LMDCVN Alliance for Democracy in Vietnam (ADV)

DECLARATION OF VIETNAMESE ORGANIZATIONS ALL OVER THE WORLD

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Ban Thông Tin

RE. THE CHINESE HAIYANG 981 RIG IN VIETNAM’S WATERS

On May 3, 2014, the Chinese government announced the introduction of a giant exploratory rig, Haiyang 981, into Vietnam’s waters (15o29′ N/110o12′ E, corresponding to Lot 143 of Vietnam’s EEZ) with the intention of searching for oil and gas in the continental shelf of Vietnam, well within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone of Vietnam, as defined by UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea). It further warned all foreign vessels not to come within three nautical miles of the rig. Peking also sent an armada of some 80 ships, seven of which are destroyers, down to the area to prevent Vietnam from exercising its sovereignty in the area. Continue reading →

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Bill – April 30th as “Black April Day” – changed to “Journey to Freedom Day”

Posted on April 26, 2014 by Ban Thông Tin

S-219

Second Session, Forty-first Parliament,

62-63 Elizabeth II, 2013-2014

SENATE OF CANADA

BILL S-219

An Act respecting a national day of commemoration of the exodus of Vietnamese refugees and their acceptance in Canada after the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War

first reading, April 10, 2014

THE HONOURABLE SENATOR NGO

1334

SUMMARY

This enactment designates the thirtieth day of April in each and every year as “Black April Day”.

Available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address:
http://www.parl.gc.ca

2nd Session, 41st Parliament,

62-63 Elizabeth II, 2013-2014

senate of canada

BILL S-219

An Act respecting a national day of commemoration of the exodus of Vietnamese refugees and their acceptance in Canada after the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War

Preamble

Whereas the Canadian Forces were involved in the Vietnam War with supervisory operations to support the aim of establishing peace and ending the Vietnam War by assisting in the enforcement of the Paris Peace Accords of 1973;

Whereas on April 30, 1975, despite the Paris Peace Accords, the military forces of the People’s Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front invaded South Vietnam, which led to the fall of Saigon, the end of the Vietnam War and the establishment of a single-party socialist government;

Whereas the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has reported that these events and the conditions faced by individuals in Vietnam, including deteriorating living conditions and human rights abuses, contributed to the exodus of approximately 840,000 Vietnamese people, who were referred to at the time as “Vietnamese boat people”, to neighbouring countries in the ensuing years;

Whereas the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has reported that at least 250,000 Vietnamese people lost their lives at sea during the exodus of the Vietnamese people for reasons that included drowning, illness, starvation and violence from kidnapping or piracy;

Whereas the sponsorship refugee program in Canada, assisted by the efforts of Canadian families, Canadian charities, religious groups and non-governmental organizations, contributed to Canada accepting more than 60,000 Vietnamese refugees, among whom it has been estimated that 34,000 were privately sponsored and 26,000 were assisted by the Canadian government;

Whereas the major and sustained contribution by the people of Canada to the cause of refugees was recognized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees when it awarded the Nansen Refugee Award to the “People of Canada” in 1986;

And whereas April 30 is referred to by many members of the community of displaced Vietnamese people and their families in Canada as “Black April Day” and is, therefore, an appropriate day to designate as a day to remember and commemorate the lives lost and the suffering experienced during the exodus of Vietnamese people, the acceptance of Vietnamese refugees in Canada, the gratitude of Vietnamese people to the Canadian people and the Government of Canada for accepting them, and the contributions of Vietnamese-Canadian people — whose population is now approximately 300,000 — to Canadian society;

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

SHORT TITLE

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Black April Day Act.

BLACK APRIL DAY

Black April Day

2. Throughout Canada, in each and every year, the thirtieth day of April shall be known as “Black April Day”.

Not a legal holiday

3. For greater certainty, Black April Day is not a legal holiday or a non-juridical day.

Published under authority of the Senate of Canada

Source:

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Press Release : Senator Ngo Meets with Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Ban Thông Tin

The Honourable Senator Thanh Hai Ngo

Press Release
For Immediate Release
March 15, 2014

(Vietnamese translation follows)

Senator Ngo Meets with
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam

OTTAWA – On March 12th, 2014 Senator Thanh Hai Ngo formally met with a delegation from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam headed by His Excellency Nguyen Thanh Son, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Chairman of the State Commission on Overseas Vietnamese. His Excellency To Anh Dzung, Ambassador of Vietnam to Canada, and a representative from the Department Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada were also attending.

During the meeting, the Senator and the Vice-Minister discussed the successful diplomatic relationship between Canada and Vietnam, as well as the growing international education opportunities for Vietnamese in Canada.

Senator Thanh Hai Ngo also raised specific cases of detained individuals in Vietnam, requesting for Phuong Uyen Nguyen to go back to school and asking for the early release of Father Ly, Nguyen Tien Trung, Nguyen Kha, Vo Minh Tri (Viet Khang), amongst others. In response, Vice-Minister Nguyen Thanh Son took note of the Senator’s concerns, and provided full information about these cases.

-30-

For more information:
613-943-1599
ngoth@sen.parl.gc.ca<mailto:ngoth@sen.parl.gc.ca>
www.senatorngo.com Continue reading →

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Canada Raises Human Rights Concerns with Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Ban Thông Tin

December 4, 2013

Canada Raises Human Rights Concerns
with Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam

OTTAWA – On December 3rd, 2013, Senator Thanh Hai Ngo joined Chris Alexander, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister, as he hosted a bilateral meeting with a delegation from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam headed by His Excellency Vu Van Ninh, Deputy Prime Minister.

During the meeting, Minister Alexander and Senator Ngo expressed their ongoing concerns about human rights violations in Vietnam, including those pertaining to internet freedom.

“The sentencing of bloggers amounts to internet censorship, and is a violation of freedom of expression,” said Senator Ngo. “I am pleased to have had the opportunity to raise our concerns with high-level officials. I am also pleased with the reduced sentence of blogger Phuong Uyen Nguyen. Hopefully our message will encourage the Vietnamese government to take similar action for other prisoners of conscience, such as Dinh Nguyen Kha and Viet Khang.”

Minister Alexander and Senator Ngo also raised the case of Father Ly and discussed other issues, including trade and immigration. Canada sees potential for growth in Canada-Vietnam relations, particularly in multilateral fora like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Canada encourages Vietnam to protect and promote human rights, freedom of expression and the rule of law for all its citizens.