On the morning of August 16, Luong Tam Quang held a grand opening ceremony for the Ministry of Public Security Headquarters at Nguyen Du street in Hanoi. Of course, General Secretary To Lam and his juniors from Hung Yen were present. It is worth mentioning that former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and former Minister of Public Security Le Hong Anh also attended and planted a commemorative tree. Standing in a group photo with the great elders and the reigning emperor was the presence of a provincial official from Hung Yen– former police general Vu Hong Van.
Le Hong Anh is from Kien Giang. It was also thanks to Le Hong Anh that Nguyen Tan Dung had the power to overwhelm then General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in the 2006-2011 period. In 2011, Le Hong Anh left the police forces, which was also the time when Nguyen Tan Dung gradually lost his advantage to Nguyen Phu Trong.
On the current political chessboard, there is no alliance that combines as well as the Hung Yen-Kien Giang alliance. The Southern region is considered “uncontrollable” to the Northern forces. Nguyen Phu Trong had such overwhelming power but once almost died in Kien Giang, so many years later he did not want to set foot in this land.
The same goes for the Saigon region, this is an area where people from all over the country gather, but in the Government apparatus, people from the North are arranged to become leaders and also face many challenges. The clearest example is Dinh La Thang. Even Nguyen Thien Nhan, when he was Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, explained that “I am a Southerner but speak with a Northern accent. Don’t worry, I won’t deceive you.” This statement is not only a message to the people of the city but also an explanation to the city’s civil servants that he is a Southerner.
The story of Southerners having unfriendly attitute to Northerners is real. Although there was no public opposition, there was still hidden opposition within the Ho Chi Minh City Government as well as other Southern provinces. Therefore, To Lam wanted to completely control the local governments in the South, so he needed to form an alliance with a Southern force to share the power pie in the Southern region.
Major General Vu Hong Van was once assigned as Director of Dong Nai province Police Department, so he understood how difficult it was to take charge of a government apparatus of all Southerners. Among To Lam’s juniors, only Vu Hong Van had the most experience, so he was assigned to be Secretary of Dong Nai province. To Lam was building Mai Hoang into a Northern general who could control the Southerners. However, there needed to be mutual support between Mai Hoang and Nguyen Thanh Nghi. This was a perfect combination of North and South.
Secretary of Dong Nai Province Vu Hong Van also rushed to Hanoi to stand with two high-ranking officials Le Hong Anh and Nguyen Tan Dung. This is a good image that helps Vu Hong Van be more accepted by the people of the South.
Currently, Nguyen Tan Dung is campaigning for his second son Nguyen Minh Triet to become a member of the Party Central Committee next term. If successful, Triet will be the Provincial Secretary in the future, possibly Kien Giang Province or the First Secretary of the Central Youth Union. The first position is more lucrative than the latter’s one.
The combination of Mai Hoang and Nguyen Thanh Nghi is a small alliance, very beneficial for both Hung Yen and Kien Giang. So why not combine another small alliance like that, the next person is Nguyen Minh Triet combined with To Lam’s son To Long, for example. If the combination is possible, both sides will benefit, why not?
Let’s wait and see, what will be the next move between Kien Giang and Hung Yen?
Hoang Phuc-Thoibao.de
