Program of the NLF or Viet Cong (1962)

In 1962 the National Liberation Front or NLF – known to most Americans and South Vietnamese as the Viet Cong – published a program outlining their aims and objectives:

“I. Overthrow the camouflaged colonial regime of the American imperialists and the dictatorial power of Ngo Dinh Diem, servant of the Americans, and institute a government of national democratic union. The present South Vietnamese regime is a camouflaged colonial regime dominated by the Yankees, and the South Vietnamese government is a servile government, implementing faithfully all the policies of the American imperialists. Therefore, this regime must be overthrown and a government of national and democratic union put in its place composed of representatives of all social classes, of all nationalities, of various political parties, of all religions; patriotic, eminent citizens must take over for the people the control of economic, political, social, and cultural interests and thus bring about independence, democracy, wellbeing, peace, neutrality, and efforts toward the peaceful unification of the country.

II. Institute a largely liberal and democratic regime.

a. Abolish the present constitution of the dictatorial powers of Ngo Dinh Diem, servant of the Americans. Elect a new National Assembly through universal suffrage.

b. Implement essential democratic liberties: freedom of opinion, of the press, of movement, of trade-unionism; freedom of religion without any discrimination; and the right of all patriotic organisations of whatever political tendency to carry on normal activities.

c. Proclaim a general amnesty for all political prisoners and the dissolution of concentration camps of all sorts; abolish fascist law 19/59 and all the other anti-democratic laws; authorise the return to the country of all persons persecuted by the American-Diem regime who are now refugees abroad.

d. Interdict all illegal arrests and detentions; prohibit torture; and punish all the Diem bullies who have not repented and who have committed crimes against the people.

III. Establish an independent and sovereign economy, and improve the living conditions of the people…

IV. Reduce land rent; implement agrarian reform with the aim of providing land to the tillers…

V. Develop a national and democratic culture and education…

VI. Create a national army devoted to the defence of the Fatherland and the people…

VII. Guarantee equality between the various minorities and between the two sexes; protect the legitimate interest of foreign citizens established in Viet-Nam and of Vietnamese citizens residing abroad…

VIII. Promote a foreign policy of peace and neutrality…

IX. Re-establish normal relations between the two zones, and prepare for the peaceful reunification of the country…

X. Struggle against all aggressive war; actively defend universal peace.”