On Feb. 27, 1998, with the support of many Australian Members of Parliament, the Free Vietnam Alliance announced its "Roadmap to a Democratic and Developed Vietnam" at the Congressional Hall of the New South Wales (NSW) State. About 200 Vietnamese and Australians friends attended the ceremony.

Along with representatives of various media, political, social, cultural, professional, and religious Vietnamese organizations, were Australian representatives of both major parties and the governor of NSW, and mayor of Parramatta city.

In his remarks, Congressman Kevin Moss of Canterbury emphasized: "We are in this hall together because we all share the same hope and effort for a struggle for true democratic pluralism, freedom, human rights, social justice and market-economy; Vietnam--with a people crying for freedom--will become a country of progress, freedom and democracy. Therefore the "Roadmap to a Democratic and Developed Vietnam" is of vital importance; it will enable both Vietnamese inside and abroad, and even the international community to courageously push forth for a complete change to effectively contribute to a truly democratic and developed Vietnam.

The slide show that followed covered the FVA's formation and activities. The audience took pride in the fact that FVA was born from the first Vietnamese student movement in Australia in a spontaneous response to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest in China.

Senator Jim Samios shared this pride by noting: "These Vietnamese students when rallied in Canberra upon the Tiananmen incident probably didn't know that the seeds they planted had been blossoming across the world with the formation and growth of the Free Vietnam Alliance..."

Members of the Free Vietnam Alliance in attendance came from far away as Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia.

Mr. Mark Stevens, Chairman of the Australians for a Free Vietnam (AFFV), then read from the "Roadmap."

Among many distinguished guests who expressed their support for FVA's effort and its Roadmap were Senator Jim Samios representing the governing Liberal party; Congresswoman Reba Meagher representing Cabramatta; Mr. Bob Carr representing the governor of New South Wales.

Manny Poularas representing the Democratic Party also called for international pressure and the Australian government to force Hanoi to accept concrete political reforms.

Congresswoman Marie Ficarra of Georges River commented that the basic rights enjoyed by Australians and taken for granted by many are aspirations longed by the people of Vietnam who are languishing under communist control. Ms. Ficarra emphasized that the audience and herself were having the honor to take part in an international event that every democratic nation must dutifully support--that is the solutions proposed by the FVA Roadmap.

Other Australians officials who could not attend the event also sent their messages of support.

Mr. Vo Minh Cuong, chairman of the Vietnamese community in NSW professed his support for the roadmap and FVA's activities.

Mr. Luu Truong Quang, Director of Radio SBS, a major radio broadcast in Australia, commented that the site for the Roadmap introduction ceremony is a historical site: the Congressional Hall held the first meetings for the Australian Parliament more than a century ago, and it is the symbol of Australia's democracy. Mr. Quang also said: "Vietnamese-Australians or Australians of any other ethnic origin...all have the rights to express their concerns and views regarding the affairs of their former homeland."

To conclude the ceremony, Mr. Dang Quoc Sung, FVA Executive Committee member and head of the Australia office, read the Berlin '97 Appeal, calling for all Vietnamese and the world over to support the Vietnamese struggle for freedom and to rebuild Vietnam. As the audience rose to their feet in support of the recent peasants protests in Vietnam, the popular song "Vietnam, Vietnam" echoed throughout the Hall, shining the hope for a renewed Vietnam in freedom and happiness.