Hà Thúc Ký | |
|---|---|
 Ký in 1967 | |
| Member of theHouse of Representatives ofSouth Vietnam | |
| In office 31 October 1967 – 30 April 1975 Serving with
| |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Constituency | Huế |
| Minister of Internal Affairs ofSouth Vietnam | |
| In office 8 February 1964 – 4 April 1964 | |
| Prime Minister | Nguyễn Khánh |
| Preceded by | Tôn Thất Đính |
| Succeeded by | Lâm Văn Phát |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1919-01-01)1 January 1919 |
| Died | 16 October 2008(2008-10-16) (aged 89) Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Đại Việt Revolutionary Party (since 1946) |
| Other political affiliations | Nationalist Party of Greater Vietnam (until 1965) |
| Spouse | Tôn Nữ Oanh |
| Children | 7 (4 sons; 3 daughters) |
| Parent(s) | Hà Thúc Huyên (father) Tôn Nữ Thị Hiệp (mother) |
| Alma mater | University of Indochina (BSAg) |
Hà Thúc Ký (1 January 1919 – 16 October 2008) was aSouth Vietnamese opposition politician. During the presidency ofNgô Đình Diệm he was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison[1] and arrested in October 1958,[2] however, after thecoup and assassination of Diệm in 1963, he was released by the rebel forces.[3] He ran for president in the1967 South Vietnamese presidential election, under the Đại Việt Revolutionary Party, a branch of theNationalist Party of Greater Vietnam and was unsuccessful.[3] In 1974, after PresidentNguyễn Văn Thiệu amended the "Regulations of the Political Party" into law, Ký filed an application at the Supreme Court to sue President Thiệu, declaring that the law was unconstitutional.[3]
He was born inHuế,Annam,French Indochina and was the youngest of eight children. After graduating from high school, he attended theUniversity of Hanoi where he earned aBS in engineering.[4] He relocated toCà Mau where he worked as an engineer. In 1945, theJapanese coup d'état in French Indochina took place, Ký joined theNationalist Party of Greater Vietnam.[3]
He joined the Dai Viet in 1946. Prior to that he was a member of the 9th Street Front located in Laos.[5] The Dai Viet fought both against the French and against the Viet Minh.[5]
Since joining theNationalist Party of Greater Vietnam, Ký participated in manyanti-communist movements. On 12 December 1963 he was invited by GeneralDương Văn Minh, theChairman of the Military Revolutionary Council to join Humanitarian Council, consisting of 40 people and this Council was officially launched on 9 January 1964.[3] On the dawn of 30 January 1964 GeneralNguyễn Khánh launched acoup against Minh, ousting Minh and his government from power. After Khánh finally stabilize power he invited Ký to serve as Minister ofInternal Affairs[6] on 8 February 1964, but Ký only held the position for 1 month and 21 days; resigning after having some disagreements with Khánh.[3] In late 1964 he formed Tan Dai Viet. By 1969 it had developed into the Progressive Nationalist Movement.[2]
Ký was an unsuccessful candidate for president in the1967 South Vietnamese presidential election.[7] After losing his bid for president, he won a house seat in the National Assembly. In May 1965, he published the 9-point Manifesto, advocating against theCommunists, demanding the realization of national unity, demanding reforms in economy, politics, culture, education, society, etc.[3] In 1969, Ký led a delegation of all South Vietnamese political groups abroad to meetPope Paul VI as well as other world leaders to recognize and supportSouth Vietnam in its fight against invading Communists.[3] In 1974, he sued President Thiệu for signing a law regulating political parties.
On30 April 1975 when South Vietnam fell to the advancingCommunist North Vietnamese andViet Cong forces, Ký and his family fled the Communists by boat, resettling in the United States aspolitical refugees. During his life in exile, he continued to fight for freedom, democracy and human rights forVietnam and opposing thecommunist regime.[3]
He died on 16 October 2008 at 12:10 pm atHoly Cross Hospital, inSilver Spring, Maryland, US.[3]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of Internal Affairs of theRepublic of Vietnam 1964 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Position established | Member of theHouse of Representatives of theRepublic of Vietnam fromHuế 1967–1975 | Succeeded by Position abolished |