New Horizon Radio (Chan Troi Moi) by Nguyen Vu
Saigon, July 18, 2007
Nguyen Vu: Am I speaking with Sinh?
Sinh: Yes, this is Sinh
Nguyen Vu: This is Nguyen Vu from New Horizon Radio. What is the situation of the protest now?
Sinh: The protest has disbanded because the police force mobilized all their resources including fire trucks and ambulances to arrest the protesters. The numbers of the police are equal to the number of protesters, but 95% of the protesters are elderly and they don’t have strength to resist.
Nguyen Vu: Have the police begun to move in?
Sinh: Yes, they are already on the move.
Nguyen Vu: Can you describe how they are arresting protesters. Are they beating anyone?
Sinh: No, they do not have to beat anyone because no one has the strength to resist. The police yanked down all the tents, banners and signs. They ushered groups of protesters onto one bus until it is full then they start filling the second bus. The police are fully armed in riot gear against the protesters, most of whom are elderly. I am one of the people who have escaped but I have to leave my hideout because if the police do not get their count, they will come back to hunt for me.
Nguyen Vu: Does this mean they have names of the protesters?
Sinh: Yes, they have been collecting names for the past two days. They said that they are recording the names to resolve our grievances, but now they are using the name list to count as they load people onto the buses. If the count does not match up, they will come back to hunt for us. I am one of the people who has escaped and I am running towards the U.S. Embassy.
Nguyen Vu: Best of luck to you. Even though the protesters had refused to be arrested, they must now give up?
Sinh: Yes, they must give up because the Police strength is greater than ours. We can not resist.
Nguyen Vu: Do the protesters resent being taken?
Sinh: Yes, they are resentful of being taken, but with their current health conditions they can not do anything. Moreover, this is a non-violent struggle and the protesters do not have any weapons. Firstly, how can they fight back against those with strength and secondly the police are fully armed.
Nguyen Vu: Have the police taken over the front yard of the National Assembly II to take down the tents, banners and signs and take the protesters onto the buses?
Sinh: Yes, the police have set up blockades at the intersections. Many 52 seater trucks are parked along the street.
Nguyen Vu: Thank you very much. We will continue to track any new developments and will contact you later.
Thank you.
