New Horizon Radio (Radio Chan Troi Moi) by Nguyen Hoang Thanh Tam
Saigon, July 5, 2007
Nguyen Hoang Thanh Tam (NHTT): Greetings to our audience and welcome to our special news report.
Today is July 4, 2007, and the protest of the aggrieved citizens from Tien Giang in front of the National Assembly Office II in Saigon is still continuing. Despite the burning sun, according to Ms.Thao, a resident of Saigon, the number of protesters has doubled yesterday to over 800 people. More protesters from Tien Giang and 8 other provinces are heading toward Saigon to join the protest.
The following is an interview with Miss Thao who is on-site in front of the National Assembly Office II, in Saigon. This interview was recorded on the afternoon of July 4, 2007.
NHTT: Hello Miss Thao. Firstly, please share with us the situation there today? How are things going at the location?
Ms Thao: Hello. Today’s protest is lively and more crowded compared to the previous days. People from eight provinces are gathering.
NHTT: Which provinces are the protesters coming from?
Ms Thao: There is Tien Giang, Ben Tre, An Giang, Binh Duong, Kien Giang, Long An and Dong Thap.
NHTT: With over 800 people, what is the atmosphere of the protest like?
Ms Thao: The weather is very hot but the moral of the protesters is high. The government would not receive us, leaving the protesters exposed under the unbearable sun. It is noon and many are resting. Those with strength are still chanting.
NHTT: In yesterday’s interview, we heard many voices chanting and yelling, but not today. Is it because the protesters are no longer there?
Ms Thao: No, today is even more exciting than yesterday but we are experience technical difficulties because the amplifiers fell. There are even more protesters today and they are spreading out along the street.
NHTT: Being involved closely with the protest in the past days, can you share with us anything that you have heard from the protesters?
Ms Thao: Yes, there was a man who was using his mobile phone but a plain-clothed police tried to forbid him from using his phone. When the protesters surrounded the policeman and he got scared. Today the Police have arrested two ladies. I will put on the phone one protester from Tien Giang.
NHTT: Hello, would you please tell us your name?
Protester: My name is Nguyen Thi Sau
NHTT: Since when did you participate in the protest?
Nguyen Thi Sau: I have been here for one week. It has been raining really hard.
NHTT: Would you share with us your situation and why are you participating in the protest?
Nguyen Thi Sau: I joined the protest because my situation is so wrongful. In 1976, they borrowed two pieces of land to be used as cemetery. In 1989 when the Government removed the cemetery, I demanded my land back but they locked me up for 4 months and 2 days. On the day of the trial, they asked me “do you know your crime?” and told me that my crime was a criminal offense. I refused the charge and defied them so then they told me that my crime was a traffic offense.
NHTT: So you were detained for 4 months and 2 days. What year was it?
Nguyen Thi Sau: It was 1989. I was poor so they hired me to work for them. The Government borrowed my land to use as a market. They built 4 houses on my land, but I got none. Now, we are living in a few square meters, my entire family: myself, my husband, my son and my mother-in-law are all living there. But now the Government have forced me out of my home claiming that I live there illegally.
NHTT: In the past week since you arrived at Saigon, has the National Assembly Office II received you or responded to your complaint?
Nguyen Thi Sau: No, no one.
NHTT: What is your living situation in Saigon?
Nguyen Thi Sau: I don’t have any money. I came here with 90,000 dong (about 5.58 USD). Since I arrived, I have abstained unless someone gave me food. I have been hungry because I don’t have money. Travelling here alone cost 36.000 dong, I still have the rest but dare not to spend it because I need to travel back home. I am suffering. My husband is ill; he was in surgery and cannot move. I’ve come here and now staying put here.
NHTT: For how long are you planning on staying on location?
Nguyen Thi Sau: I am staying here and not going anywhere. I am here to see if they would resolve my complaint or not.
NHTT: If they do not resolve your case, then what would you do?
Nguyen Thi Sau: I don’t know. I can only wait for the National Assembly to resolve my complaint. I am too poor to go anywhere.
NHTT: Thank you very much. Please allow me to speak with Miss Thao again.
Miss Thao: There is a man here wishing to speak with you. Can you hold on for a moment please?
NHTT: Hello, what is your name?
Nguyen Van Hoi: My name is Nguyen Van Hoi, from Hoa Phu Village, Long Binh.
NHTT: Please share with us your circumstance and why are you participating in the protest?
Nguyen Van Hoi: The Secretary of the local Communist Party’s chapter named Nguyen Van Ton uses his power to beat civilians to death, a civilian was pulled out and shot, while he was sleeping in his own home. The Secretary confiscated our land 1.5 acre for his mistress. He has 4 wives.
NHTT: Where is your home town?
Nguyen Van Hoi: Long Binh Hamlet, Tien Giang Province
NHTT: When did you arrive in Saigon?
Nguyen Van Hoi: I have been here at the National Assembly Office II for 10 days.
NHTT: Where have you slept and what have you eaten in the past 10 days?
Nguyen Van Hoi: I eat sweet potatoes [cheapest food] and plain bread. I don’t have money to eat.
NHTT: And where do you sleep?
Nguyen Van Hoi: I sleep on the sidewalk as they do not permit us to enter the National Assembly building.
NHTT: Do the police meet with you?
Nguyen Van Hoi: No, the police have beaten and arrested two people. They have been taken to District 6. Those two have now been released.
NHTT: What do you want to say to our Vietnamese audience in the homeland and abroad?
Nguyen Van Hoi: I demand my land back
NHTT: What type of support do you need from the Vietnamese people abroad and in the homeland?
Nguyen Van Hoi: Please help us to achieve our demands.
NHTT: Thank you Miss Thao for allowing us to talk to the two farmers. Can you describe the police deployment around the protesters?
Miss Thao: As with previous days, the Police are standing in front of the banners. They forbid any motorcycles driving pass to slow down and look. Many people who have passed, yell back at the police and showed their contempt towards the police.
NHTT: Since the last interview was broadcasted, many of our audience shared that they are deeply concerned about your safety. What are your thoughts?
Miss Thao: I am not afraid because I am doing the right thing. My fears disappear and I feel motivated and inspired when I see farmers who don’t even have enough food to eat twice a day, forgo everything to stand up for their rights.
NHTT: Everyone listening to your reports admire you. Many people have asked us, are there many more people like you at the protest?
Miss Thao: Yes, yesterday I met a few people who were taking pictures. They were interrupted by a uniformed policeman. I asked the policeman “Why are you stopping us?” The protestors then surrounded the policeman and told them “don’t you know that we have rights. How dare are you shove people around”. Then immediately a plain-clothed policeman came and ordered the uniformed policeman to go elsewhere. Later, many plain-clothed policemen appeared.
NHTT: Thank you. In the interview with the two farmers, Nguyen Thi Sau and Nguyen Van Hoi, they have shared with us their difficulties in terms of food and travel. Many people don’t have money. With over 800 people, what do you think the Vietnamese community abroad can do to help?
Miss Thao: They require help with food, hay mattresses and raincoats. Those things are the priority.
NHTT: If we could raise funds, can we send it to you so you can buy those items for the protesters?
Miss Thao: I can do that, and if I am unable to, there are others here that can help
NHTT: I thank you Miss Thao very much, on behalf of our audience. Thank you for your report on the progress of the protest.
Miss Thao: Thanks to you and the Vietnamese community abroad for listening to our voices from Vietnam.
NHTT: You have been listening to the interview with Miss Thao, a young person living in Saigon currently on location in front of the National Assembly Office II to report to us the progress of the protest.
As Miss Thao and the protesters have shared with us, they are in need of food and basic necessities such as hay mattresses and raincoats. These are the things they are lack, not to mention money for farmers from other provinces to travel to Saigon to join the protest.
We earnestly call on everyone to lend their support to the the 800 aggrieved citizens who are protesting in Saigon. The number of protesters is sure to increase in the coming days.
Please contact the organizations and groups, formed in the past year, who are supporting the movement in Vietnam. These organizations should have the means to transfer your assistance to the protestors.
You can also ask your family and relatives who are living in Saigon to come to the protests and offer moral support. In addition to the supply of food and raincoats, the aggrieved citizens would appreciate the support and show of compassion from the citizens of Saigon. This is what Miss Thao has been doing for the aggrieved citizens in the past days.
Thank you for listening and we are looking forward to presenting the next news report to you.
