Geneva – Switzerland
On April 18, 2007, leaders of the Parti Radical Genevois (Geneva Radical Party) opened the doors of their headquarters to welcome the delegation of Viet Tan lead by its chairman Do Hoang Diem. The Radical Party plays an important role in Swiss political life on the state as well as national level. The party is known for promoting respect for human rights. With such humanistic values and animated by the same spirit of renewal, Viet Tan and the Radical Party share a common ideal which Radical Party members Michel Rossetti, former Mayor of Geneva, and Thierry Oppikofer have especially followed through their long involvement alongside the Vietnamese in Switzerland.
The young president of the Radical Party, Pierre Maudet praised the historic meeting with Viet Tan’s chairman. Mr Do warmly thanked the Geneva Radical Party for its welcome and reminded that the Vietnamese overseas community cannot forget the commitment of the Geneva Radical Party for democracy and human rights in Vietnam. He specially praised the role of two Radical Party members who have been supporting the Vietnamese in their just cause for almost twenty years: “Mr. Rossetti, Mr. Oppikofer, I would like to thank you and to honour you for your constant effort and support for the Vietnamese community in its struggle for democracy and human rights. Today, I am very privileged to declare you honorary members of Viet Tan.”
Michel Rossetti, former mayor of Geneva and Thierry Oppikofer, president and co-founder of the Comité Suisse-Vietnam COSUNAM (Swiss-Vietnam Committee) declared being honoured by this title. Viet Tan has been given many labels by the Vietnamese communist government, including ironically “terrorist”, Mr. Oppikofer announced to the amusement of the audience.
Beside a comprehensive slide show about the current situation in Vietnam, including updates on arrests, strikes and the creation of the Bloc 8406, the delegation presented the now too famous picture of Father Ly’s mouth being covered by a police officer during his trial on March 30, 2007 in Vietnam.
After the ceremony, the Viet Tan chairman was interviewed by several reporters for Leman Bleu TV station, Geneva Home Information newspaper and Radio Cité. He also discussed with Frederic Hohl, deputy, and thanked Elizabeth Bohler, mayor of the city of Grand-Saconnex for her support in the realization of the Boat People Memorial inaugurated in 2006.
