Nhân Van affair
Encyclopedia
The Nhân Văn affair was a political controversy in North Vietnam
in the late 1950s. Following a loosening of political restrictions with some similarities to the Chinese Hundred Flowers Campaign
, there was a hardening of attitudes. Two periodicals were closed down and their political associates imprisoned or exiled.
The affair is named for the suppression of two independent newspapers in North Vietnam
in 1956. The Nhân Văn (The Beauty of Humanity) group consisted of the dissident North Vietnamese intellectual
s from 1955 - 1958. This group was led by Phan Khôi
, a revolutionary from Quảng Nam.
Most of these intellectuals had participated in the movement against French colonialism
. After the first phase of land reform
, they became disillusioned and started a political movement
demanding political freedom
and democracy
.
They published the Nhân Văn paper and the Giai Phẩm periodical, with articles demanding freedom of speech
, and that certain human rights
be respected. They also commented that Communist Party leaders had violated the Constitution
of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
The official address of the Nhân Văn paper was 27 Hang Khay, Hanoi
. Its editor was Phan Khôi, and its secretary was Tran Duy.
Among intellectuals that joined the group were the lawyer Nguyễn Mạnh Tường, Dr Đặng Văn Ngữ, scholar Đào Duy Anh, philosopher Trần Đức Thảo, poets Trần Dần
, Hoàng Cầm, Phùng Quán, Quang Dũng, Văn Cao
, Nguyễn Hữu Đang, Lê Đạt and painter Bui Xuan Phai
.
The first edition of Giai Pham (Spring) was published in March, 1956. By December 1956, they had published two issues (Fall and Spring) of Giai Phẩm and five issues of Nhân Văn.
On December 15, 1956, the Communist Party
shut down the organization, closed the office, and arrested all participants. Some were executed and others sent for "re-education".
The event was publicised in the West by Hoàng Văn Chí
in The Nhân Văn Affair, and Trăm Hoa Đua Nở Trên Đất Bắc (Hundreds of Flowers Blooming in the North), published in 1959 by the Congress of Cultural Freedom in Saigon.
After the doi moi reforms in the late 1980s, many of the imprisoned intellectuals were rehabilitated
. The government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam recognized many of the writers and poets in the late 1990s and 2000s with many state awards, often posthumously.
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
in the late 1950s. Following a loosening of political restrictions with some similarities to the Chinese Hundred Flowers Campaign
Hundred Flowers Campaign
The Hundred Flowers Campaign, also termed the Hundred Flowers Movement, refers mainly to a brief six weeks in the People's Republic of China in the early summer of 1957 during which the Communist Party of China encouraged a variety of views and solutions to national policy issues, launched...
, there was a hardening of attitudes. Two periodicals were closed down and their political associates imprisoned or exiled.
The affair is named for the suppression of two independent newspapers in North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
in 1956. The Nhân Văn (The Beauty of Humanity) group consisted of the dissident North Vietnamese intellectual
Intellectual
An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.- Terminology and endeavours :"Intellectual" can denote four types of persons:...
s from 1955 - 1958. This group was led by Phan Khôi
Phan Khoi
Phan Khôi was an intellectual leader who inspired a North Vietnamese variety of the Chinese Hundred Flowers Campaign, in which scholars were permitted to criticize the Communist regime, but for which he himself was ultimately persecuted by the Communist Party...
, a revolutionary from Quảng Nam.
Most of these intellectuals had participated in the movement against French colonialism
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
. After the first phase of land reform
Land reform in Vietnam
Land reform in Vietnam was a program of land reform in North Vietnam from 1953 to 1956. It followed the program of land reform in China from 1946 to 1953....
, they became disillusioned and started a political movement
Political movement
A political movement is a social movement in the area of politics. A political movement may be organized around a single issue or set of issues, or around a set of shared concerns of a social group...
demanding political freedom
Freedom (political)
Political freedom is a central philosophy in Western history and political thought, and one of the most important features of democratic societies...
and democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
.
They published the Nhân Văn paper and the Giai Phẩm periodical, with articles demanding freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
, and that certain human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
be respected. They also commented that Communist Party leaders had violated the Constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
The official address of the Nhân Văn paper was 27 Hang Khay, Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
. Its editor was Phan Khôi, and its secretary was Tran Duy.
Among intellectuals that joined the group were the lawyer Nguyễn Mạnh Tường, Dr Đặng Văn Ngữ, scholar Đào Duy Anh, philosopher Trần Đức Thảo, poets Trần Dần
Tran Dan
Trần Dần was a Vietnamese poet and novelist noted for his radical works.Dần was best known to be one of the active participators in the Nhân Văn affair in the mid 1950s which saw many middle class intellectuals demanding for freedom and democracy in communist-led North Vietnam...
, Hoàng Cầm, Phùng Quán, Quang Dũng, Văn Cao
Van Cao
Văn Cao was a Vietnamese composer whose works include Tiến Quân Ca, which became the national anthem of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. He, along with Pham Duy and Trinh Cong Son, is widely considered one of the three most salient figures of modern Vietnamese music...
, Nguyễn Hữu Đang, Lê Đạt and painter Bui Xuan Phai
Bui Xuan Phai
Bui Xuan Phai was a Vietnamese painter. He is famous for the paintings of Hanoi Old Quarter.The best known of all Vietnamese modern painters, Bui Xuan Phai is respected and admired for both his art and moral character...
.
The first edition of Giai Pham (Spring) was published in March, 1956. By December 1956, they had published two issues (Fall and Spring) of Giai Phẩm and five issues of Nhân Văn.
On December 15, 1956, the Communist Party
Communist Party of Vietnam
The Communist Party of Vietnam , formally established in 1930, is the governing party of the nation of Vietnam. It is today the only legal political party in that country. Describing itself as Marxist-Leninist, the CPV is the directing component of a broader group of organizations known as the...
shut down the organization, closed the office, and arrested all participants. Some were executed and others sent for "re-education".
The event was publicised in the West by Hoàng Văn Chí
Hoang Van Chi
Hoàng Văn Chí was one of the first Vietnamese political writers, a prominent intellectual who was an opponent of colonialism and later of communism in Vietnam. He used the penname Mạc Định...
in The Nhân Văn Affair, and Trăm Hoa Đua Nở Trên Đất Bắc (Hundreds of Flowers Blooming in the North), published in 1959 by the Congress of Cultural Freedom in Saigon.
After the doi moi reforms in the late 1980s, many of the imprisoned intellectuals were rehabilitated
Political rehabilitation
Political rehabilitation is the process by which a member of a political organization or government who has fallen into disgrace, is restored to public life. It is usually applied to leaders or other prominent individuals who regain their prominence after a period in which they have no influence or...
. The government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam recognized many of the writers and poets in the late 1990s and 2000s with many state awards, often posthumously.