Organization: Vietnam Insight
Editor: Chan Tran
Address: PO Box 7826, San Jose, CA 95150, USA
Phone: (408) 226-2261
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Date:         Wed, 27 Jan 1993 18:35:31 PST
Comments:     <Parser> W: FROM field duplicated. Last occurrence was retained.
From:         Vietnam Insight <vinsight@NETCOM.COM>
Subject:      VI: Worldwide campaign for political prisoners continues

WORLDWIDE CAMPAIGN CONTINUES...
**************
Vietnamese in Australia March for Freedom
**************

*

ADELAIDE, December 10, 1992: More than a hundred local Vietnamese and
friends joined in a rally and demonstration in front of the House of
Representatives of South Australia, urging the restoration of human
rights in Vietnam.

Five thousands leaflets regarding the worldwide campaign on behalf of
the Vietnamese political prisoners were distributed.

An appeal urging Hanoi to release all political prisoners was given to
Mr. John Quirke, who represented the Governor of South Australia at the
rally.

Representatives of Amnesty International, Mr. Michael Puckeridge;
leaders of political parties such as Ian Gilfillan of the Democratic
Party in South Australia, Julian Stefani of the Freedom Party, Michael
Atkinson of the Labor Party, and Congressman Bob Catley all took turn at
the podium to express their support for the Vietnamese democratic
efforts.

More than 600 signatures of support were collected during the event.

*

SYDNEY, December 10-11, 1992: 14 Vietnamese hunger strikers from all
walk of life: former Hanoi's political prisoners, students, religious
leaders, writers, political activists, joined with hundreds of others to
demand freedom for their beloved compatriots at home.

The two days event with vigil for freedom, demonstrations, and appeal
for supports attracted a scores of local media and supporters.

Among participants was Mr. Vo Dai Ton, the well-known leader of a
pro-democracy movement who was captured and imprisoned by Hanoi while on
his way back to Vietnam from Australia to fight for the cause in 1981.
Mr. Ton was released in September 1991 under diplomatic pressure,
especially that of the Australian government.

Petitions for the release of the political prisoners in Vietnam was
handed to Mrs. Liz Watson, chairwoman of Amnesty International in
Australia, Senator Michael Egan, and Mr. Bob Carp, representing the
Australian opposition party.

There were also 2,200 signatures and messages of supports received from
government leaders, opposition leaders, organizations, and other ethnic
communities and organizations within Australia.

*

BRISBANE, December 5, 1992:  two petition drives and demonstrations
were launched on the same day at the West End and Alana of the city on
behalf of the political prisoners in Vietnam.


***********
Other Parts of the World
***********

Across the ocean and joining in spirit, the Vietnamese rallied in
protest of the oppressive rule in Vietnam, demanding the return of
rights and freedom to their homeland:

*

PARIS - France,  December 10, 1992: More than 200 Vietnamese rallied at
the Des Drots de L'Homme Square upon the International Human Rights Day
to emphasize the related issue: violations of human rights in Vietnam.

A second list of political prisoners published by the National United
Front for the Liberation of Vietnam (NUFRONLIV) was introduced, which
brought the confirmed number of political prisoners in Vietnam to 538, a
fractional revelation of the estimated 32,000 cases throughout Vietnam.

According to the local "Committee for Political Prisoners," there have
been 4,000 signatures of supports received; and 18 members of the French
Parliament have expressed their support for the movement.

*

FRANKFURT - Germany, December 5, 1992: A large crowd of Vietnamese and
friends, including representatives of various organizations and
government officials, turned out at the Hauptwache Square for a day of
dedication to "Freedom and Religious Rights for Vietnam."

The estimated 800 crowd peacefully marched through the city's central
streets, holding high placards demanding the end of oppression in
Vietnam and the return of freedom to the people.

Participants distributed 7000 leaflets and collected more than 700
signatures of support throughout the event.

News of the event was later reported by the Frankfurt Allgemelne (the
city's largest newspaper) and the television channel of Hessen
State. Reuters and other local media were also present.

*

BRUXELLES, Belgium, December 10-12: the three days event - a 24-hour
hunger strike and demonstration - took place at the Place de la Monnale
square in the freezing cold of Belgium winter.

Sitting in subzero temperature to address the ordeal of his compatriots
at home, a hunger striker later related his overcoming of the difficulty
by "thinking of the much worse sufferings the political prisoners are
enduring in Vietnam."

Expressing his concern and support, Count Yvan De Wynter, a long time
supporters of the Vietnamese democratic effort, said he was moved by the
participants' dedication and hoped that freedom will soon prevail in
Vietnam.

More than 5,000 signatures of support were collected. The event was later
broadcast to Vietnam by the BBC on December 13, 1992.

*

ARHUS (November 14, 1992) and HJORRING (November 20-21, 1992) - Denmark:
Petition drives in both cities have collected more than 600 signatures
of support for the campaign.

*

ILLINOIS - United States, November 21, 1992: Vietnamese of the Quad
City and local areas held a successful conference to campaign for the
release of political prisoners in Vietnam. Petition drives has also been
included in the local agenda.


--
Vietnam Insight (vinsight@netcom.com)
Chan Tran, editor
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU