In this Vietnamese name, the surname is Hà, but is often simplified to Ha in English-language text. In accordance with Vietnamese custom, this person should be referred to by the given name, Ký.
Hà Thúc Ký (1 January 1919 – 16 October 2008) was a South Vietnamese opposition politician. During the presidency of Ngô Đình Diệm he was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison[1] and arrested in October 1958,[2] however, after the coup and assassination of Diệm in 1963, he was released by the rebel forces.[3] He ran for president in the 1967 South Vietnamese presidential election, under the Đại Việt Revolutionary Party, a branch of the Nationalist Party of Greater Vietnam and was unsuccessful.[3] In 1974, after President Nguyễn 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 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 the Nationalist Party of Greater Vietnam, Ký participated in many anti-communist movements. On 12 December 1963 he was invited by General Dương Văn Minh, the Chairman 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 General Nguyễn Khánh launched a coup against Minh, ousting Minh and his government from power. After Khánh finally stabilize power he invited Ký to serve as Minister of Internal 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 the 1967 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 the Communists, 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 meet Pope Paul VI as well as other world leaders to recognize and support South Vietnam in its fight against invading Communists.[3] In 1974, he sued President Thiệu for signing a law regulating political parties.
^Nu-Anh, Tran (28 February 2022). Disunion Anticommunist Nationalism and the Making of the Republic of Vietnam. University of Hawaii Press. p. 113. ISBN9780824891633.
^ abcdefghijNguyễn, Lý-Tưởng (18 October 2008). "Lãnh Tụ Hà Thúc Ký Từ Trần, Thọ 89 Tuổi" [Leader Hà Thúc Ký Dies at Age 89]. Việt Báo (in Vietnamese). Garden Grove, California.
