with the Khmer Rouge) to become an even-handed force for reconciliation between the royalist FUNCINPEC and the formerly socialist CPP, even through the painful 1997-98 period of civil war redux.

The record with Laos is less impressive, as the Administration allowed a trade agreement and a new Ambassador to be held hostage by the same war-spawned attitudes in Congress that it overcame regarding Vietnam and Cambodia.

Cuba is an even bigger disappointment. The Administration followed the correct legal and humanitarian path of allowing Elian to return to his father and then allowed its ability to move further on food, medicine and travel to be constrained by anti-democratic maneuvers in the Congress.

Now, new players take the national stage. All concerned feel confident that the Bush Administration will carry out the trade agreement with Vietnam. Less clear, until appointments are made within the National Security Council and State Department and to ambassadorships, is what attitude will be taken towards the governing parties and political systems within Indochina.

Aspects of the analysis and rhetoric of Secretary of State designate Colin Powell and National Security Adviser designate Condoleeza Rice suggest they are not inclined to intervene in the domestic politics of countries that do not directly threaten the US. However, conservative interest groups and exile political organizations associated with the Republican Party are already expressing confidence that the new Administration will adopt policies more sympathetic to their goals of unseating the Cambodian, Lao, Vietnamese and Cuban governments.

Should these groups succeed in influencing US policy in this fashion, the work of American private institutions in all four countries will become more difficult and will require direct countervailing advocacy with our own government.

—John McAuliff