Free Market Economy in a totalitarian system does not lead to Democracy

Below is a good article to debunk the Islamic Republic's apologists/reformers (pocketbook supporters of the IRI) who preach that economic and free-market economy (e.g., joining the WTO) would lead to a democratic, just, and prosperous Iran

China’s desire to become a fully fledged capitalist power is well-known, and her support for dubious regimes is equally well documented, but even China’s harshest critics would have hoped that she could avoid barbaric forms of pre-capitalistic slavery, but alas no, as reported by the BBC:

“Thirty-one dirty and disorientated workers have been rescued from a brickwork factory in China, where they were being held as virtual slaves.
Eight workers were so traumatised by their experiences that they were only able to remember their names.

Apparently, this is happened at least once before in 2001:

“An article by Bruce Gilley published in this week’s Far Eastern Economic Review (16 August 2001) recounts how 27 men were forced to work as slaves, for 12 hours a day and no pay, in a brick factory in Dingzhou, China.
The

key passage is:

“China still has not ratified the International Labour Organization’s Convention on Forced Labour 1930 No.29) or the Convention on the Abolition of Forced Labour 1957 (No.105)”

Vietnam is another example that trade and normalization of relations with the U.S. does not pave the way to democracy, securing human rights, and social justice. Today, The Vietnamese American Youth released this statement on Vietnam Presdient Triet's visit to the United States:

President Triet is the latest and highest ranking Vietnamese government official to visit the United States with the expressed purpose of improving economic ties and increasing foreign investment to Viet Nam. Since diplomatic normalization, Viet Nam has gained significant bi-lateral trade with the United States, become a member of the World Trade Organization, hosted the Asian Pacific Economic Summit, and received Permanent Normal Trade Relation status from the United States Congress. Despite these economic advancements, the government has not made a good faith effort to raise the treatment of its citizens to international human rights standards, as it continues to harass, detain, and imprison - without cause or due process - democracy activists, religious leaders, political dissidents, and various other individuals who voiced opposition to government policies.

Recently, the government has intensified its crackdown on democracy activists and opposition voices by arresting members of a pro-democracy coalition and imprisoning individuals accused of propaganda to overthrow the people's government. Examples include Father Nguyen Van Ly, a Catholic priest sentenced to eight years of jail time for his leadership role in calling for democracy in Viet Nam. Of particular concern is Mr. Nguyen's denial of an attorney or his ability to self-represent during trial. In another case, lawyer Le Thi Cong Nhan, a member of an opposing political party in Viet Nam, was sentenced to jail for similar charges of propaganda against the people's government. Ms. Le was also tried in a closed-court session and was denied legal representation.

A Vietnamese American protester from Southern California holds pictures of Vietnam President Nguyen Minh Triet at St. Regis Resort on Monarch Beach in Dana Point, Calif., Friday June 22, 2007, during a protest over the Vietnamese president's visit to the White House. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Today, despite economic developments, the current Vietnamese government has yet to recognize the fundamental rights of its citizens, including the right to have a free and independent press, the right to establish independent organizations and political parties, and the rights to due process with independent legal counsel and full legal representation.

Thanks to Gateway Pundit :Vietnamese Americans Rush Communist Leader's Motorcade! Click here for more pictures of the protest.

Vietnamese American protester Andy Nguyen holding a large banner protests the visit of Vietnam President Nguyen Minh Triet to the United States at the St. Regis Resort on Monarch Beach in Dana Point, Calif., Friday June 22, 2007. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Apparently, the Veitnamese regime does not spend enormous amount of money on hordes of lobbyist and propagandists in the U.S. like the Islamic Republic does.