Reporting from Saigon, July 3, 2007
In the early morning of July 3, 2007, the atmosphere at the protest becomes tense as the police force in both uniform and plain-clothes were deployed to surround the protesters.
Due to their large numbers, the protesters do not have shelter for the night and have to seek shelters at friends or relatives nearby. They are returning to the protest to set up banners and signs, and stood along the street in front of the National Assembly Office II.
The numbers of the protesters peaked between 9 to 11 AM. They are coming from Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Long An, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, An Giang, Binh Duong, Kien Giang, Ba Ria and Vung Tau.
The protesters stood in the street or anywhere they can find space, chanting slogans such as “Down with the corrupted Tien Giang government”, “Down with Tran Thanh Trung, corrupted official of Tien Giang”, “Down with the corrupted investigators”, “Down with the corrupted Ben Tre government”, “Demand our land back”, “The government must help the people, the Prime Minister help the people, the National Assembly help the people”.
The government inspector, Mr. Mai Quoc Binh, came and resolved over 30 cases for the protesters from Go Cong. These families have left the protest, but one witness said that the documents issued by Mai Quoc Binh do not bear his signature which means that those documents have no value and that the families from Go Cong were tricked in returning home.
An unusual incident happened when many protesters were invited to 210 Vo Thi Sau Street, the Central Public Reception Office II, at 8 AM, even though the invitations were delivered at 4 PM of that same day.
There were rumors circulating among the protesters that Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will personally lead a delegation to meet with the protesters to resolve the grievances.
The protesters had to disperse to seek shelter elsewhere because of the rain that came later in the evening. Approximately 300 protesters stayed on site overnight.
Miss Le Thi Nguyet was released and she has returned to the protest on July 2.
The police force prevented anyone from taking pictures of the protesters. Two people on a motorcycle passed through the protesters and were chased by the police but they got away.
We will continue to observe the situation and will report on the progress.
Reporting from Saigon at 10am July 3, 2007.
