New points about the military in the 2013 Constitution

(Baonghean) - The 2013 Constitution has many new constitutional points on the army, new in terms of approach, content, requirements, tasks; new in terms of presentation form and method of expression. In general, the new constitutional points on the army all demonstrate the superiority of our social regime and deeply reflect human rights, basic rights and obligations of citizens of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in exercising military rights and obligations, protecting the Fatherland, more clearly affirming the increasing role of our army in protecting the Fatherland in the new period: globalization, international integration and development of knowledge economy.

One of the key, very new contents of the Constitution, which is hotly topical, has great appeal, attracting the attention, follow-up and discussion of many people both domestically and internationally, even hostile forces are interested because it is directly related to the life and survival of the Vietnamese nation in the current complex context. That is the content of Chapter 4 on National Defense and a number of other provisions in the 2013 Constitution that are closely related to Chapter 4 on National Defense, on building a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and gradually modern Vietnam People's Army.

In order to maintain a peaceful environment, political stability, social order and safety; firmly protect the Fatherland, the people, protect the Party, the State, the socialist regime and excellently complete all assigned tasks, in Chapter 4, in Articles 64, 65 and 66 of the Constitution, the consolidation and strengthening of the all-people national defense and people's security are emphasized; in which the core role of the people's armed forces in general and our Army in particular is emphasized three times. Article 64 states: "Strengthening the all-people national defense and people's security, with the core being the people's armed forces"; Article 66 states: "The State builds a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, gradually modernized People's Army, with a reasonable standing force, a strong reserve force, a strong and widespread militia and self-defense force, as the core in performing the task of all-people national defense".

In addition to the 5 articles mentioned in Chapter 4 on defending the Fatherland, there are many new contents stipulated in the Constitution directly related to the building of the Army. In the 2013 Constitution, there are also a number of articles and clauses with new contents related to the organization of the army; the rights and obligations of citizens when joining the army are presented in other chapters. For example: Article 15, Clause 1 states: Citizens' rights are inseparable from citizens' obligations. Article 45 affirms: 1. Defending the Fatherland is the sacred duty and noble right of citizens. 2. Citizens must perform military service and participate in building the national defense.

The 2013 Constitution also has a new constitutional point directly related to the military: Clause 5, Article 88 affirms: The President has the following duties and powers: "Command the people's armed forces, hold the position of Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council, decide to confer, promote, demote, and strip the military ranks of generals, rear admirals, vice admirals, and naval admirals; appoint, dismiss, and remove the Chief of the General Staff and Director of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army.

The nature, functions, and tasks of the Vietnam People's Army and the requirements and contents of the tasks of building the army and contributing to strengthening national defense and security are stipulated in the 2013 Constitution.

Although there is no article or clause in Chapter 4 of the Constitution that specifically discusses the nature, functions and tasks of the Vietnam People's Army, each content and argument of all 5 Articles: 64, 65, 66, 67, 68 in Chapter 4 all contain and express the content of the nature, functions and tasks of our army. In essence, Chapter 4 of the Constitution clearly shows: Our army has the nature of the working class, a deeply popular and national character; absolutely loyal to the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party. In terms of functions and tasks, the 2013 Constitution clearly affirms: Our army is a fighting army, a working army and a production army.

Article 64 affirms: Together with the People's Public Security, the Vietnam People's Army is the core force to consolidate and strengthen all-people national defense and people's security; promote the country's total strength to firmly protect the Fatherland, contributing to protecting peace in the region and in the world.

Article 65 clearly affirms the mission of the Vietnam People's Army as "absolutely loyal to the Fatherland, the people, the Party and the State, with the duty to protect the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Fatherland..., protect the people, the Party, the State and the socialist regime, together with the entire people build the country and fulfill international obligations".

Article 66 of the 2013 Constitution reaffirms and emphasizes the role of “being the core in performing national defense tasks”, building all-people national defense, and developing the defense industry in the new period of our Army. To create conditions for the Vietnam People's Army to fulfill its functions and tasks, Article 68 of the 2013 Constitution stipulates the role of the State in educating and fostering knowledge of all-people national defense; building the defense industry; ensuring that the armed forces are equipped with sufficient strength to protect the Fatherland...

In short, the 2013 Constitution not only affirms the nature, functions and tasks of the Vietnam People's Army but also clearly indicates the step-by-step building of a revolutionary, disciplined, elite and gradually modern Vietnam People's Army, suitable to the conditions and circumstances of the country, the organization, the structure, and the traditional history of our army and our people. The role of the 2013 Constitution in the struggle to expose the distorted and reactionary arguments, the demands for "depoliticization" of the army, and the implementation of "peaceful evolution" of hostile forces. To successfully fulfill its tasks, the army in general; each officer and soldier of the Vietnam People's Army in particular, must always uphold the sense of responsibility in implementing and protecting the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; at the same time, be proactive and take the lead in propagating and disseminating the Constitution and laws among the people, together with the people, relatives and families to seriously implement the Constitution and laws; First of all, the Law on Military Service and the Law on National Defense and Security Education have just been passed by the 13th National Assembly.

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