Vientiane (VNA) – The Lao “Security” newspa♑per, published by the Lao Ministry of Security, carried sꦉeveral stories alleging that forces hostile to Vietnam attempted to sabotage recent elections in the country.

The newspaper said the forces abused democracy and human rights to sabotage Vietnam’s elections of deputies to the 14th National Assembly (NA) and People’s Councils at all levels. Laos wants to raise awareness and vigilance among people and security forces on the fight against the “peaceful evolution” schemes of the hostile forces. According to the newspaper, the forces induced political opportunists and those with anti-revolutionary thoughts to disseminate information distorting the socio-economic development guidelines, standpoints and policies of Vietnam. The forces used Facebook to call for “free elections”. When independant candidates were not approved for the NA election, they urged a boycott of the election. They considered the elections to the 14th NA and People’s Councils as an opportunity to induce public doubt and a lack of confidence in the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the newspaper said. The “Viet Tan” group and others brought forces from Vietnam to Thailand and Malaysia to train to fight against Vietnam, including using propaganda to make people misunderstand the role of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the newspaper alleged. In Ho Chi Minh City, the groups opened a number of training courses for intellectuals and students, attracted petitioners, and developed membership at industrial parks. After the 12th National Party Congress, police collected evidence on the groups’ plots, which aim to realise their “peaceful evolution” strategy. The newspaper concluded that plots against Vietnam are taking place more intensely with various methods. It stressed that the distortion of the Vietnamese socialist regime has been the unchanged target of the groups for decades.-VNA