In recent weeks, a number of significant events relating to the struggle for freedom and democracy in Vietnam have taken place :
1) In early July 1999, more than a million Vietnamese Buddhists traveled to the Hoa Hao Holy Land in the western region of the country to attend the Grand Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the Hoa Hao Buddhist Church despite the intimidation and barriers erected by the Hanoi authorities. This event demonstrated the victory of faith over oppression. It also showed the tactics used by the Vietnamese Communist Party to exterminate the Hoa Hao Buddhist Church for the last 25 years had failed. Furthermore, this event has given Hoa Hao followers in particular and Vietnamese in general more confidence and determination to struggle for their right to religious freedom.
2) In mid-July 1999, the public inside and outside Vietnam learned that the General-turned-dissident Tran Do had submitted an application to start an independent newspaper. His request was promptly rejected by Hanoi authorities. This incident sparked a wave of protest letters from the international media community and human right organizations to the Vietnamese Communist Party leadership. The Party's suppression of the freedom of the press has clearly violated the United Nations' covenants they had signed and promised to honor.
3) In early August 1999, Dr. Nguyen Dan Que, a famous former political prisoner, raised his voice in challenging the legitimacy of the communist government. He stated the isolation and intimidation tactics by Hanoi would not stop him from pursuing his non-violent struggle for democracy and freedom in Vietnam. In late May 1999, Dr. Nguyen Dan Que issued a call for democracy in Vietnam. For that action, the communist authorities have tightened the control and isolation around his family.
4) Also in early August 1999, Venerable Thich Quang Do and other Buddhist leaders were summoned by the Hanoi authorities for interrogation on his recent effort to bring international attention to the fate of the Patriarch Venerable Thich Huyen Quang in exile and the oppresion of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam by the government. This intimidation tactic by the Vietnamese Communist Party, however, did not cause Venerable Thich Quang Do to fall back in his efforts for religious freedom in Vietnam.
These events have demonstrated the enormous courage of those who dare to demand Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Religion, other fundamental human rights and democracy for Vietnam despite the constant threats and harsh treatments by the authorities. These efforts need and deserve the support from all of us - the freedom and democracry lovers around the world.
The Free Vietnam Alliance calls on all Vietnamese organizations and communities, the Vietnamese Media, international human rights organizations, international dignitaries and the international Media to join the movement to support the freedom and democracy advocates in Vietnam.
One effective approach would be for each individual, each organization, and each community to send their letters of support directly to the freedom and democracy advocates in Vietnam. This outpour of support will be not only a great encouragement for these courageous individuals but also a deterrence against the Vietnamese Communist Party's campaign of harassment on their families.
Another approach would be to campaign the politicians and members of the press in the free countries to sponsor the freedom and democracy advocates in Vietnam. The sponsorship would include encouragement, protest and intevention upon their arrests, and one-on-one visits when possible, etc. Again, such outpour of support will apply considerable pressure on the Vietnamese Communist Party when it contemplates plans of attack on the dissidents and their families.
With our collective effort, the movement of support for those who are struggling for Freedom and Democracy in Vietnam will achieve concrete results. Vietnamese and their international friends will help end the current dictatorship and bring freedom, democracy and prosperity to the nation of Vietnam.
Paris, August 1999
Free Vietnam Alliance