Reporting from Saigon, July 4 2007
July 4, a day most know as the American Independence Day, but in Vietnam, the protest against corrupt officials continues to its 13th day. The protesters from the various provinces have gathered in Saigon again early in the morning with banners and signs as they chanted slogans against corrupt Government officials while aiming amplifiers at the National Assembly Office II determined to be heard.
At 7:00 AM, banners and signs ran along Hoang Van Thu Street, saying: “Aggrieved citizens demand justice, demand our homes back”, “Clearing houses to build highway 1A, but the government does not provide land for resettlement”, “the government lies and betrays the people”.
Currently, more than ten groups of protesters coming from Tien Giang, Kien Giang, Binh Duong, An Giang, Ben Tre, Dong Thap, Long An, Binh Thuan, Binh Phuoc, District 4 – Ho Chi Minh City. At one point, the numbers of protesters peaked to be over 800 people. Despite the pouring rain, over one hundred people stood holding up their signs and banners while the rest retreated to seek shelter.
The police confiscated and wiped out memory of the mobile phone and cameras used by the protesters while they were inside the National Assembly Office. No one was permitted to take pictures or record the protesters.
The protests have been occurring for almost two week and despite the international interest, the 600 Government owned and operated newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations in Viet Nam have completely ignore the protest.
The Government Inspectors were absent today, but instead, have invited the protesters to Central Public Reception Office II located at 210 Vo Thi Sau Street at 8:00 AM each day to resolve their grievances. The protesters have declined the invitation based on past experiences of the invitation being used by Officials as a ruse to disperse the protesters. The protestors claim that the officials have often used this ploy in the past but have never shown a real commitment to resolving the issues raised by the protesters
Warnings have been issued by the Police but more aggrieved citizens from Can Tho, Co Do, An Giang and Dong Thap are determined to converge to Saigon to join the protest and have their voices heard. They have promised that more participants will be joining the protest.
