The freedom fighters --
The Brave Au Lac refugees.

-spoken (in Chinese) by the Supreme Master Ching Hai at Baptist Garden, Hong Kong on April 28, 1994

They commit suicide. They resist. They tolerate any brutal attack without resisting to let us understand--freedom is the most precious. How can we be so cruel to forsake them, ignore them, and pretend not to know what they are saying? It doesn't take words to convey the meaning.

Put Yourselves In Their Place
And Care About
The Situation Of The Refugees

Naturally, we spiritual practitioners would prefer peace, and to develop our own wisdom to help others. Therefore, the humanity issue is also included in the practice. Today, we have come from all countries and places, because we are going to save the refugees' lives, and help them get what they have asked for. They don't ask for material aids. They don't want political positions. They just want freedom, and dignity the same with us. Every human being is entitled to have their own freedom and dignity, because God created humans in order to glorify Him. We humans are the children of God, so are all sentient beings. Nobody has the right to detain them, torture them, hurt them, or to make them shed tears and blood.
We are speaking for the refugees on behalf of the free countries. They have no say in there. In there, nobody listens to them, or cares about them. The whole world is trying to forget these miserable people. However, they are our compatriots, and our own kind. They have the same ideal as we do. They simply love freedom, having a peaceful life, with the ability to take care of their mate and children. There are no excessive demands. They only ask for the most fundamental things. Therefore, we expect the free countries to recognize their responsibility and humanitarian obligation in giving the refugees what they are entitled, that is, a peaceful and secure life.
What they need is a small piece of land, a few vegetables and clothing, and a good job to sustain themselves and their families. They didn't ask to come here as kings, and they didn't ask for luxurious things. Everyone should have this basic human right. However, the so-called free countries, perhaps too busy, too free, too abundant, too rich in material and mental aspects, forget other people's agonies and needs. They forget the pain of being a refugee, being in prison, being hurt, shedding blood and tears. We are here today to remind them; representing the citizens of the world, we remind human beings of their humanitarian, and fundamental conduct. We are not begging or forcing anybody. This is what they should do, as the most basic, the least, the most common. And the most insignificant thing.

The Au Lac Communists Are More Terrible Than The Tear Gas

Many refugees died at sea, after being robbed, beaten up and murdered. Some people were hurt both in body and soul. Their sorrow is so deep that they became mentally unstable. They have risked so much danger to reach this shore of liberty, only to find that we, the free people want to send them back. Of course, they don't want to go. As long as their country is not free, not respectful of dignity, they don't want to go back. Some of them feel that going back is the synonym for death. Returning means being tortured, imprisoned, dominated, and being hurt mentally as well as physically. However, now that they are in a free country, they are treated in about the same way. Despite being forsaken, suppressed by force, inflicted by hundreds of tear gas shells, sprayed with poison, bleeding from the mouth, nose, eyes and ears, they still don't want to go back to Au Lac. This indicates the situation there to be even worse.
Can you imagine? Until now, some people have not yet recovered from their wounds; they are still in the hospital. The injured children are also still in the hospital. We don't know, may be their scars will never recover. Most of them were hurt by the tear gas and poison in the late incident. Many of them are old people, children and women. Two-thirds of them are women and children, one-third are men.
We are now in the twentieth century, such brutal attitudes and actions should not happen. This is against international humanity and international laws. If a person or a group of people are not carrying any arms or resisting with force, no country under any law should suppress them with arms, injuring them to the extent of bleeding, shedding tears or damaging their bodies. Some of them couldn't even walk. A six-year old kid was severely injured; the wound needed skin grafting. We heard that the kid was beaten heavily at that time even. I have received many SOS letters, so I troubled you to come here. Together we try our best to fulfill our humanitarian obligations, and save our own kind. Look at the animals when one of them is being attacked, the rest try to save it. Is that right? (Yes!) Shouldn't we humans do the same? Humans should be humane. Any beings lower than that cannot be called a human.

Peaceful Sit-In
At The Government House

Of course, I know that you come from faraway places, sacrificed plenty of time and efforts, and many other things to come here. However, let me tell you, this is the most deserving, the best thing you have ever done in your life. I am doing it with you together. We pray together to comfort them. We will use many methods, peaceful methods of course. Today, we will first sit at the Government House for a while. The place only allows a hundred people at a time, so we will take turns. You should go calmly, quietly, solemnly, mournfully, in a dignified manner. Let people know why we are here, that we will not stop until our objective is achieved. Afterwards, there will be other activities going on tomorrow. We will tell you tomorrow. That is all. Do you understand what to do? (we do!) Did they tell you about this? (Yes!)

The Refugees Are Comrades Of The Free Countries

I don't have much more to say. I just think we are here together to remind the world of humanities love. All religions teach people to be compassionate and loving, not to mention we are brothers and sisters. Furthermore, they just come to the free and rich countries begging for some food and a little security. They didn't do anything harmful to the free countries. They are comrades of the free world, bearing the same ideal, fighting for freedom! However, they are the bravest, because they risked their own lives. They have no weapons, no power and no wealth. Nevertheless, they risked their lives telling the world that liberty is the most precious, much more than life!
Should we have only life and no freedom, we are birds in the cage. No matter how beautiful and luxurious our life is, what is the meaning of it? They commit suicide, they protest, they tolerate all brutal attacks without resisting, in order to let us know--freedom is the most precious. How can we be so cruel to forsake them, ignore them, pretending not to know what they are saying? It doesn't take words to convey the meaning! We have enough to eat every day, have a good job, a steady family, and ample basic living necessities! They have nothing, not even freedom. If anyone oppresses a person or group who is peaceful and unarmed, then they are acting against God, against the Supreme Buddha! Understand?
Well, when we go there later, we should be sincere, today, tomorrow and every day. We must maintain this spirit when we sit, instead of making a big fuss. It is effective only if we have a magnificent and strong spirit inside, and then the world will understand what we are saying. Of course, we may shout some slogans, sing the Quan Yin Bodhisattva or Amitabha Psalms, the Hallelujah, and then sit down. Act fast, simply and swiftly. No matter what, don't chat when you are sitting. Pray to God, the Supreme Buddha to bless us, for a successful result in our humanitarian mission!

Conversation between the Supreme Master Ching Hai and the refugees outside the detention camps in Hong Kong.
(In Au Lac Language)
White Head Camp:

On April 29, fellow disciples rushed in from over twenty countries around the world. Led by Master, they came to the Whitehead and High Island Refugee Camps, extending their loving care to the refugees. Fellow practitioners from many countries, and representatives of concerned parties shouted slogans outside the wire fence, entreating the refugees to treasure their lives. Knowing that Master had arrived, the refugees in the camps gathered at the parade grounds, cheering hurrah to express their gratitude to Master. Although separated by the tightly enclosed fence and wall, the communication was harmonious and effective. The refugees could sense the intense and affectionate care. Their grudge to the oppression was greatly released, so for the time being they won't take radical protest actions. However, the hunger strike protesting against the forced repatriation is still going on...

(The following was Master's speech to the refugees outside the wire fence of the Whitehead Refugee Camp.)

Ladies and gentlemen, We have come here today to share with you in your suffering. In the past few weeks we have tried our best to pray for your freedom, that your desires for freedom would be realized. We also have had to work to communicate to others the information and the depressing letters that you have given to us. We have sent them to all the newspapers and any place that we could send them to. We have also sent thousands of letters to Governor Patten, to the United Nations in New York, in Geneva and in Hong Kong. We also sent letters to Mr. McCosh who is the chief of police here, expressing our anger and protest towards their action in suppressing you violently and barbarously on April 7th, 1994. Because we sympathize with your suffering, the wounds that are hard to heal and also the soul, therefore we are working day and night to share with you as well as to pray for you so that some day your wish will come true.
We are trying our best to contact the remaining countries which have not signed the agreement to force you home. So we have contacted many places but due to the red tape and politics of the world which make things very difficult, please forgive us, we feel very sad that in the past three years we have not been successful to help you find a third country for resettlement. Thus, you have to endure all this suffering till present. We feel very embarrassed and painful, so please understand and forgive us. Today we have heard that a number of fellow countrymen want to commit suicide to show that your deepest desire is the desire for freedom and not for bread and butter. Therefore we are here to express our love for you. Please do not destroy your precious body because of the heartless and inhumane politicians, because one more day to live is one more day to have hope. Maybe tomorrow or the next day or next month the world will change, please try to be patient and wait; in any circumstance our life is very precious, do not waste it by destroying it because you have already gone through a lot of suffering and hardship in order to come here. It's very hard to have this body. Our mother and our country have taken so much effort to protect and nurture us so that we could mature to have this body today. Please reconsider it! We who are on the outside are trying to do what you have asked us to do. Your protest letters have been sent to the newspapers in Hong Kong and in other countries and the world reaction was very positive. I really understand... your suffering makes me feel like I am suffering also, therefore everyone here is often crying and praying for you that one day you will have the basic freedom that everyone is entitled to. We also protest that the Hong Kong government has used a very barbaric means to suppress you and this is not suitable to human character.

(The refugees inside the camp shouted aloud.) Long Live The Supreme Master Ching Hai! Long Live! Long Live! Long Live!
(Outside the camp, Master and fellow practitioners answered back.) Refugees, Treasure Your Life!
We Love You! We Love You!
HIGH ISLAND:

(The refugees in the High Island camp shout:) Long Live The Supreme Master Ching Hai! Long Live! Long Live! Long Live!
We are determined to fight until the end! Determined! Determined! Determined!
We protest forced repatriation policy! Protest! Protest! Protest!
Long Live Freedom! Long live! Long Live! Long Live!

(Master and the people are outside the wall of the High Island Camp) (Reporter introduces Master:) Dear ladies, gentlemen and fellow countrymen, we are a group of reporters from Southern California. We are here today with Master Ching Hai to protest what the Hong Kong government have done. And we like to introduce to you Master Ching Hai.
(Master:) We respectfully send our greetings to all fellow countrymen. All brothers and sisters, all women and children, especially we are very sad to share with you your misfortune which happened on April 7th, 1994. We have done our very best and will continue to do our best to bring your message to every where in the world. And in the past few days we believe some people were perhaps very angry or felt like they had been pushed to a dead end. So they want to sacrifice and destroy their precious body to express their love for freedom. Therefore we urgently informed everywhere in the world. Those who could get passport or visa immediately came here to share with you your suffering. We don't know what else to do other than writing protest letters and sit in meditation all over the world to pray for you. And today everywhere in the world we have contacted all our fellow disciples and others to sit in meditation to pray for you and we also protest the inhumane policy of the Hong Kong government in the past few weeks. We have collected thousands of signatures from all over the world as well as from the Hong Kong people. And we will continue to get more signatures, to let the Hong Kong government understand that the Free World still love the refugees and do not want to see you being suppressed or forced to be repatriated until you volunteer to go back or until there is a country who will receive you and we are working our best to resolve this problem like we have been doing in the past few years. We have come here with our utmost important and urgent wish; that is to beg you to protest your precious life and do not commit suicide because you must remember tomorrow will be a new and bright day. Maybe tomorrow or the day after or next week, next month or next year Au Lac will change to a new face. We respectfully beg you to listen to our sincere suggestion and protect your life. (The refugee representative of the High Island refugee camp behind the barbed-wire fence:) Thank you very much, dear ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters who have come here to visit us outside the fence. There's a saying which goes, "the calabash please love the pumpkin, even though we are not of the same kind but we both grow from the same framework". We are the refugees. Some of us are disciples of Master Ching Hai. We are fighting in non-violence like Mr. Gandhi before for our refugee status that the Hong Kong government has refused us unfairly. Therefore all of us have gone against all threats, all danger to share and to accuse the terrorist action of raiding. The detention camp in Shatin, section 7, all of us in High Island camp always believe we fellow countrymen must love one another.
We believe that our body was created by God, we don't have the right to destroy it. We just use our will, our patience and persistence of the people who have raised against communism, who have raised to escape from the communist prison to find the free land. We vow to rise this body to demand for our freedom for us and for our later generations. All of us Au Lac boat people from High Island camp thank all of you.
(Master:) We feel we are not really worthy of it. In the past three years we have travelled from one country to another to negotiate an open door policy for the Au Lac refugee but perhaps our ability is limited therefore we did not succeed so you still have to suffer; we ask for your forgiveness. (At the end, refugees answer Master in faith:) With the will to fight of all the people here, with the will to work in cooperation of all the boat people in this camp we believe after the rain the sky will brighten up. We believe there will be a bright tomorrow.

Radio France International (RFI) Chinese 'Feature Program' reports on interviews carried out at the Hong Kong refugee camp.

Broadcast by Fan Hwa on May 10, 1994

All listeners, the violent action of the Hong Kong police against the Au Lac refugees at the White Head camp on 7th April 1994 has, again, aroused the people's attention on the problems of the twenty thousand odd Au Lac refugees. What is the present situation of these Au Lac refugees and what are the living conditions in the camp really like? How to solve the problem of resettling them? By using force to repatriate them? Should each case be individually dealt with, considering one's basic dignity and human rights be considered? Consequently, should a much more appropriate resolution be adopted? A better solution is needed because it involves people's basic dignity and the humanitarian aspect. Therefore, we especially interviewed the refugees from both the Hong Kong's White Head and High Island refugee camps. In today's feature program, we would like to introduce to you the situation of these refugees, and also, the International Supreme Master Ching Hai Meditation Associations' campaign on helping these refugees. All are welcome to listen in. The Au Lac refugees' problem in Hong Kong has been in existence for quite a long time now. Once the words 'boat people' are heard, people will immediately relate to those Au Lac refugees who fled to Hong Kong by risking their lives at sea. In recent years, some of the Au Lac refugees have been transferred out of Hong Kong by various means, including forced repatriation; now, there are still twenty some thousand of them in Hong Kong. They are mainly concentrated in the White Head and High Island detention centers.
In February this year, 32 nations convened in Geneva and signed an agreement on resettling the refugees. A decision was made to have this problem solved by 1995, forcing the process of repatriation to be speeded up. On hearing this, the Au Lac refugees naturally felt quite uneasy. On 7th April 1994, over 1000 Hong Kong policemen, equipped with gas masks, proceeded forcefully to repatriate 1500 refugees. A great tragedy was triggered in the end. According to what the Hong Kong media has revealed, the police utilized a few hundred cylinders of tear gas and hit the refugees with their batons, injuring a few hundred of them. Reacting to these violent actions, the Hong Kong governor, Governor Patten, has already ordered an investigation to be carried out. To understand what had truly happened and, also, the situation and living condition of the Au Lac refugees, we visited the White Head and High Island refugee camps around the end of April and the beginning of May 1994. First, we went to the High Island refugee camp which was located at a deserted place near the beach. From the distance, the iron gate and barbed-wired fences, inevitably, give a horrible and fearsome impression. We could only meet a few of those injured on 7th April in the visiting room because the police did not allow us to enter the rest of the camp. Even though it is officially named the visiting room, it is more like visiting prisoners in a prison cell. People sat on two sides separated by a row of wooden tables; our conversation was monitored by a policeman at the entrance of the room. We met an over-forty-year old Au Lac woman with her sons and daughters. After having been beaten by the police at the White Head camp, they had been transferred to the High Island camp.
She still suffered great pain from the injury on her waist; her eldest son's leg injury hampered his walking, and the scar on his leg is still visible; her younger daughter still suffered from blurred vision due to the tear-gas attack. Why did the police use violence? Was it because the refugees resisted violently? This woman told us that they did not engage in any violent acts whatsoever. And many injured refugees were victimized while at a loss as to what was happening; her daughter - whose eyes were badly damaged by the tear gas - still does not understand what had happened.
After the incident on April 7th, even though the Hong Kong police transferred the injured to the High Island camp for medical treatment as claimed, there are still a number of puzzling contradictions which emerged. For example, many among the injured had been burnt or torched to different degrees, but the department concerned did not supply the special medicine needed. On the other hand, those who wanted to give the injured some skin healing medicine were prevented from doing so by the guards. Did the department concerned underestimate the seriousness of the injuries or did they intentionally want to play down the response to the incident of April 7th? Up until now, nobody knows. Facing this mother of so many children-in their pitiful condition - we really felt helpless. We did not know what to do for them; we could only offer some fruit, hope that she could take care of herself and her children well, and hope for an early recovery from the injuries and illnesses for them all.
The tragic situation of the refugees in Hong Kong would have been ignored and forgotten by now if it were not for the insistence

• made by the Supreme Master Ching Hai to the international community - to pay attention to it. After the April 7th incident, the Supreme Master Ching Hai - and Her followers - the International Supreme Master Ching Hai Meditation Associations - immediately protested to the Hong Kong departments concerned against such violent acts. They urged everyone in the world to jointly be concerned about the fate of the Au Lac refugees. The Au Lac refugees felt utterly hopeless after the agreement (in February this year) of the 32 nation on the repatriation of all Au Lac refugees by 1995 and especially after the April 7th incident. In mid-April, they announced that there would be a mass suicide on April 30th.
  Their main slogans were "Would rather die than return to Au lac Communist rule" and "Groups would rather commit suicide together with the hopes, of gaining a no repatriation ruling for the last returning refugees". Amidst the determined threats of the Au Lac refugees', to commit mass suicide, some said, "Don't panic. This is not the first time they have threatened to commit mass suicide, in the end, they will not do it." Some news media thought, "Making known of the forthcoming mass suicides only intends to put additional pressure on the Hong Kong government. It will not become a reality." Nobody took their threats seriously except the Supreme Master Ching Hai who see things from an angle of mercy, humanitarianism and basic human rights. She strongly believes that preventive measures should be taken to avoid tragic consequences especially when it involves human lives. Moreover, on the 7th of April, there was a refugee - named Teng Yi Shern - who had already attempted to commit suicide by setting fire to himself. Fortunately, firemen arrived in time to put out the fire and saved his life. This shows that their threats of suicide were not empty threats!
  For the sake of the refugees' lives, the Supreme Master Ching Hai decided to quickly act in three ways to relieve this difficult situation. Firstly, She had promised to unconditionally donate five to six million US dollars to any country which would be willing to accept these refugees. If so, she would provide the airfare and resettling fees for all these refugees. Also, programs would be conducted in steps for job and skill training so as to make them independent. Secondly, She had initiated petitioning campaigns in many countries of the world to urge international societies to pay more attention to the Au Lac refugees' problem. Thirdly, two days before - that is, the 28th and 29th of April - of the critical date (30th April), She held a sit-in session in front of the Hong Kong Government Office as well as at both the White Head and High Island refugee camps. She goal up to use true sincerity to gain the sympathy of the departments concerned so that they could not carry out their plans of forced repatriation. For two days - April 28th and 29th - we followed Master Ching Hai to the Hong Kong Government Office and both the refugee camps. We saw more than 1300 people from different countries of the world adopting peaceful sit-in means to express their wishes, regardless of Hong Kong's very hot weather conditions. These people were from the USA, Australia, France, Germany, England, mainland China, Formosa, etc. Many of them were not bothered by the tedious travel arrangements, and left aside their jobs to travel long distances to Hong Kong with only the single purpose of finding ways and means to stop the April 30th tragedy from occurring. On seeing them having the spirit of sacrifice for the sake of others - praying sincerely form dawn to dusk; not knowing each other, but they were well-disciplined; peacefully meditating, not bringing any trouble to Hong Kong - many hearts were touched. It may very well be due to their sincere acts - which had brought some consolation to these refugees - that had prevented any tragedy form happening on April 30th.
  However, to protest against their possible repatriation, many refugees still carried out group hunger strikes. (to be continued on May 17th)

Feedback I

Echoes of the Trip in Hong Kong

Two Days In Hong Kong

By Fellow Initiate Chen In Taipei, Formosa

Two twenty-foot high fences with coils of barbed wire above and in between the inner and outer walls. This "Iron Curtain" fitted with bayonets is the wall surrounding the refugee camps. This type of wall is not only unseen in the prisons of democratic countries, but is also comparable to the Berlin wall or fences in Communist countries. With the Berlin wall demolished, this wall has become a "wonderful sight" of the democratic countries! If people are really treating the refugees properly, what is this gigantic and ugly wall for? What are we trying to fence? Our own conscience? Just because some disaster-stricken people came to us for help, we feed them like livestock and then blame them for not being contented? All these incredible happenings are occurring in democratic countries sponsored by the United Nations. Without being there in person, one cannot experience the struggle and terror behind those walls. We are very mistaken if we think that someone is taking good care of our suffering neighbours, the refugees. At one glance, we could see that there is not a single tree for shade in the entire camp. The enormous, dome-shaped sheet-metal barracks are like baking ovens in the daytime and like graves at night, coldly abandoned in a neglected and ignored corner, no matter how they cry and shout. Look at the wall and you can tell what is inside!
In this activity of pleading for the refugees, led by Master, many people put down their work or even quit their jobs, sacrificed their time and money, and came for the refugees. Actually, the refugees willingly put themselves in such distressful and suffering situations to nourish our love and courage. The refugees look as if they need our help, but in fact, they are virtuous people who are helping us to achieve compassion and merit. Master took this opportunity to teach us when we should be elegant and refined, and when we should be righteous and daring. She showed us how to act heroically. Throughout the demonstration, Master led us by maneuvering tactically. She acted like a chief commander. One wave of Her right arm and thousands charged. One wave of Her left arm, and all was quiet. In this way, Her soldiers did not become too exhausted or confused by charging too much, nor did they have low spirits after resting too long. The attacks were launched wave after wave, in perfect order. Although the soldiers were new in combat, they triumphed because of the experienced command of the general. All the major newspapers published the news of the refugees on their front pages. The much-publicized group suicidal action thus subsided. On one side, we observed Master's actions and learned how She skillfully deployed Her abilities to win public support.
The next day, Master again led us, this time launching a petitioning campaign. In the past, spiritual practitioners begged for food. We were begging for love along the streets. Through this activity, Master trained us to be humble, patient, and courageous. Most of us had never done such things in our lives. We were shy and inept in the beginning, but eventually we overcame our reservations and advanced bravely. We encountered many warm and fragrant moments. Some people held their thumbs up, showing their support, while others blessed us. An interesting phenomenon occurred during the signature drive; most people signed without consideration. They simply did it spontaneously according to their benign nature, without query or hesitation. We are grateful to Master for helping us to remove the shackles from our minds, renouncing our old habits, and greeting a new life. In a short period of forty-eight hours, Master guided us and showed us how to charge bravely, surpassing and elevating ourselves. Our minds were empty when we were charging forward. When we were resting, we couldn't help exclaiming that this was too fantastic, too perfect! There has never been a Master who could teach us so many things in less than forty-eight hours.

The Lesson Of Love By Fellow Initiate In Illinois USA (Originally in English)On the morning of the 29th, Master and us left for the refugee camp Whitehead #9. Thousands of people arrived outside of the camp which was surrounded by a metal wall and a 20 foot tall barbed wire fence. Even though we could not see each other's face we felt the love and bond between us as if we had been brothers and sisters before. With signs and banners, we shouted these words, recited the 5 names continuously, and sang holy songs. Almost every one wept. A few cried like babies. Even some policemen and journalists being so touched, shed a few tears. The more we practice and surrender to Master's teachings the more we discover how great Master is, how absolutely perfect Her Love and Her Wisdom are. During the past few days, Her works have saved many lives, and have let the suffering brothers and sisters in the camps know that many people out there still care about them, which has given them more hope to live on. Moreover, She helped raise the spiritual level of the Hong Kong people and the world, by awakening their compassion through Her example. Because of this opportunity, we, disciples, have learned the most precious lesson. That is the lesson of love and selfless charity.