BACH DANG GIANG FOUNDATION BEING HARASSED.

A group of repatriated boat people since 1989 was harassed through continuously questioning, investigating about their establishment of Bach Dang Giang Foundation (BDGF). Mac Lam inquired the incident by interviewing the three in question: Mr. Pham Ba Hai, Mr. Dao Ba Le and Mr. Tran Duc Nha. At first, Mr. Dao Ba Le said:

Participating in the foundation being forbidden.

Dao Ba Le: I am Dao Ba Le, now living in Xom Moi, Go Vap, Saigon. I would like to present to Radio of Free Asia as following: Mr. Pham Ba Hai and I and some other partners had delivered gifts to other poor repatriated boat people at the Lien Tri Pagoda in the recent days, then some of us were arrested to investigate by policemen, because we are co – founders of the charitable association, as well as BDGF, based on the official law of the government. However, we have been watched closely, and got into trouble by policemen, the authorities always watch where we go, what we do, and therefore a policeman of my area invited me to his office yesterday. I said “I have the citizen right, you must invite me by the letter of invitation”, then he said “I will come back to discuss this.”

The following morning, another man accompanying with this local policeman came to invite me again, at the threshold, they quickly showed me the letter of invitation and then put it back into the pocket of his shirt. I said “The way you are doing is unacceptable, I have the right to read it”. They said “What do you want to read? You must follow us. I already showed it to you, what do you want to read?” All of us were crowdedly surrounded by neighbors; although my family did not know anything, witnessing such situation so they have advised me to obey the order of police. I dressed and followed policemen in the tears of my wife, children and my family.  

Mac Lam: Could you tell me what matter you were investigated on and how it has happened?

Dao Ba Le: During the investigation, there were two policemen of the PA 67 Bureau and a governmental agent of Go Vap District. I was questioned at the police station from 8:20 AM to 1:30 PM. They questioned me about the donation which was conducted by who, where the donation came from. What is the purpose of participating in BDGF? I replied that “I already read the government decree and I felt my work is legal so I have joined. The BDGF objectives include the humanitarian aids for boat people returnees, war invalids, land petitioners, poor students those who need reliefs of the foundation. Policemen forced me to write a statement not being participated in the foundation anymore.

Mac Lam: We know you were a repatriated boat person, could you tell when you returned to Vietnam? 

Dao Ba Le: I crossed over the frontier to Thailand in January, 1990. After a long time of living in refugee camps, I was forced to repatriate on 12 September, 1996.

 Mac Lam: After repatriating, how has your family been treated?

Dao Ba Le: In the yesterday interrogation, they told me clearly that they exactly know where we go, what we do. We are absolutely under surveillance. I responded “That is your affairs, but we have established the foundation in order to aid boat people returnees. As long as there has a purpose to help boat people returnees, I will give a hand. Relating to other works I am not aware of, I distinguish definitely my thoughts.” Yesterday morning, the six of us were compulsory to present at police stations for their investigations. They did not let us come back home to have lunch because they did not want us to be able to get in touch each other.

Former Boat People From Thailand are now living in Vietnam.

Humanitarian activities being considered as law violation.

That is Mr. Dao Ba Le. According to his narration, we contacted with another member Mr. Pham Ba Hai. Mr. Hai is one of the six people were arrested to investigate about the activities of BDGF. Mr Hai said:Pham Ba Hai: I am Pham Ba Hai, from Saigon. I have rudely been invited to the police station and I do not think the action of police is compliant with the law. This time is the sixteenth time of investigations during seven months since I was released from jail. They gave questions me whole day about programs aiding the Vietnamese boat people returnees and a number of charitable activities of BDGF.

Mac Lam: Could you tell us how the situation of boat people returnees is?Pham Ba Hai: At present there are over 60 thousand boat people who returned forcibly or voluntarily according to the Comprehensive Plan for Action of UNHCR in 1989. These people are miserable in their lives; they have not been able to reintegrate into Vietnam society. They become vulnerable to discrimination and government oppression. Most of repatriated boat people are living in poverty and adversity, children cannot go to school. That is the reason when BDGF was born in 2005, it planned to relief for them, but till 2006, it was suppressed and prosecuted.

Currently I have been released, after 5 years I continue to seek assistance for the repatriated boat people in Vietnam. BDGF was established in humanitarian missions, and support for the movements of human rights and democracy in Vietnam

Mac Lam: At the present as you just told that BDGF was banned and you were sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, whether your continuation of the work is considered as a violation of state law?

Pham Ba Hai: BDGF has not got its legal status yet because of its being prosecuted and banned, and my work’s status now is in personal manner and I continue to campaign friends inside or outside the country to help the Vietnamese boat people. The Government basically differentiates and discriminates boat people returnees, thus they have prevented me do this.

Mac Lam: Did they tell you under which law article you are violating?

Pham Ba Hai: They only said I did not have permission and asked me to apply for it. I asked them how to apply such permission, which law offers permission to these humanitarian activities? However I have still tried to legalize by registering BDGF, but it could not go through yet because of difficulties we faced in administrative procedures, and Vietnam security officers manage to prevent this process.

Recently I had campaigned to aid over 60 families at the Lien Tri Pagoda on January 8, 2012. Security officers have been managing to prevent and yesterday they officially requested us to terminate the programs because it violate the law, but they did not point out which law we are violating.

Mac Lam: You said you were jailed for 5 years, could you give more details about the verdict that you were accused of?

Pham Ba Hai: After coming back from India, I was totally labeled with seven crimes. The final crime they put label on me is the Article 88 of propaganda against the state due to my writings about the facts of country's development, in which there is a series of subject "Stigma of The Socialist Republic of Vietnam On Racing With Taiwan and Korea." Also they charged me for exciting war invalids; assisting, training, offering scholarships, vocational training to children of repatriated boat people aimed at preparing a class of future leaders of Vietnam.

Mac Lam: Thank you, Mr. Pham Ba Hai

Beware of the consequence!

The third person we spoke with is Mr. Tran Duc Nha, another repatriated boat person, he was also interrogated, Mr. Nha said:Tran Duc Nha: I am now working in District 8. Yesterday I and other five returnees were arrested to police stations from 8 AM to 4 PM. I was interrogated by an officer with a rank of lieutenant colonel. They asked me about all my living time in the asylum camps and Bach Dang Giang organization. They asked about my job, wages, life and finally warned me not to get involved with BDGF, otherwise we will suffer the consequences.

We also affirmed that for doing this charity we had also prepared the criminal records and we did not conduct any violation under the law. But policemen said even if we do so the state will not allow as well. Then they questioned about ability of using computer as well as method of posting articles on the webwww.thuyennhan.info . They were also asked about my bike, number of license plate, telephone numbers and internet connection.
 In yesterday investigation it was just an exploration and then a threat to us. The upcoming moves, we do not know. So in the interview today, I would like to request Radio of Free Asia voice to the international community to monitor and protect us.

Mac Lam: Thank you, Mr. Tran Duc Nha.

MAC LAM - RFA