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Abuse and violence becoming new ideals for young Vietnamese

by Nguyen Hung
A government study suggests that university professors and schoolteachers use threats and tricks against rivals, thus promoting “new values” to the students they teach. Violence has become a normal kind of behaviour in society. More than six million children are exposed to violence and abuse.
Hanoi (AsiaNews) – Young people are growing up in an atmosphere that is more and more tolerant of physical and psychological violence. Each year, an estimated six million children are exposed to violence and abuses in schools. People are less and less inclined to respect certain values embodied by traditional sayings like “Love others like thyself” or “When a horse is hurt, all others do not eat grass”.

A study by the Education Department noted that university professors and school teachers use graft, threats and tricks against potential rivals to get ahead. Students tend to notice this kind of behaviour; they learn that it is more important to promote themselves rather than study. Even children as young at 5 to 11-year-olds learn to lie, beat and threaten other pupils. The problem gets worse in high school where students use weapons and knives against fellow students.

Violence is thus becoming commonplace. For young people, it is something normal, encouraged by the cutthroat model of economic development promoted by the government.

Recently, newspapers reported the story of Hao Anh, a 14-year-old boy from Ca Mau province. Sent to work on a farm to help his mother who had been abandoned by her husband, he was beaten and tortured by his employers for no apparent reason after two years of hard work. The boy sustained a 60 per cent disability level. Nothing is known about legal action taken against his tormentors.

Another case involves Con Dau parish in Da Nang diocese. Police and hoodlums hired by the authorities beat up and arrested a group of faithful protesting a government plan to develop disputed land.