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INPUT III

Indo - China

Ms. Yayori Matsui, a Japanese foreign correspondent, shared with the participants her knowledge about Vietnam, Kampuchea and Laos and the struggle of the people with special reference to the women. She extensively employed the use of pictures and slides in her presentation.

After giving a brief account of the reunification of the people of Vietnam, she described the

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social conditions of the people since then. She stated that special attention was given to education and health facilities in these countries. However, the education system was not up to the mark because of the shortage of schools. Some children had to attend night schools as in the mornings they were working with their parents in the fields. Because of the poverty in Vietnam most of the children are unable to get the required amount of vitamins for their growth and thus a number of children are blind, especially in Ho Chi Minh City.

Being a socialist country, Vietnam depends on Russia for aid, but this is not enough. None of the ASEAN countries are willing to trade with Vietnam as they objected to the way Vietnam entered into Kampuchea and stayed there. As a result the economy of the country has sunk quite low.

Since 1986, there has been a more liberal leadership that has taken charge and there are some hopes that the economy may improve. The many churches that had been destroyed, the government is now aliening them to be rebuilt.