(VOV) – The public continued to contribute their ideas for amendments to the 1992 Constitution at a conference held on Tuesday by Ho Chi Minh city’s Fatherland Front Committee. 

The participants agreed that the revision need to further clarify Article 21 on the right to life as this is a very important right. They also proposed to replace the statement “rights……implemented in line with the legislation” in article 68 and other articles with “…..implemented in line with the law”. In Article 30, which stipulates  “Citizens have the right to vote when the state holds a referendum”, representatives agreed that citizens should be put in a more active position. Dong Van Khiem is Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh city’s pet association: "The old constitution mentions schemes and acts against the socialist State, but there is no word “scheme” in the new draft. I think if it’s not included, only active subversion will be punished but the masterminds will escape punishment. In an article concerning human rights, there is a statement that “everyone has the right to live”. I think this is inappropriate. If so, we have to remove the death penalty from Criminal Law. In the present situation, those who do not appreciate their lives and affect community life should be excluded from society".

Participants agreed to continue to confirm the leading role of the Party to assure social equality in line with people’s aspirations. Professor Tran Dong A said: "The Constitution needs to clearly define and make into law the power of our political system internationally recognized with the Communist Party as its core. By doing so, it can match the country’s changes in the context of international integration and complicated changes in the world situation and avoid shortcomings pointed out in a Party Central Committee Resolution".

The same day, the Vietnam Women’s Union held a conference in Nha Trang to collect ideas from women’s groups for the Constitution revisions. The participants focused on measures to empower the people, support human and civil rights, and protect the Constitution.