Organization: Vietnam Insight
Editor: Chan Tran
Address: PO Box 7826, San Jose, CA 95150, USA
Phone: (408) 226-2261
X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11]
Newsgroups: soc.culture.vietnamese
Date:         Mon, 4 Jan 1993 13:28:39 PST
              USENET." <VIETNET@USCVM.BITNET>
From:         Vietnam Insight <vinsight@NETCOM.COM>
Subject:      VI: Hunger-strike & protest in Boston

**************
Hunger-strike and protest in Boston, USA:
**************

Braving winter winds and freezing temperature, Vietnamese from Boston -
Massachusetts and nearby areas gathered in front of the City Hall
here for a 24hr fast and two-day demonstration on December 4-5 to
protest oppression in Vietnam.

The crowd of more than 150 with its jungle of placards condemning
Hanoi's human rights abuse and demanding the release of political prisoners
in Vietnam caught passersby with surprise and interest. Many
enthusiastically signed the appeal by the National United Front for
the Liberation of Vietnam (NUFRONLIV) for the release of political
prisoners in Vietnam, and expressed their deep concern and support for
Vietnam's cause.

One supporter, Mr. Richard Lerino of the Boston Emergency Medical
service, had touched the protestors deeply by supplying blankets from
the relief center to shield the protestors from the dropping temperature.
Two Vietnam veterans who own a coffee shop nearby also expressed their
warm support by offering free coffee and cigarettes to the protestors.

Participants later said they had been protected from the cold by these
wonderful hearts.

At 11 a.m. on December 4, the hunger-strike began with nine volunteers.
At 1.30 p.m., a delegation of five met with Mrs. Ann Sander, executive
director of Boston City Human Rights Office, and handed her the Appeal
for the release of political prisoners in Vietnam and a list of 538
known detainees with their prisons' locations. Expressing warm support,
Mrs. Sander said she would pass the Appeal on to the United Nations Human
Right Committee right away.

At 7 p.m., a vigil in honor of the political prisoners began. In candle
light and patriotic songs, the Vietnamese protestors joined their
people in spirit and expressed hope that oppression would soon end in
Vietnam.

The protestors' day ended with a surprise treat from the city's officials:
a room in the City Hall to spend the night in instead of the streets as
originally planned.

The event continued at 8 a.m. the next morning under light snow, and
concluded at noon. Mrs. Sander once again took the podium to express her
support. A proclamation from the mayor of Boston, Mr. Raymond L. Plynn,
which designates December 5 as Vietnam Human Rights Day, was announced
in an outburst of applause from the protestors and friends.


            ************************** **************

                     Boston Proclamation

Whereas: The National United Front for the Liberation of Vietnam is
conducting a world-wide campaign for the release of political prisoners
in Vietnam; And

Whereas: The National United Front for the Liberation of Vietnam is
conducting a rally in Boston, Massachusetts on December 4th through
December 5th, 1992, to call world-wide attention to the issue; And

Whereas: This organization represents hundreds of Vietnamese
organizations around the globe who will also be holding rallys; And

Whereas: There are thoudsands of Vietnamese Americans now living in the
Greater Boston area who are concerned about their loved ones held
captive and still living in communist Vietnam; And

Whereas: Many of the Vietnamese people are contributing, in a possitive
way, to life in Boston and have joined other immigrant populations in
improving the quality of life for all Americans; Now,

Therefore: I, Raymond L. Flynn, Mayor of the City of Boston, do hereby
proclaim December 4th through December 5th, 1992, as:

                       VIETNAM HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

in the City of Boston and I ask all my fellow citizens to join me in
supporting this cause.

                                            Signed
                                            Raymond L. Flynn
                                            Mayor


--
Vietnam Insight (vinsight@netcom.com)
Chan Tran, editor