Bui Thi Minh Chau may not be present at the dialogue, because the HCM City National University, where Chau is studying, has sent another student to the dialogue instead.

Bui Thi Minh Chau

At the summit, the youths worked together to create the Joint Statement of the ASEAN’s universities’ students.

After the event, Chau received the invitation from the AUN to attend the dialogue between the leaders of the ASEAN’s member countries and ten outstanding youths from ten ASEAN countries. The event will be organized on the occasion of the 14^th ASEAN high ranking conference to be held in Thailand in March. The said dialogue will be organized by the AUN and Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 28.

However, the HCM City National University has decided to send another student to the dialogue. This has disappointed Chau. She believes that the dialogue has a close link with the summit in September 2008. In order to create the Joint Statement, Chau and the other 20 delegates had to spend two days to discuss all the issues of the statement, thoroughly consider every word, comma and dot.

What is the AUN’s answer?

Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Hong, Head of the International Relation Division under the HCM City National University, said that in September 2008, two students were selected to attend the AUN held youth summit. Though both of the students could be sent to the summit, the university decided only one of the two would attend the summit, while the other will go the next time.

Chau was chosen to attend the summit because her essay was better. Therefore, Hong said, the university has decided the other person to the dialogue.

“Our viewpoint is that opportunities need to be given to all capable students, not only Chau,” Hong said.

Meanwhile, Chau argues that in case the opportunity needs to be shared, the ‘gift’ should be ‘given to the person who deserves it.’ Chau believes that another person would not be able to understand as well about the process of creating the Joint Statement, a very important document, than those who joined the work.

Chau said that on February 16, the AUN sent an email asking her to send her CV and photos to serve the dialogue.

After receiving Chau’s email, the AUN replied to Chau on February 17, affirming that it sent an email to the HCM City National University where it said it has invited Chau to the dialogue. However, after that the HCM City University sent an email to the AUN, informing that it has sent another student, not Chau, to the dialogue. The AUN has also sent an invitation to that student. Therefore, the AUN asked Chau to contact the HCM City University.

Meanwhile, Hong, while answering local newspaper Phap luat TP HCM on February 17, related that one month ago, the AUN sent an email to the university, asking to introduce a student to represent Vietnamese students to attend the dialogue. There was the note in the email that the university can send Minh Chau, or another student.

Hong said that a notice was sent to member universities of the HCM City National University, asking the universities to introduce candidates. Finally, the national university decided to choose another student. Hong said that she did not know why the AUN still sent an invitation to Chau.

Hong related that as Chau had appealed against the decision, the national university contacted the AUN and found out that they had made a mistake and it has apologized for the mistake.

Cam Quyen