From: doky@uda.dgcd.doc.ca (Hien Doky)
Subject: [MISC] The China-Crestone deal and what we can do...
Originator: daemon@media-lab.media.mit.edu
Reply-To: doky@uda.dgcd.doc.ca
Organization: N/A
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 19:24:04 GMT



	Dear netters,

	I am posting this for the Overseas-Vietnamese Social Advocacy
Group (OVSAG).

	Hie^?n

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

***Introduction***


	As you may already know, China National Offshore Oil Corporation
(China) and Crestone Energy Corporation (USA) have signed a deal
which includes oil exploration in an area known as Spratly Islands
(In Vietnamese, these islands are known as Tru+o+`ng Sa). This area
is claimed by six neighbouring countries namely Vietnam, Taiwan, 
Malaysia, the Phillippines, China and Brunei. All countries claimed
their sovereignties over this area but all these claims are disputable at 
this point in time.

     At the least, however, this area is an area in dispute. This dispute
should be settled in a process compatible with international law and 
practice. Indonesia, acting in the capacity of a mediator, has called for an
international conference to be held and has called on all claimants to 
participateto find a peaceful solution to the problem at hand. The 
involvementof countries such as Indonesia, Singapore... in this dispute 
indicatesthe strong concerns regarding this matter, caused by the fear 
that the conflict may threaten the region's stability.
Countries such as Japan, Great Britain (representing the European
Community) and the United States of America are closely monitoring 
the development of this dispute because their interests in South 
East Asia are also at stake.

      China, on one hand, professes that it is willing to settle
the dispute peacefully.  On the other hand, it has further
consolidated its claim over this group of islands by passing a new
law allowing China's Navy to engage in direct confrontation
to protect its claimed territory, and by continuing
to land troops on the islands. 

   We, a group of American Vietnamese, Australian Vietnamese and Canadian
Vietnamese have together written a letter to Crestone to request this 
company to put off any of its planned activity in the Spratlys area 
until the dispute is settled according to international practice and
laws. Our voice only expresses the unified concern of a group of overseas
Vietnamese over the long-term ethical and politico-economic ramifications
of the China-Crestone deal; Our voice definitely does not express 
condonation to the belief and practice of the communist regime
in Vietnam.

     We will subsequently post a few news clips concerning this matter for
your information. Also attached is a version of the letter (at the end of
this post) which you can use to send to Crestone to express your concern.
Should you want to join us in this effort, please read it carefully and 
sign the attached letter and send it to Crestone by FAX and/or air mail. 
Also, if possible, please give a photocopy of this letter to you friends, 
or family members, who do not have access to Internet so that they can 
join our common effort as well. 

Your consideration in this matter is greatly appreciated.


	The Overseas-Vietnamese Social Advocacy Group (OVSAG)

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

***Vietnamese version of the introduction***


     THU+ NGO~ CU`NG CO^.NG DDO^`NG VIE^.T NAM TA.i HA?I NGOA.I

     Va`o tha'ng 5 na(m 1992, Co^ng Ty Crestone Oil Corp.
dda~ ky' ke^'t vo+'i Trung Quo^'c mo^.t ho+.p ddo^`ng khai tha'c
da^`u hoa? ta.i vu`ng ngoa.i ca^.n cu?a qua^`n dda?o Tru+o+`ng Sa,
thuo^.c the^`m lu.c ddi.a Vie^.t Nam. Khu vu+.c khai tha'c na(`m
trong vu`ng tranh cha^'p giu+~a Trung Co^.ng va` Vie^.t Nam. Qua
vie^.c ky' ho+.p ddo^`ng, Trung Co^.ng dda~ ngang nhie^n xa'c
nha^.n chu? quye^`n tre^n pha^`n dda^'t va` bie^?n na`y#. Tru+o+'c
ti`nh hi`nh ddo', chu'ng to^i nha^.n ddi.nh ra(`ng chi'nh phu? Ha`
No^.i kho^ng ddu? kha? na(ng va` tu+ ca'ch dde^? ba?o ve^. la~nh
tho^? va` ha?i pha^.n cu?a dda^'t nu+o+'c vi` ba le~. Thu+' nha^'t,
Ha` No^.i hie^.n ddang ve va~n ti`m the^' nu+o+ng du+.a Trung
Co^.ng tru+o+'c su+. tan ra~ cu?a Lie^n So^ va` Kho^'i o^ng A^u#.
Thu+' hai, va`o na(m 1973, chi'nh Pha.m Va(n o^`ng, Thu? Tu+o+'ng
Vie^.t Nam Da^n Chu? Co^.ng Hoa`, dda~ ngo~ y' co^'ng hie^'n
Tru+o+`ng Sa cho Trung Co^.ng. Thu+' ba, Ha` No^.i hie^.n ddang
la.y lu.c Hoa Ky` dde^? bi`nh thu+o+`ng ho'a quan he^. ngoa.i
giao ho`ng cu+'u va~n ne^`n kinh te^' kie^.t que^. ma` co^ng ty
Crestone la.i la` cu?a Hoa Ky` ne^n Vie^.t Co^.ng se~ kho^ng da'm
co' nhu+~ng ha`nh vi ba^'t lo+.i cho chu'ng.

     La` ngu+o+`i Vie^.t Nam, chu'ng ta co' tra'ch nhie^.m pha?i
ba?o ve^. tu+`ng ta^'c dda^'t thie^ng lie^ng cu?a to^? quo^'c. Che^'
ddo^. Ha` No^.i chi? la` nha^'t tho+`i trong khi dda^'t nu+o+'c la`
vi~nh cu+~u#. Ne^'u vi` tu+ lo+.i hay vi` su+. u+o+n he`n ma` nha`
ca^`m quye^`n Ha` No^.i dde^? ma^'t ddi mo^.t pha^`n la~nh tho^?
va` ha?i pha^.n thi` sau na`y, khi che^' ddo^. co^.ng sa?n dda~
su.p ddo^?, pha^`n dda^'t nu+o+'c dda~ ma^'t cu~ng kho' ma` thu
ho^`i la.i ddu+o+.c.

     O+? ha?i ngoa.i, chu'ng to^i nha^.n tha^'y mo^.t bie^.n pha'p
dde^? ba?o ve^. su+. toa`n ve.n la~nh tho^? cu?a dda^'t nu+o+'c ma`
chu'ng ta co' the^? la`m la` le^n tie^'ng va^.n ddo^.ng Co^ng Ty
Crestone Oil Corp. ddi`nh hoa~n vie^.c khai tha'c da`u hoa? trong
vu`ng tranh cha^'p. No^~ lu+.c va^.n ddo^.ng na`y cu~ng se~ ca?nh
gia'c nhu+~ng co^ng ty da^`u hoa? kha'c ne^'u ho. ddang co' nhu+~ng
du+. ti'nh tu+o+ng tu+..

     Vi` va^.y, chu'ng to^i, nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i dda~ vie^'t
la' thu+ du+o+'i dda^y dde^? go+?i dde^'n Co^ng Ty Crestone Oil
Corp.. Xin quy' ddo^`ng hu+o+ng ha~y ho+.p lu+.c
cu`ng chu'ng to^i ba(`ng ca'ch sao la.i la' thu+ na`y va`
go+?i ve^` ddi.a chi? ghi o+? dda^`u la' thu+ -- ngu+o+`i go+?i ca`ng
ddo^ng thi` tie^'ng no'i cu?a chu'ng ta ca`ng ma.nh me?. Co'
nhu+~ng vie^.c qua' lo+'n chu'ng ta kho^ng the^? la`m nhu+ng chi?
vo+'i mo^.t con tem va` mo^.t bi` thu+, chu'ng to^i tin cha('c
ra(`ng ai cu~ng co' the^? la`m ddu+o+.c. Mo^.t pha^`n tu+o+ng lai
cu?a dda^'t nu+o+'c tuy` thuo^.c va`o nhie^.t ti`nh cu?a chu'ng ta
nga`y ho^m nay.

     Chu'ng to^i xin minh ddi.nh ra(`ng chu'ng to^i la` mo^.t nho'm
chuye^n gia tre?, kho^ng dda.i die^.n cho ba^'t ky` mo^.t ca' nha^n
hay ddoa`n the^? na`o ngoa.i tru+` chi'nh ba?n tha^n mi`nh. Chu'ng
to^i ha`nh ddo^.ng chi? vi` tha^'y quye^`n lo+.i cu?a to^? quo^'c
va` da^n to^.c bi. xa^m pha.m. Tuy la` mo^.t nho'm, chu'ng to^i 
kho^ng pha?i la` mo^.t ddoa`n the^? hay to^? chu+'c va` kho^ng co' 
y' ddi.nh la^.p ne^n ba^'t ky` mo^.t ddoa`n the^? hay to^? chu+'c 
na`o ca? trong tu+o+ng lai#. Chu'ng to^i cu~ng xin minh ddi.nh la` 
chu'ng to^i kho^ng u?ng ho^. nha` ca^`m quye^`n co^.ng sa?n ta.i
Vie^.t Nam, cu~ng nhu+ kho^ng u?ng ho^. chi'nh sa'ch hay ha`nh vi 
cu?a ho..


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

***the official letter that we sent to Crestone***

August 21, 1992
Mr. Randall C. Thompson
Chairman
Crestone Energy Corporation
718 17th Street, No. 520
Denver, Colorado 80202-3511
FAX: (303) 534-0611


Dear Mr. Thompson:

We, a group of Vietnamese American, Vietnamese Canadian and
Vietnamese Australian professionals, write this letter to you to
formally express our grave concern over the oil deal that your
company has recently signed with China National Offshore Oil
Corporation.

As you may already know, the deal covers a territorial area in
dispute between Vietnam and China.  This area also abuts the stretch
of islands and islets known as the Spratlys, which are disputed by
many Asian countries.  The stated oil deal only exacerbates the
tension in the region.  At stake now are the interests of China,
Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei, as well as
such non-claimants as Japan, whose shipping industry will be
seriously affected if an armed conflict breaks out, and the United
States, whose longstanding interests lie in the region's continued
stability.

The signing of the deal and your subsequent claim of reliance on
China's Navy for protection may very well be perceived as a
political endorsement of China's position on the extremely
sensitive issue of territorial dispute among many regional powers.
We are afraid that this may not help your company's image and
standing with the American public and the countries in the region.
China continues to be condemned by the U.S. Congress for its human
rights violations and continues to be considered by most countries 
in Asia as a threat to their national security.

In view of the controversy created by Crestone's oil exploration
deal with China, we call on Crestone's board of directors to put
off any planned activity in the disputed area until the dispute is
settled according to international practice and laws, lest the
dispute escalate into violent conflicts.  As the issue might take
years to be resolved and create political turmoil in the process,
it could be that rescinding such a deal with China is in the best
interest of Crestone.  We do not believe that any company planning
to do business in the region would want to alienate most of the
governments and public there. 

Our position should not be construed in any way as taking side in this
dispute.  Indeed, we do not condone the communist regime in
Vietnam or its policy.  Our concern regards the serious ramifications
of Crestone's deal with China on the political and economic stability
of the entire region.

We are confident that our view is shared by the overseas Vietnamese
community at large as witnessed by the intense press coverage of
the issue.  A number of news clippings are enclosed for your
information.

Any response or remark by Crestone will be welcomed and can be
directed to the address listed below.  Your prompt consideration
given to this matter will be appreciated.

Respectfully,



Overseas-Vietnamese Social Advocacy Group (OVSAG):
P.O. Box 4227, Station E
Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B2
CANADA


Do Ky Hien, Ontario, CANADA
Duong V. Bang, Alberta, CANADA
Le Tin, California, USA
Ly Truc Viet, Texas, USA
Ngo Manh Hung, Washington, USA  
Nguyen Dinh Thang, PhD., Virginia, USA
Nguyen M. Cuong, California, USA
Nguyen Q. Phuong, Ontario, CANADA
Nguyen Tu Hao, Victoria, AUTRALIA
Phan Kim Pham, California, USA
Tran My, Texas, USA 
Tran Thai Linh, Quebec, CANADA
Tran V. Kim, Colorado, USA
Tran Van Nhon, Massachusetts, USA  
Tran Y Van, Georgia, USA

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

***the letter YOU can use to send to Crestone to express your concern***

***cut here************************************************************


August 21, 1992
Mr. Randall C. Thompson
Chairman
Crestone Energy Corporation
718 17th Street, No. 520
Denver, Colorado 80202-3511
FAX: (303) 534-0611


Dear Mr. Thompson:


I, a Vietnamese American/Canadian/Australian professional, write 
this letter to you to formally express our grave concern over 
the oil deal that your company has recently signed with China 
National Offshore Oil Corporation.

As you may already know, the deal covers a territorial area in
dispute between Vietnam and China.  This area also abuts the stretch
of islands and islets known as the Spratlys, which are disputed by
many Asian countries.  The stated oil deal only exacerbates the
tension in the region.  At stake now are the interests of China,
Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei, as well as
such non-claimants as Japan, whose shipping industry will be
seriously affected if an armed conflict breaks out, and the United
States, whose longstanding interests lie in the region's continued
stability.

The signing of the deal and your subsequent claim of reliance on
China's Navy for protection may very well be perceived as a
political endorsement of China's position on the extremely
sensitive issue of territorial dispute among many regional powers.
I am afraid that this may not help your company's image and
standing with the American public and the countries in the region.
China continues to be condemned by the U.S. Congress for its human
rights violations and continues to be considered by most countries 
in Asia as a threat to their national security.

In view of the controversy created by Crestone's oil exploration
deal with China, I call on Crestone's board of directors to put
off any planned activity in the disputed area until the dispute is
settled according to international practice and laws, lest the
dispute escalate into violent conflicts.  As the issue might take
years to be resolved and create political turmoil in the process,
it could be that rescinding such a deal with China is in the best
interest of Crestone.  I do not believe that any company planning
to do business in the region would want to alienate most of the
governments and public there. 

My position should not be construed in any way as taking side in this
dispute.  Indeed, I do not condone the communist regime in
Vietnam or its policy.  My concern regards the serious ramifications
of Crestone's deal with China on the political and economic stability
of the entire region.

Your prompt consideration given to this matter will be appreciated.


Respectfully,





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