Australian MP Chris Hayes Delivers a Message to the Vietnamese-Australian Community on the 45th Commemoration of Black April

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp
Share on email
Share on print
Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp
Share on email
Share on print

Australian Member of Parliament Chris Hayes delivered a video message to the Vietnamese-Australian community on his Facebook page to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon.

Below is a transcription of his video message provided by the Viet Tan Media Team.

* * * * *

The 30th of April this year marks the 45th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon. 45 years since many Vietnamese lost their homes, family members, friends, and above all, their country. Although we can’t gather together this year because of the Coronavirus, we still remember the loss of Vietnam’s freedom. We remember the soldiers who fought and died in the defense of their country. We also remember the thousands of people who lost their lives in the various jungles or at sea while fleeing tyranny in search of freedom. Their sacrifice is an indelible reminder that freedom is precious and it is never free.

The Fall of Saigon also marks 45 years since many Vietnamese refugees began settling here and making Australia their home. It has been my great privilege to witness the extraordinary contribution the Vietnamese community has made in our nation. Your generosity and compassion for others, your strong work ethic, and profound belief in education clearly underpins the extraordinary role that Vietnamese-Australians have played in shaping the modern face of Australia. You have faced many challenges, and yet, through your courage and determination, Vietnamese-Australians have proven themselves to be one of the most successful settlement stories in our country. As a nation, we need to show the same determination when we confront the challenges presented by the pandemic.

I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the various Vietnamese veterans for their service and their courage. In particular, I pay the respects to the families of General Le Minh Dao, who recently passed away; a well-respected man who was most harshly treated by the Communist authorities.

Today, I call on the Government of Vietnam to release all political prisoners. Simply using its criminal code to attack those who campaign for democratic processes, and observance of human rights really demeans Vietnam as a country. We cannot forget about the plight of Chau Van Kham, a retired 70-year-old Australian citizen from western Sydney who is serving a 12-year sentence on trumped-up charges of terrorism. Clearly, Mr. Chau must be released and allowed to be returned home to his wife and family. Even in the midst of this pandemic, we cannot gloss over the ongoing human rights violations in Vietnam. We cannot be silent in the face of injustice. We must continue to support those who strive for freedom, liberty, and respect for human rights.

During this pandemic, I ask that you and your loved ones keep safe, observe the basic hygiene measures, and practice social distancing. Just as we together fight for freedom and respect for human rights, we also fight this pandemic together. And together, we will succeed.

Chris Hayes
Australian Member of Parliament

The full video of Mr. Haye’s message can be seen here.

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp
Share on email
Share on print

LATEST ARTICLES

2023 Le Dinh Luong Human Rights Award Presented to HRD Truong Van Dung

Viet Tan is proud to announce that the 2023 Le Dinh Luong Human Rights Award goes to Human Rights Defender Truong Van Dung. The theme of this year’s award is: “75 Years of International Human Rights — Freedom, Equality & Justice for Vietnam.”

Established in 2018, this annual human rights award is named after activist Le Dinh Luong, who made significant efforts to fight for the rights of the people and the sovereignty of the country. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Vietnamese government in August 2018.

Vietnam and Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy Discussed on Parliament Hill

On October 30th, the Honorable Judy Sgro in cooperation with Viet Tan hosted a luncheon “Vietnam and Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy” in the Wellington Building in Ottawa attended by parliamentarians and their teams. The event focused on how Canada can engage Vietnam to advance human rights and security in the Indo-Pacific. From addressing climate change to transnational repression to military capacity building. 

How Canada can engage Vietnam while furthering its democratic values

As Canada pursues this long-term, multi-faceted strategy, it will undoubtedly prioritize certain relationships. Japan, South Korea and Australia certainly. These are all democracies and important economies. But perhaps Vietnam will be considered a strategic partner as well. The question is how Canada can engage Vietnam while furthering its democratic values?

Vietnam’s Prisoners of Conscience – 2023 Report

On January 1, 2023, Vietnam joined the United Nations Human Rights Council after an intense lobbying effort within the international community. Some hoped that this would lead to greater respect for human rights by the Vietnamese government, while others raised alarm about the contradicting nature of the situation. In particular, a country notorious for human rights violations is now tasked in the UN with promoting these rights internationally.