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Gala protest: Vietnam War in Canberra
Posted on 11.01.05 by Kerces @ 11:01 am
Last night at the Canberra Theatre, the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam held a “Charming Vietnam Gala” concert for politicians, dignitaries, media and members of the Vietnamese community.

Last night outside the Canberra Theatre, about thousand very loud and very angry people turned up to protest and "expose the atrocities of the regime and voice their demand for a free and democratic Vietnam".




Two weeks ago members of the Press Gallery received invitations to a Charming Vietnam Gala celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. In 1945 the North Vietnamese declared independance from their French colonial masters, which was formally recognised by the French a decade later following the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. To put things very simply, the South Vietnamese weren’t happy with the new communist rulers, which led to the separation into two countries and eventually what is generally known as the Vietnam War which we and the Americans were involved in. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, as it is today, was formed in 1976 when the two halves of Vietnam were rejoined (if you want to know more about the history, this and this are a reasonable start).

Knowing nothing of this history or the continuing tensions I happily agreed to accompany Johnboy to the Gala, blisfully unaware that on arrival I would be confronted by angry mobs. It was quite an experience (JB says he’s used to being shouted at by angry mobs, but this was my first time).


Most of the protestors were carrying flags or balloons in the yellow with red stripes of South Vietnam. Interestingly there were also quite a few Australian flags being carried as well, probably in an attempt to say "look at us, we’re on your side".



All over the place people were being urged to boycott the show. Since the invitiation specified lounge suit or national dress as the dress code, it was fairly easy to identify those attending the show and they had to run the gauntlet of protestors, most of whome were held back behind a police line but there was one area where there were no barriers. There was also lots of propaganda being handed out, listing reasons why the show should be boycotted. JB and I came away with three slightly different versions of this flyer:



And the back of it (note the use of "Viet Cong" — this term only came about with the American intervention in the Vietnam War):



I heard two or three impassioned speakers, including this woman, who all whipped the crowd into a frenzy, accompanied by drums beating out time for chants. There must have been quite a few speakers lined up because they were still going when we left the show about two hours later.



The protestors were well planned and had covered both approaches to the theatre so none of the invitees could escape their message. This mob near the members’ entrance of the Legislative Assembly obviously weren’t as loud as the much, much larger crowd on the other side but their anger was possibly even more palpitable (I got shouted at when taking this photo, but whether in anger or encouragement I wasn’t quite sure).



Eventually we decided it was time to head up to the theatre, the invitation having said 7pm for 7.30 and it was nearing the latter hour. At the doors of the theatre (which feels very strange not having its proper entrance) we flourished the invitation (below) and received tickets. By this time we could hear the bells ringing to get everyone into the theatre but, just as we tried to go in, some large, suited security guards came and shut the doors with a particularly definite air. It sure looked like an end to our more-exciting-than-planned night out, but I used my developing elbow skills and got us through the crowd to the door where JB showed the tickets and we were somewhat reluctantly allowed in.



The first thing we were treated to was a tourist brochure in video format projected on the stage curtains and sponsored by Vietnam Airlines, who, along with the Thanh Nien newspaper, were major sponsors of the whole Gala. There was much confusion with the seating; although the tickets were allocated people seemed to be being allowed in without tickets and just sat in any empty seats they could find (I also noticed a huge number of people moved around during the show — quite a novel concept to me, having been brought up to sit down, be still and shut up in theatres and cinemas).

Then came three-quarters of an hour of speeches, in which the MC and the Vice Minister of Foreign Relations of Vietnam kept calling Peter Slipper (who is president of the parliamentary committee for Vietnam-Australian relations or somesuch) "the honourable Peeter Sleeter". For me, the most exciting part of the show was probably during the Vice Minister’s speech when a man clad in a South Vietnam flag ran into the theatre shouting, "Human rights for Vietnam!" and was tackled by be-suited security guards and manhandled out of the theatre (I was impressed by the guards; they were just like secret service agents in American movies, complete with invisible ear wires). A few minutes later another man jumped up from the audience and shouted similar slogans. He too was promptly removed.

And then the show began. I strongly suspect I would have gotten a whole lot more out of the show if I was a Vietnamese speaker or had any idea who any of the performers were. First up was a girl singing a song we were told set out the theme for the whole performance: Far and Near. She was accomapnied by dancers, some of whom had fairly impressive angel costumes. Afterwards our hosts for the night came out and back-announced the song. The man spoke Vietnamese and the woman translated for him (and wore a series of spectacular dresses).



Next up was a fashion parade by a designer who I’m reasonably sure I read in the CT set out to modernise traditional Vietnamese fashions. I quite liked some of the costumes which were generally brightly coloured and all sparkled (and which aren’t really done justice by JB’s in the dark photography). The models all walked with that loose-limbed gait of the supermodel but I felt they weren’t really sure what they should do once arriving at the front of the catwalk (or stage in this case).



After this were a series of singers, most of whom we decided were lip-synching — waving the microphone around everywhere except near your face is a dead giveaway really. The songs were all inoffensive to me in a pop kind of way and I had the distinct impression afterwards of having watched Australian Idol except in another language. My favourite performer was an ageing but apparently very popular (judging by the crowd’s reaction) rocker dressed in tight black leather pants, white t-shirt and leather jacket who proceeded to dance lustily with the microphone stand all across the stage while singing soemthing suitable rock’n'roll. There was also a girl in impossibly high shoes who had a troupe of boy-band dancers so she didn’t have to dance in them, a woman singing an operatic power-ballad, a man in a white suit who was then joined by a man in a black suit with a very ruffly shirt. This second man then performed solo, at which point I started to fall asleep and missed a large chink of the special effects in which the dancer in the background passed things back and forth to a girl projected on the round screen that made part of the set. I don’t know what else there was since we departed shortly after my concert-sleepiness kicked in.

As we left the protestors outside were still going strong with their chants and drumming, although the police appeared to have departed and buses that were in the carpark before had left.

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Category: Community
Comments: 46 Comments »
The leftmost placard in the first picture says a lot…

Comment by Maelinar — November 1, 2005 @ 11:21 am

eep, having a blonde moment, the rightmost

Comment by Maelinar — November 1, 2005 @ 11:21 am

My friend and I attended but (we missed tea) left after the permed, leather-jacket rock star number (It probably looked like like some sort of protest, two elderly Aussies creeping out and we got reproachful looks from people in the foyer -but claps from the protesters.) Poor Slipper must have drawn the short straw - but he gave a very good spirited speech, (and I noticed he called it the ‘Republic of Vietnam’ not SR of VN0 saying it was a tribute to Australia’s democracy that such a protest could be staged peacefully (if not quietly). Long faces from the Vice Minister and co on the podium.

Comment by Chris — November 1, 2005 @ 11:28 am

All I can say is where the hell are the 60s/70s anti war protestors now?

People, mostly aging hippies, will still tell you about how bad it was for the US and Australia to go to Vietnam. however, they won’t admit to the mass slaughter of South Vietnamese after the 1975 fall of Saigon.

Oddly enough I have’nt heard Mr Stanhope make a peep about this issue. Is this because it goes against the grain of the leftie hippie love-in socialist ‘Ho Chi Min is going to win’ crowd? Is it because to show support for these people would undermine his opposition to the Iraq war, given the ridiculous parallels that get made between the two in the media.

These people truly are refugees in every sense of the word. These people fought alongside Australians only 30 years ago. They deserve to have some recognition of their plight.

Comment by Thumper — November 1, 2005 @ 11:28 am

Stirring stuff.

Comment by RandomGit — November 1, 2005 @ 11:33 am

I love the fact that some of the most oppressive regimes in the world always seem to put on the best events! Although, Stalin and Hitler are pretty hard to beat in those stakes.

Thumper, you’ve hit the nail on the head about the anti-war protesters of the 60-70s being very quiet now about how oppressive the Vietnamese Govt is. Haven’t seen Jane Fonda rushing back to rabbit on about how wonderful life is in the Republic of Vietnam is in the last few years!

Comment by Mr Evil — November 1, 2005 @ 11:50 am

Ms Fonda is currently running around telling everyone how bad and evil the iraq War is.

Whether or not this is so I am not going to comment upon but the fact that she has conveniently forgotten what has happened to these people is an indictment in itself.

Comment by Thumper — November 1, 2005 @ 12:00 pm

when i arrived in canberra many years ago, i was taken to a vietnamese restaraunt and noticed a clock on the wall in the shape of SOUTH vietnam.

the sad thing about socialist utopias is that they rarely deliver what they promise.

replacing one thieving ruling class with another is not a revolution.

i think the hippies that protested against the vietnam war have now turned their attentions to the iraq war. after remaining largely silent during the soviet occupation of afghanistan.

the entire vietnam conflict was a sad saga. interstingly, lee kuan yew regards the vietnam war as a victory. without his comments in front of me to quote correctly, his argument is something along teh lines of ‘it gave other se asian countries time to prepare’. and if you look at the unsuccessful insurgencies in malaysia, thailand and indonesia you would have to say he was right.

so im glad that the vietnames who were out last night have the freedom to stage that protest rally. there is no way they could do it in downtown hanoi.

socialaist utopias do not allow dissenting views.

Comment by bonfire — November 1, 2005 @ 12:09 pm

It was fun wasn’t it.
Nothing like having abuse hurled at you in a language you don’t know. I did notice that they were a lot more hostile towards the Vietnamese guests than the white faces that clearly didn’t give a shit.

It sounds like you left at half time though, which was a bit unfortunate. I found the quality of the second half far better with far fewer American clones and more traditional acts. The highlight was the playing of the Dan Bau, a single stringed instrument and then a multiple stringed horizontal instrument.

I’d also disagree with the lipsynching complaint. While there was backing lyrics in some of the songs, I didn’t feel that the singers were faking it. Mainly because there was a noticable difference in sound quality with the recorded tracks.

The protesters had all gone home by the time the show finished.

Comment by lod — November 1, 2005 @ 12:21 pm

Is it just me that thinks we should be contacting ASIO about the comment ’stop infiltrating our community’ ?

Comment by Maelinar — November 1, 2005 @ 12:28 pm

Meal,

like all socialist states the Republic of Vietnam like to keep an eye on their former countrymen turned disidents. China does it regularly I believe.

I suggest that they are protesting against Vietnamese cadre infiltrating their community. After all, they are South Vietnamese and many of them, if not all of them, would have had family, friends and loved ones murdered by the regime after 75.

Comment by Thumper — November 1, 2005 @ 12:39 pm

I dropped by the demonstration after having coffee with friends – I’ve been to Vietnam and they have little to celebrate after 30 years of the communist dictatorship.

As I arrived Senator Humphries was speaking. He said he much preferred to be there with the demonstrators then be inside celebrating a “lie”. Very stirring! Apparently an ALP member (not local of course) also addressed the rally.

The crowd was very spirited but well behaved. The guests attending the concert seemed a little awkward as they ran the gauntlet of the demonstrators. LOL

Thumper, you said it all. It’s a disgrace that our Government and those pathetic left-wing gutless-wonders from the west who promoted communism in Vietnam say nothing today about the human rights violations that are perpetrated by the current regime.

I’m sorry, but those inside the ‘celebration’ should hang their head in shame!!!

Comment by kimba — November 1, 2005 @ 12:40 pm

Whilst I’m sure it’s already popped up on a searchengine by now, there are several issues relating to that sign;

1. There is a real and immediate threat (by virtue of the sign being written in NOW and HERE tense) to Vietnamese-Australians.

2. They feel the issue is serious enough to write a sign about it at an anti-expo celebration.

3. The incoming Anti-Terrorism laws.

4. Vietnamese Spies are actively working in our country targetting (Vietnamese)-Australians.

As I have previously stated, one of my big issues is that once you’re Australian, regardless of if your surname is ‘Corby’ or ‘Bali 9 Lezzo’, equal treatment for all (Apart from if you’re indigenous but let’s not get into that).

In effect, if there are spies or terrorists targetting Australians, Australia should respond.

In my opinion, anybody who carries an Australian passport, regardless of descent, is an Australian.

Time to start seeking footage ASIO.

Comment by Maelinar — November 1, 2005 @ 1:09 pm

Can someone explain why the CT didn’t cover this notable (for Canberra) event? Or perhaps I just haven’t graduated beyond the horses/sports pages today & missed it.
Like you, Maelinar, that placard caught my attention immediately. Perhaps some heavyweight tv current affairs program could investigate further…

Comment by terubo — November 1, 2005 @ 1:14 pm

the ct like to use press relases for news. no press release - no coverage.

often its a verbatim lift.

they are a very lazy newspaper.

i do like crispin hull though. very good analysis of almost anything he looks at, even if i dont always agree with him.

Comment by bonfire — November 1, 2005 @ 1:49 pm

It looks like the placard on the right said “Stop: Infiltrate Our Community”! :-)

(Someone needs to help them with their Engrish).

Comment by Mr Evil — November 1, 2005 @ 2:18 pm

I’m sorry, but those inside the ‘celebration’ should hang their head in shame!!!

Shove it right up your arse Kimba.

I/We accepted an invitation and indicated our acceptance. On seeing the protest we drove back to my place to get a camera, then spent twenty minutes gathering literature, documenting the protest and listening to greivances.

We then gave the story more coverage than any other english language outlet in this country.

Having done that we honoured our acceptance of the invitation (and were not uncritical of the event).

My conscience is entirely clear.

What Kerces doesn’t mention is that even with an invitation in hand I still had to get into serious argument with their front of house to be grudgingly handed tickets, which in turn allowed us to push through the throng to have the locked door opened for us.

Moving on to other matters,

While I am a sucker for lost causes, South Vietnam is gone and nothing now can bring it back. If human rights in Vietnam is the cause then the symbol of a defunct regime might not be the best vehicle for that cause. Having said that, who are we to dictate to the vietnamese community in this country which symbol they choose to rally around?

There were no australian flags inside the theatre.

I thought Peter Slipper’s speech verged to the obsequious. But I will concede he was on a sticky wicket. His criticism of the protestors (his citizens) missed the point that without their protest no-one would have been thinking about human rights in Vietnam.

His endorsement of the Vietnamese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for President of Vietnam was particularly bizarre.

And I’m glad to hear I wasn’t the only one who took in a breathe when he called Vietnam the “Republic of Vietnam”. That 30 years dead country’s flag was being waved by the angry mob outside the venue.

I’d also like to applaud the AFP’s crowd management.

They allowed their citizens to humiliate a foreign government against our nations direct interests while at the same time preventing violence. While entering the venue I felt completely safe despite the large angry crowd hurling abuse.

Comment by johnboy — November 1, 2005 @ 10:01 pm

I endorse/support/applaud the fact that RiotACT carried a story yesterday that no-one else was bothered with. The CT is particularly culpable. If, as bonfire indicates, they only work off press releases, then that’s a disgrace.
-And I see they’ve increased their price to $1.20! Ripoff.

Comment by terubo — November 2, 2005 @ 6:50 am

Interesting to note that Vietnam can waste a shitload on this crap, but are whining at APEC that they can only afford to stockpile enough bird flu medicine for approx. 60 000 of their people!

Comment by Mr Evil — November 2, 2005 @ 7:34 am

Mr Evil, Australia wastes a shitload on ‘this crap’ too.

Comment by Maelinar — November 2, 2005 @ 7:52 am

Mael, there are big differences. We can afford to waste money on this sort of crap. The Govt here isn’t (overly) oppressive. We don’t expect other nations to give us financial aid because we can’t afford to look after our own people.

Comment by Mr Evil — November 2, 2005 @ 8:11 am

I see there’s an advertisement in the oz today on the same lines as the protest banners - I agree with terubo and Mr Evil (?!) - we attended the show in the same spirit as I’ve walked thru’ the hanoi showpiece mausoleum of Ho - it’s a murderous, repressive regime - and contrary to what someone said earlier, it wasn’t a good show (at least not the first part we saw, apart from the minute or so of ao-dzai fashions).

Comment by Chris — November 2, 2005 @ 8:26 am

The Canberra Times got their act together somewhat and published this piece by arts reporter Helen Musa in today’s paper (p3 cos the Diva’s on p1 of course).

No photos though (word is she asked the CT to send a photographer and got knocked back), and she calls Peter Slipper “Peter Flitter” and doesn’t get his title right or mention that he’s an MP. Her quotes from protestors are from their propagada flyers, but then so were mine.

My guess would be she went out to report on a harmless arts event (much like us) and got caught short.

Comment by Kerces — November 2, 2005 @ 8:31 am

Kerces, from the sound of it you have outdone a professional reporter both in quality and form.

If the CT don’t pick you up when you graduate, it’s their loss, bigtime.

Comment by Maelinar — November 2, 2005 @ 8:43 am

It’s ludicrous. That article should have been published yesterday - particularly as Musa says they knew about it before Monday!
You could have sold them your pics…?

Comment by terubo — November 2, 2005 @ 8:46 am

Why thank you Mael. only trouble being I don’t particularly want to work for the CT so it’ll be (ideally) off to Sydney for me — or a country town.

And terubo, I don’t think so. They were pretty poor quality pics. Ok but not brilliant and not newspaper standard.

Comment by Kerces — November 2, 2005 @ 8:56 am

The ‘Charm Gala’ show is only surface to a chain of state-directed plans to interfere with oversea communities’ ongoing effort to bring about improved social condition, justice and human rights to the people living in Vietnam.

Please read today’s “The Australian” page 7 to find out why “Vietnamese Community in Australia” standup to fight for justice and human rights in Vietnam.

Comment by quin — November 2, 2005 @ 12:24 pm

The protesters have got one important point that is relevant to us all: such a corrupt regime like the Socialist Republic of Vietnam should not be given Australian aid unquestioningly. It’s like entrusting your money with a known thief. Their call for an independent anti-corruption audit is reasonable, and our government should seriously consider that.

Comment by dinosaur — November 4, 2005 @ 8:39 am

Thanhnien newspaper (a sponsor of this concert) claimed that 2000 people attended the concert. Too much exaggeration ! Does anyone know the real size of audience ? http://www.thanhniennews.com/others/?catid=13&newsid=10198 

Comment by hans — November 4, 2005 @ 10:18 am

If you count the 1850 protesting outside, that’d be about right.

Comment by terubo — November 4, 2005 @ 10:58 am

Good point Terubo. These commie guys got a reputation for making things up. Looks like the show did not impress the non-vietnamese audience that much. I wonder how many left early like Kerces and Chris ? I heard that both shows in canberra and sydney were free. It must have costed them at least $1 million. Funny how they can afford that while coping with 2 typhoons and bird flu ! Maybe they’re not as poor as AustAid thinks …

Comment by hans — November 4, 2005 @ 12:12 pm

Not sure Hans, the Canberra Theatre looked pretty full and I seem to recall it holds just over 1000 (but I’m sure I’ll be corrected), however there was another, bigger, concert (and protest) held in the Sydney Town Hall the following Wednesday, so they could be adding the two audience figures together.

Comment by Kerces — November 4, 2005 @ 12:58 pm

You’re right Kerces, I checked the Canberra theatre website and found out that it has around 1200 seats. However, Thanhnien newspaper said that the canberra show alone had audience of 2000 and the sydney show had another 2000 (just check its website). Looks like they lied about the attendance of both shows. But again, if they’re willing to spend heaps to bring the troupe here to perform for free then their boast should not surprise anyone. After all, the whole thing is just propaganda in disguise.

Comment by hans — November 4, 2005 @ 2:36 pm

makes the egg on their face all the more glossier though :)

great investigative journalism chaps.

Comment by Maelinar — November 4, 2005 @ 2:55 pm

Disconcertingly, we were both photographed in our seats before the curtain went up -while the Vietnam airlines travel film was running - we’ll probably appear in some propaganda mag as ‘happy Canberrans enjoying and appreciating wonderful show’ !!!

Comment by Chris — November 4, 2005 @ 2:57 pm

Correction: “Just two of the two thousand happy Canberrans etc etc….”
But wasn’t there another one at the gig? Name of johnboy?
BTW, if you get any offers through the post for free travel to Ho Chi Minh city, etc, I’d think twice about it…

Comment by terubo — November 4, 2005 @ 3:12 pm

I had this letter forwarded to me that was written by Mr Nguyen Cong Khe, Editor in Chief of Thanh Nie^n News (in other words the Young Communist News Letter). Not well written but English is his second language. The last bit sounds a little threatening!!! Reading bewteen the lines I would suggest our friends in the Vietnamese Communist regime are a little pissed off!

_________________________________________________
Dear Mr KHANH and Vienamese Community In Australia.

I would like say thank you Viet Nam Australia Radio, SBS radio, Mr President (or Doctor N.M Tien), Mr President of NSW (Engineer P.D Bich). It was my letter sent to Mr Khanh not someone else.

I surprised as you announced on SBS radio (Melbourne) by broadcaster QUOC VIET. The letter you had received from me, it was not insult (or abuse) anyone. I just want tell you the truth and thank you for your encouraged people protest or against us. Actually, We did not do anything wrong in here. We bring Vietnamese culture, traditional introduce to australian friends. Do you think its wrong? Uncultivated? who is uncultivated? you or other people in your group we called “misunderstanding us” uncultivated? I would prefer sent you a professional letter, however I do not think you or Mr President Phan Dong Bich can understand what we want try to tell you. It is because an intellectual person(s) not acting like what you have done.

I do not want interupt or bother you. I just want to say that, The Charming Vietnam Gala in Canberra and Sydney Town Hall (Last night) were great success. On behalf of Australian & Vietnamese Government, I really appreciate for your spending time read this letter. We look forward to see you again in he Charming Vietnam Gala 2006 at OPERA HOUSE in Sydney NSW. Dallas Hall in Melbourne. Canberra Theatre.

My name is Nguyen Cong Khe (Tong Bien Tap bao Thanh Nien). I informed you, it was my letter. By the way, please send my regards to Nguyen Hoang Thanh Tam, a great young vietnamese guy in community. We so proud of you, you are young man and great promising future for Australian and Vietnamese government. We open our arms and always welcome you home Tam. We look forward to see you Tam.

Thank you Mr NGUYEN DINH KHANH (Vietnam Australia Radio), Mr President (Dr. NGUYEN MANH TIEN), Mr President (Engineer PHAN DONG BICH) et NGUYEN HOANG THANH TAM. I wish you and your family have a great time, happiness and good health.

Regards.

NGUEN CONG KHE (Editor in Chief Thanh Nien News)

Tel: 84 8 8 394 046
Fax: 84 8 8 322 025

—–Original Message—–
From: Tien manh Nguyen [mailto:tmnguyen@ozemail.com.au]
Sent: Thursday, 3 November 2005 8:51 AM
To: A; An. Vo WA; Bui Trong Cuong (Bui Trong Cuong); Bui Trong Cuong BS; CD/ACT; Duc PHAM; Luu Tuong Quang (Luu Tuong Quang); Q.C. NGUYEN JP; Tran Huong Thuy; Tran Huong Thuy; Tran Huong Thuy; Trung Doan; Trung Doan; vominhcuong; Bao TV Tuan San; Bao TV Victoria; ‘Baonhanquyen’; ‘baothoibao(wasTNTB)’; ‘Baotvts’; Bao Chieu Duong (Bao Chieu Duong); Bao Dan Viet; Bao Saigon Times; Bao Saigon Times; Bao Van Nghe; Bao Viet Luan (Bao Viet Luan); Bao VN Thoi Nay (Bao VN Thoi Nay); BCHSAdoancongchanhphuloc; Bich Phan; Nguyen The Phong; Phan Dong Bich; Tran Hung Viet; Tran Hung Viet; Wife (Wife); Nguyen Van Than (Nguyen Van Than); Nguyen Van Thanh CG; Pham Minh Lan; thuyen nhan; To Ngoc Kim; 2vnr; Dai SBS-Sydney (Dai SBS-Sydney); Dai SBS-VIC (Dai SBS-VIC); Dai VN Sydney (Dai VN Sydney); Dai VN Uc Chau (Dai VN Uc Chau)
Subject: FW: Bao The Australian dang quang cao cua minh

Xin chuyen den qui vi de tiep tuc thuong thuc van chuong Anh ngu cua Dinh

Cao Tri Tue.

Tien

—–Original Message—–

From: Khanh Nguyen-Dinh [mailto:ndkhanh@optusnet.com.au]

Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 1:05 AM

To: Tien manh Nguyen

Subject: Re: Bao The Australian dang quang cao cua minh

Anh Tien than men,

Sau day la buc thu thu nhi cua Nguyen Cong Khe goi cho toi. Co le han se con viet nua vi chuong trinh phat thanh Viet Nam Uc Chau tiep tuc danh bon Viet Cong cho toi khi chung khong con dam ben mang den Uc nua moi thoi.

Cheers,

Nguyen-Dinh Khanh

Vietnamese Radio in Australia (VNRA)

www.vnra.net

Dear Mr KHANH

We would like thank you very much for your support us. The Charming Vietnam Gala in canberra unexpected success without you and your radio program free advertised for our show.

Thank you Mr NGUYEN MANH TIEN, spend your time encourage protesters against us. We do not believe it, this show can not be success without your help. Wewant you back to Vietnam Radio Australia again, encourage more people come and protest next show in Sydney Town Hall on Wednesday 2nd November 2005. Welook forward to see you there. All the Invitation Cards run out now, if I have spare one i would invite you come and watch us.

You will not believe it, lot of thing we show to audiences which is you or other organiser can not be do like us. On the behalf of Australian and Vietnamese government. We appriciate for your time. We look forward to see you in The Charming Vietnam Gala 2006.

Regards

NGUYEN CONG KHE (Editor in chief of THANH NIEN News - Tong bien tap bao

Thanh Nien)

Comment by kimba — November 4, 2005 @ 3:26 pm

Who is Nguyen Hoang Thanh Tam and was that a veiled threat that he should get his ass out of dodge before he ends up with concrete shoes in LBG ?

That man needs a babelfish BADLY.

Whilst I am aware that the editor may not reside in Australia, I hope that this isn’t a demonstration of the English skill level that needs to be proven before being allowed to emigrate to Australia.

That was worse than a TXTor L33t Haxx0r

Comment by Maelinar — November 4, 2005 @ 4:19 pm

I’m trying to find out who Nguyen Hoang Thanh Tam is. Yes it very much does sound like a threat.

Comment by kimba — November 4, 2005 @ 4:27 pm

He’s the Treasurer of the Vietnamese Students Association of Victoria Inc. from my mediocre understanding of vietnamese lexography that I just learned just then, did this guy think Australia’s that small that we’d just pop on down to Victoria or something ?

Comment by Maelinar — November 4, 2005 @ 4:47 pm

He’s one of the rally organisers. They had 3 rallies in one week - canberra 1500 protesters, sydney town hall 15000, bankstown town hall (nsw) 10000. Wow!! No wonder Mr editor is not very happy. Looks like the ‘charming gala’ tour backfired on the commie.

Comment by hans — November 5, 2005 @ 9:03 am

Yet another clueless non-vietnamese Australian who attended the Gala here!
Sorry to say that I hadn’t a clue about the political ramifications, and sorry to have walked in during a protest, but I loved it.
The first half kept us laughing until we cried (the perm + leather guy… ooh I want to marry him) and the second half was much better after a lovely vietnamese girl next to us realised we needed translations :P
The monochord (and was the other a small harpsichord?) instrumental performance was amazing, and altogether I thought it was lovely… if absolutely freakin hilarious :P

The protest itself was the largest and best organised protest I’ve yet seen in Canberra, and wow, we almost turned back wihout entering the theatre. We came a bit late, and that many people screaming at you with total hate… whew.
Massively shocked that such a large and controversial event can have gone so unnoticed by the news, and by people in general, because I’ve noticed that it seems that only the people who went (in either capacity) actually know it even occured.

and P.S. From the position of your photos, it looks like we were quite near you!! I can’t remember our seat numbers but behind you a little, center-left :)

Comment by Aimee — November 5, 2005 @ 10:38 pm

They (the Vietnamese Govt.) spent millions of dollars of our foreign aid to bring this crap here instead of using that money to help their own people. This propaganda crap has got to stop. Tell them.

Viet Embassy
vembassy@webone.com.au
Phone 02 6286 6059
Fax 02 6286 4534

Comment by stevo — November 8, 2005 @ 4:53 pm

It’s interesting to read all your comments. I have lost my relatives from the war and sea while on their way seeking for freedom. How can i forget why i am here?

We are so lucky to live in this country where our rights are protect and our voice can be heard.

The VC gov spent million of dollars for such a propaganda. why dont they use that money to help their poor people? why did they stir us up? when my parents heard of the news that VC was going to celebrate 60 yrs of dictatorship in this freedom/peaceful country. Their blood pressure have gone up and I can see pain in their eyes. I can never forgive VC for all the killings they have done after the war has ended.

I am sure we are not angry or suggest that you, ( other australian,…(white)) feel bad about attending this show, but we would like you to look beyond the gloss to see the real Vietnam.

As an Australian citizen, I would like to request the Foreign Affairs and Finance Ministers to

*Order an independent audit to find out how much Australian taxpayers’ money the Vietnamese regime has stolen from our aid and
* Review to determine whether and how Vietnam still needs the $77 million dollards that Australia has given every year in the past decade or so.

Comment by vietgirl — November 8, 2005 @ 9:13 pm

re Nguyen Hoang Thanh Tam….he is a young guy in his mid 20s. He works endlessly for human right and he was the President of the Vietnamese Student Association ( VSA-Australia).

Comment by vietgirl — November 8, 2005 @ 9:21 pm

Vietgirl,

I think we all agree with you on this issue.

Comment by Thumper — November 9, 2005 @ 8:01 am