Hunger-Strike and Rally to Support Human Rights in Vietnam
In a two day rally to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and urge the respect of human rights in Vietnam, Vietnamese-Americans organized one of their biggest hunger-strikes ever--with 28 participants.
In the winter chill of San Francisco before the United Nations Plaza, where 53 years ago the Charter of the United Nations was announced, hundreds of Vietnamese from across California and some travelling from as far away as Canada, Texas, and Washington D.C.... set aside their daily lives to raise international attention to the plight of their compatriots under the communist dictatorship.
To highlight the human rights cause in Vietnam, Vietnamese across the world have held numerous hunger-strikes. The hunger strike on this occasion comprised many well-known members of the Vietnamese community and former political prisoners. Prominent journalists participating in the hunger strike included Minh Duc Hoai Trinh, Son Dien Nguyen Viet Khanh, Du Mien, Do Son, and Hoang Chi Kien.
Most special was the participation of two prominent political dissidents, Professor Doan Viet Hoat and Jimmy Tran, released by the Hanoi regime in September after years of imprisonment in Vietnam. Joining Prof. Hoat was his wife, Prof. Tran Thi Thuc. The participation of Kenneth Whitt of Stockton, an American Vietnam veteran, highlighted the support American friends continue to give to the freedom cause in Vietnam.
Many San Franciscans stopped by not only to give their messages of support and sign petitions for the release of political prisoners, but also to join the rally and march. Placards calling for freedom and the respect of human rights in hands, they marched and stood for hours with the Vietnamese American rally-goers.
As the eldest hunger-striker, 88-year old Nguyen Hoang Bach, along with younger participants like 20-year old Pham Thanh Van spent the night in subfreezing temperature in front of the United Nations Plaza, many rally-goers chose to remain at the site in support, and news of the sacrifices were reported by a dozen Vietnamese radio stations and three television networks. In addition, Radio Free Asia and the New Horizon Radio broadcast the event to Vietnam.
The most touching moments included a slide show summarizing the 50 years of human rights violations in Vietnam, a candle-light vigil dedicated to the victims with 50 candles lit on an altar, and prayers
As the hunger-strike came to a conclusion, a ceremony of lighting the "Torch of Human Rights" for Vietnam took place with five torches symbolizing the solidarity of Vietnamese across the five continents.
The 28 hunger-strikers, still looking strong after 24 hours of fasting, rose from their positions amid applause from the audience. Each individual received a beautiful red rose of love and appreciation from a participant, whose gesture touched everyone.
Elsewhere across the world, similar events to urge for the respect of human rights and the release of all political prisoners were organized:
Washington, D.C., USA:
Vietnamese human rights advocates gathered Dec. 4 on Capitol Hill to call for greater freedoms in Vietnam and commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The principal speaker was Professor Doan Viet Hoat, a dissident who spent two decades in Vietnamese prisons before being released in September.
Other speakers included Congressman Christopher Smith, Dr. Paul Marshall, Nina Shea, Wei Jingsheng, Harry Wu, Xiao Qiang, Minister Thein Oo. John Whitehead.
The public discussion and reception was hosted by the Vietnam Helsinki Committee, a nonprofit group based in Springfield, Virginia, and cosponsored by numerous human rights groups and members of Congress. The meeting was held in the Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building.
Vietnamese Americans also protested before the communist Hanoi embassy on Dec. 10.
Houston, Texas, USA:
Vietnamese-Americans joined a local coalition of political progressives in a Human Rights Festival on Dec. 12 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Among many activities at the festival, Vietnamese community had an educational exhibit and eyewitnesses sharing stories to reporters regarding human rights violations in Vietnam.
Brussels, Belgium:
On Dec. 4, an International Day for Human Rights in Vietnam was held at the European Parliament. The day-long event was organized by the Free Vietnam Alliance and the Belgian Committee for Democracy in Vietnam. It was sponsored by Philippe Monfils, Member of the European Parliament. Thierry Oppikofer, a journalist and President of the Swiss-Vietnam Committee, moderated the discussion panel.
The major announcement from the event was the formation of the International Council for Democracy in Vietnam.
The day's agenda included presentations and exchanges of viewpoints and experiences among various organizations and activists on the topic of human rights in Vietnam. Among the speakers were:
- Prof. Nguyen Ngoc Bich, Director of the Vietnamese section of Radio Free Asia, who spoke on the "Human Rights Situation in Vietnam for the last 50 Years."
- Two political prisoners just released in September 1998, Jimmy Tran and Pham Van Thanh, reported on the communist governments treatment of political prisoners. These live witness accounts moved the international audience
- Bui Xuan Quang, Professor of Law from Paris Nanterre University, presented the topic "Are Human Rights a Universal Concept?"
- Bishop John Hepworth, President of the Australia - Vietnam Committee for Human Rights, discussed "The Right to Intervene in Cases of Human Rights Violations."
- French Senator Michel Pelchat, who is also President of the French Committee for Democracy in Vietnam, presented "Freedom of Speech: Engine of Democracy."
- European Parliament Member Philippe Monfils, discussed the "International Contribution to Solving Problems in Vietnam."
Other contributors came from France, Germany, Norway, Britain, and the United States.
On this occasion, the International Council for Democracy in Vietnam presented its goals and organizational structure.
Senator Michel Pelchat of France, a co-founder of the Council, stated that the objective was to advocate international bodies such as the United Nations, European Union, and ASEAN to pressure for democratization in Vietnam.
The Council's Interim Administration includes: Senator Michel Pelchat, Count Yvan de Wynter of the Belgium-Vietnam Committee for Democracy in Vietnam, EU MP Philippe Monfils, Bishop John Helpworth of the Australia-Vietnam Committee, State Representative Gene Ward of Hawaii, USA, former U.S. Congressman David Stockman of the Texas Friends for a Free Vietnam, and Francis Guyanne of the French Committee for Democracy in Vietnam.
Count Yvan de Wynter, chairman of the Belgium-Vietnam committee gave the opening remarks.
Following Count de Wynter's opening remarks, Representative Gene Ward speaking on behalf of the Council's members in the U.S., expressed support for the Council's goals. Thierry Oppikofer, chairman of the Swiss-Vietnam Committee, informed that 15 members of the Swiss Parliament had announced their support of the Council.
Meeting with Director of the Chairman's Office of the European Parliament
At the end of the day, a delegation comprised of Nguyen Ngoc Duc - Secretary General of the Free Vietnam Alliance, Jimmy Tran, Francis Guyanne, Count Yvan de Wynter and Senator Michel Pelchat met with Stefan Pfitzer at the office of the chairman of the European Parliament. The delegation gave the EU representatives documents of human rights violations in Vietnam and a petition for the EU's support for ending the current rights abuses.
In conclusion, David Stockman, on behalf of the Council called for international support to pressure Hanoi to release prisoners of conscience, rescind its policy on administrative detainment (Directive 31/CP), and respect religious and speech freedoms.
On behalf of the organizing committee, FVA Secretary General Nguyen Ngoc Duc thanked the speakers and participants, and praised the efforts of the dedicated members of the Council to help democratize Vietnam.
Edmonton, Canada:
The International Conference on Human Rights this year in Canada had a message: "International pressure on this issue has achieved positive results, and freedom of speech is the most important rights of mankind."
The conference with 1500 human rights activists across the world was concluded on Nov. 30, 1998, citing cases of success in pressuring dictatorial regimes around the world to release political and religious prisoners.
Attending the conference on behalf of the Vietnamese was Prof. Doan Viet Hoat, a political prisoner of 20 years recently released by the Hanoi government under international pressure.
Other famous activists at the conference included Bishop Desmont Tutu of South Africa, Mr. Wei Jingsheng of China.
The Globle and Mail, a major national newspaper in Canada, had a front page article about Prof. Hoat.
Sydney, Australia:
A conference on human rights and press freedom in Vietnam was organized by the Australia-Vietnam Human Rights Committee (AVHRC), the Australians For A Free Vietnam Committee (AFFV), the Vietnamese Political Action Committee (VPAC), and the Free Vietnam Alliance (FVA) at the Reception Hall of the Parliament of Sydney on Dec. 7, 1998. The keynotes speakers for the first part of the Conference regarding human rights in Vietnam included Mr. Kieran Fitzpatrick, Asia Pacific Policy Officer, Human Rights Commission; Ms. Juliee Smith, director of Working Together; Mr. Andre Frankovits, executive director of the Human Rights Council of Australia; Bishop John Hepworth, chairman of Australia-Vietnam Human Rights Committee.
Presenters for the second part of the Conference on the press freedom in Vietnam included Mr. Luu Tuong Quang, head of the SBS Radio-Australian Multicultural Broadcaster; Ms. Kate Gilmore, national director of Amnesty International; Mr. Grad Sheridan, foreign editor of The Australian - the biggest newspaper in Australia.
Among the distinguished guests who addressed the Conference on the two topics were Mr. Bob Carr, governor of New South Wale; Mr. James Samios, Shadow Minister for Ethnic Affairs, also Vice-Chairman of the Liberty Party; Mr. Peter Collins, Leader of the Opposition, NSW ; representative Kim Beazley; Senator Stephen Conroy of Victoria State; Congressman Bernie Ripoll of Oxley, Queensland; Ms. Yvonne Preston, President of PEN International; Mr. Vo Minh Cuong, chairman of the Vietnamese-Australian community in Australia.
The Conference was considered a great success by the surrounding community and the Australian press for its attraction of international attention, particularly that of Australian officials, politicians, and social activists, to the human rights violation and the absence of freedom of the press in Vietnam.