A SOS Letter

At 5:55 AM on 4/7/1994 while my family was still sleeping we heard screams “The police came in the camp”. My family were afraid to be forcibly repatriated like the other 41 people, so we went out to the yard to yell out protesting slogans...

...The police sprayed tear gas on our face. My family was in terror. We went to our room which was pitched dark. The tear gas was unbearable we had to take the children to the roof. The police did not give up, they continued to fire tear gas grenades and hurt a lot of people, my family included. My children fainted several times, I was 2 months pregnant and was affected by the tear gas with chest pain and stomachache; my child and I were hurt on the arm. At this time, my family's health decreased quite a bit...

...The children fainted so we took them down from the roof. When my husband came down and went to the office to move to the other camp, the police took him in the office beat him up, and said, "Why didn't you do the job we gave you?". My husband said, "If I did it for you what would happen to my life; you cannot beat me to death. I cannot betray the boat people". Then they continued to beat him and then took my husband to Camp 9. Many policemen forced him to sign a piece of paper without him knowing the content; then they took him away to Chimawan. Up to now they haven't released him to reunite with his family.

PROCLAMATION

COMMITTEE FOR THE STRUGGLE OF REFUGEE RIGHTS
(Uy BAN TRANH DAU DOI QUYEN TY NAN
Tai A Chau Detention Center - Hong Kong
(Originally in English)

We realize that,
The Vietnamese refugee issue is closing the last page of its history, marking the conscience of mankind both the pride and the stigma. After the forcible Take-over of the Communists, as a consequence South Vietnam has become a giant prison. The Southerners had to live in small prisons known as re-education camps on in the immense detention of the society under Communist regime.
But with the ardent and unyielding will of the people of Vietnam, even being interred in small or large prisons, they have continuously risen up fighting against the despotic authorities in many ways. The more people have been oppressed by the arbitrary Government, the more they stand up for their rights. The people's struggles and fortitude have made the world extremely surprised.

The policy of logical oppression of the Communists towards its people in the Society has led to the escape of millions of Vietnamese people. Thousand hundreds had died in the sea. They wish was nothing but the desire for a breath of freedom, and once they were joyfully welcomed by the world.

However, such noble deeds had been tarnished by the decision of Hong Kong Government on June 16, 1988 imposing a screening policy upon all people who arrived after the said deadline. But that policy has actually been a dupery, used intentionally to label Vietnamese refugees as economic migrants. A bilateral intercourse for forced repatriation has occurred between Hong Kong and the tyrannic authorities of Hanoi to deport Vietnamese refugees back to the Red Monster.

This inhuman decision has obviously slammed the door of freedom, marked a dramatic day for Vietnamese refugee history and smearing the conscience of all human beings.

We, the Vietnamese asylum seekers in Tai A Chau detention, are composed of all the Communities of the former free regime of south Vietnam such as: officers and ex-soldiers of A.R.V.N, former civil officials, the former U.S.A. built commando, the children, orphans and widows of the above, clergymen of all religions, members of political parties and political prisoners, artists and intellectuals, the ethnic Chinese Nung and other minorities. These communities have contributed their sweat, blood and bodies to defend a land which was once called "The Outpost of the Free World".

After arriving in the cape of freedom, we have been continuously detained, denied and are going to be deported back to the dreadful land. This abandonment has led us to a stalemate. We ourselves ought to seek a way for life, and have no choice but only a pursuance of freedom or death. Now, therefore, we the Vietnamese asylum seekers in Tai A Chau, do hereby proclaim to the world as,

     1st. It is unacceptable to live with the Vietnamese Communist regime.
     2nd  Through a nonviolent and peaceul struggle's procedure, we require
          that our genuine refugee rights should be recognized. 
     3rd. Ready to sacrifice our lives to obtain the above mentioned
          targets, in case of need.

Done in Tai A Chau Detention Hong Kong, on the 1st day of January in the year of 1994. For the Committee for the struggle of Refugee Rights. Chairman

Dang Hoang Ha

LETTER OF REQUISITION

COMMITTEE FOR THE STRUGGLE OF REFUGEE RIGHTS.
(UY BAN TRANH DAU DOI QUYEN TY NAN)
Tai A Chau Detention Center - Hong Kong
(Originally in English)

Respectfully to : The Supreme Master Ching Hai Meditation Association China.

Dear Sirs / Madams

We, the community of more than 7000 asylum seekers of Tai A Chau D.C. are very thankful for your assistance and co-operation in allowing us to ask for justice of our refugee status' consideration.

We are working hard in an effort to maintain the peaceful situation of the camp, and all activities at Tai A Chau have been going routinely from the 8th of February 1994.

Therefore, we wish you to consider the following requests and concerns:

  1st: That, there should be no use of forced repatriation.
  2nd: That, the asylum seekers in Tai A Chau are victims of a communist
       regime, therefore our refugee rights must be recognized.
  3rd: That, nobody should be moved out from Tai A Chau against their will.
  4th: That, there not be any use of force to disband or jeopardize the
       peaceful demonstrations and hunger strikes.  And there will be no
       punishment against the Leaders of the Committee and the another people in
       Tai A Chau.
  5th: That, the media, human rights groups, aid organization and legal
       representatives should have free and meaningful access to the camp.
  6th: That, to cease the suppression and denial of our basic rights by camp
       authorities (e.x. confiscation of necessities causing other difficulties
       towards camp's living activities).

  7th: That, we ask the international community to consider our asylum
       seekers' rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
       the International Convention for Refugees.
  8th: That, we ask that the International Community and UNHCR to carry on
       the promises in precious negotiations and talks, and showing concrete
       answers at the next discussion with the Committee Representatives.

We hereby send to you this Letter of Requests and for the sake of freedom and Human Rights, we respectfully ask for your response.

May Peace be with you.

Done at Tai A Chau 10 May 1994.
The Committee of the Struggle for Refugee Rights.
The Chairman,
Nguyen Van Thanh

A Thank You Letter (Originally in Au Lac Language)

To: The Supreme Master Ching Hai

Representing the boat people community of the High Island Camp, we sincerely thank You for Your concern and support of the Vietnamese boat people, who are suffering and hurting because of different world powers.

All of the Vietnamese boat people thirst for freedom, they were oppressed by the communist and now are being terrorized and suppressed. They have been protesting, going on hunger-strikes in an orderly, peaceful and non-violent way to:

     -protest the unfair screening process!
     -protest the forced repatriation policy!
     -demand genuine refugee status!
     -rather die than go back to the communist!

During this struggle, in the difficulties that we are facing, we respectfully implore Master to pay attention, to care of and to help us with Your compassionate heart, both physically and mentally.

We wish Master infinite merit and wisdom.

4/22/1994
Representing the boat people community fighting for refugee status.
High Island Camp
President
Le Nguyen Vu

To all fellow practitioners in Shatin Refugee Camp in Hong Kong,

It has been four months since I returned to Au Lac, and I haven't written to you. Because of the situation, great obstacles were encountered in my spiritual practice, so I was in no mood to write. I advise you all to treasure each day you stay over there, where you can still practice. Hearing about the recent suppression in Section 7 and Section 8, I am very upset and worried for you. Therefore, I am writing immediately and enclosing an article from the Au Lac Government Public Security News, which defames Master and distorts the truth. You will understand after reading it. The following are hardships encountered by fellow practitioners in Au Lac regarding spiritual practice:

After being revealed, Tuyet, Binh, Thuy, Thuc and Hue were threatened by the Au Lac police who came to their homes. They warned Tuyet's husband that should fellow initiate Tuyet continue to meditate and be vegetarian, they would put their whole family in jail. This created friction between Tuyet and her husband. The police went to fellow Binh's home, and forced her husband to vow that he would eat meat, and refrain from a vegetarian diet. At fellow initiate Hien's work place, the director of the organization was told to keep a close eye on him. Fellow initiates Thuy and Thang were kept under 24-hour surveillance.

After the police department defamed Master in the newspaper, my family were very much afraid about being involved. The police department had warned that anybody found practicing Master's teachings would have all their property confiscated, including those of their relatives.

Therefore, the Au Lac fellow initiates cannot meditate. The only place they can meditate is in the toilet or bathroom, but they cannot stay there for too long because someone would soon knock on the door. It would also be to obvious if they went too frequently. Consequently, they cannot meditate enough each day.

They are being watched even when sleeping. This is agonizing and frustrating.

As to eating, the whole family eats meat together. They would starve if they did not eat, and feel very painful if they do. Many fellow initiates are tortured by this neither dying nor living situation. Fellow initiate Huyen couldn't stand it anymore and fled from home. His escape failed, and he was caught and sent back, now living under even stricter restraints.

We virtually have no opportunity to read Master's scriptures and teachings. All the books we brought back from Hong Kong were found and confiscated at the airport. A few copies survived the search, but we dare not read them at home. If discovered, the whole family would be in trouble. Needless to say, no relatives or friends dare to contact us. They fear us like the plague! If I had known this earlier, I would have rather died in Hong Kong doing my spiritual practice, than to exist here in this feeble kind of life, day by day. I have no way to practice. The police are keen to find out which families are eating vegetarian and practicing Master's teachings. The Au Lac Communists do not even allow us to be vegetarian, to practice, or to do moral things.

Fellow practitioners! Since I've returned, I've realized that I made a grave mistake. It is too late now! Therefore, I strongly advise you not to come back. We are spiritual practitioners. Suffering and happiness alike, mean nothing to us. Whichever place facilitates our practice, we would stay there. Although, it is more comfortable living in Au Lac than in the refugee camps, don't ever mention spiritual practice or moral deeds. Don't ever dream of religious freedom in Au Lac!

I am staying with mother now. My brothers and sisters have moved out because of fear. They said they would surely turn me in to the police if they found me meditating. They would not wait for the police to come and catch me, and as a result involve them.

You may choose to come back or not. Should you wish to brave the police officials, try your luck here. One thing I am sure of your experience will be identical to mine. I shall stop here.

Wishing everybody a happy and free life and may you all progress on your path of spiritual practice!

Task Force On International
Refugee Assistance and Administration

The TFIRAA issues the following policy statements:

1 The Philippine Government will close down the camps in the country, including the PFAC, by the end of 1994. Definitely, no one shall be allowed to stay on in the Philippines beyond the closure of the camps, specifically the PFAC;

2 All unaccompanied minors especially those with clearances from the Vietnamese Government shall return to Vietnam not later than August 1994 to be able to avail the services provided by the Nordic Assistance to Repatriated Vietnamese;

3 The appeals procedure for the petition for refugee status was terminated in September 1993. The rules and guidelines established for determining refugee status have been impartially and fairly applied by the Appeals Boards with due humanitarian concern for all asylum seekers. WE REITERATE THAT THE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND NO REQUESTS FOR RECONSIDERATION SHALL BE ENTERTAINED; and

4 It shall be clear that all those who were screened out shall have to return to Vietnam. No resettlement of asylum seekers shall be undertaken from the Philippines. You have been previously informed that the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) has programmed the closure of all asylum and refugee camps in the region. All asylum seekers therefore shall have to return to Vietnam not later that the end of this year.

The Philippine Government calls on your full cooperation for the Volrep Program to ensure your safe, smooth and dignified return to Vietnam.

Letter From PFAC Camp, Philippines

June 7. 1994
Ms Ching Hai
International Supreme Master
Meditation Associations
P.O. BOX 9 Hsi Hu Miao Li
Taiwan. R.O.C.

Dear Master Ching Hai:

This refers to your letter dated June 1, 1994 expressing your intention to visit the Philippine First Asylum Camp on June 10 to 14, 1994. Your letter, which just arrived recently, leaves us with precious little time within which to properly evaluate your proposal. We suggest that future letters of this nature to be forwarded with at least 2 weeks lead time.

Be that as it may, the letters dated May 10 and 11 1994 signed by Deputy Executive Secretary Leonardo A. Quisumbing and Executive Secretary Teofisto T. Guingona Jr. respectively, clearly express the desire and willingness of the Philippine Government to consider only those training activities which are directed at Asylum Seekers who have entered into the Voluntary Repatriation (VOLREP) Program.

In this regard, therefore, any other proposal to train vietnamese Asylum Seekers partakes of a redundancy inasmuch as there are more than enough volunteer agencies under the reign of the United Nations engaged in relevant training to assist those who agreed to be repatriated. Moreover, any training program indiscriminately aimed at all Asylum Seekers may be counter productive for it may send wrong signals to other Asylum Seekers by making them feel that they are being prepared for eventual resettlement in the Philippines. In this light. We will consider your training proposal provided the following conditions are met:

     a. Ching Hai must express its understanding and acceptance of the
        Comprehensive Plan of Action for Indo-chinese refugees (CPA), and 
        the need to bring this program to a successful and humane close.
        Well-meaning efforts by certain quarters to champion the cause
        of resettlement provides the Asylum Seekers with the false hope
        that they could bargain for time or concession to further extend
        their stay in the Philippines.
     b. Ching Hai must pledge not to encourage non-cooperation with the
        Voluntary Repatriation (VOLREP) Program.
     c. The training provided must involve skills needed to help in the
        reintegration process of those who have joined the VOLREP and  
        possess the necessary clearance from the Vietnamese Government.
     d. There shall be a concurrence from TFIRAA that the offer of training
        is acceptable, before any training program can be put in place.
        I hope You will appreciate and understand our earnest desire to 
        comply with the deadline to close down all camps in the region by 
        by 1995. Any demonstration of support for resettlement or postponement 
        of repatriation will only delay the time table and in the end it
        will the Philippine Government who will be saddled with the
        problem of hosting these Asylum Seekers, once the UNHCR program
        is terminated.

There can only be one helpful attitude in so far as the treatment of Asylum Seekers is concerned, and that is to encourage their return to Vietnam, while at the same time, helping them reduce their problem of reintegration. This is also the humane approach under the present circumstance, and in the long term as well.

We will count on Your cooperation and support in this crucial endeavor.

FOR THE CAMP ADMINISTRATOR:
CAPT REX ROBLES PN
Deputy Administrator

Veterans of the Vietnamese War, Inc
PFAC PALAWAN 5300, PHILIPPINES
June 14, 1994
(Originally in Au Lac Language)

Respectfully to: The Supreme Master Ching Hai

Writing this S.O.S. letter to Master, we're very touched when we read the true and pitiful stories in your worldwide news magazine no. 34 about the suffered refugees.

We're strongly against the acts of those who took advantage over liberty, democracy, human right, base tricks, violence, arms, and chemical substances unnecessarily and hypocritically applied on those helpless refugees who only seek freedom, and nonviolently and peacefully fight for the two words "Human Right".

We took a vow to be side by side to struggle all the way until the very end to fight for the refugees' right and for our liberty.

We anxiously call for Your help.

Please, Master save us!!!!!!!

We believe with the worry to stop the dark artificial plot of the so-called UNHCR, Master will succeed in delivering the miserable Au Lac refugees at a state of peace and freedom that we always wish for. Where's heaven? Where's Nirvana? Where's Liberation? Ask the Beloved Master!!!!

Dear Sir,

We have treasured your hospitality and Friendship during the time we're in philippine, and will remember your righteousness as an example for us and mankind.

Especially your concern for the poor and weak such as the destitutes in your country, and the unfortunate boat people. We also tried hard in the past and now still to help lessen the burden concerning refugees issue but as you know our effort had not been rewarded. The government still did not answer our proposal.

Now, there is an easy solution I would like you help us to deliver to the government concerning this matter.

There is a waste land near the present camp in Palawan. We could finance to develop small industry for the refugees while they stay in your country. Provided they are allowed to stay till condition improved in Vietnam or a third country accept them.

All this will be self-funded and unconditional from our part. Please let us take care of our own brothers and sisters in their troubled time. God would bless your country multi-fold more for this. There are only few thousands left in Palawan. Give them a chance to live, a dignified human life, and give your country a chance to regain Her reputation as a humane and Christian Nation.

Love and best wishes

Ching Hai

His excellency	Hong Kong 14.5.94
The Senator of Philippine
Mr. Alvarez	(Original in English)
Manila

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your friendship and concern about the pitiful refugees in Palawan. Our letter and proposal to Philippine government to aid them financially has not been replied. Perhaps you could remind the President of this issue, as it is more difficult for us as private citizen to have access to government.

Also you could suggest for us a solution to help the refugees.

There is waste land around the refugee Camps which could be developed into small industrial area, such as for making clothes. So the refugees can earn their living while staying in your country. We will finance this without condition attached. As long as the government of Philippine allow them to stay there till condition better in Vietnam, or they can go to a third country.

We will support them till they can stand on their own feet. This will not cost the government any thing, but on the contrary, will earn a humanitarian reputation for Philippine.

Please ask the President to consider this. Just the ret few thousands are left behind, we could take care now. Give them a chance to lead a dignified human life that we all deserve!

Yours respectfully,

Ching Hai