Au Lac - Chinese Newspaper May 6, 1994 (Originally in Chinese)
International Concern For Au Lac Boat People's Protesting Actions
U.S. Pleaded Hong Kong Government For Not Violently Sending Back
Asylum-Seeking Boat People
Hong Kong Security Stressed That The Repatriation Policy Remains Unchanged
Au Lac Boat People in Hong Kong detention camps continued protests and hunger strikes in objection to the Hong Kong's forced repatriation policy and have aroused the attention and concern of the US Government.
The US State Department had warned the Hong Kong Government not to use violence against the Au Lac refugees who are currently stranded in Hong Kong and seeking asylum.
The State Department said that the incident of the Hong Kong Government using force to suppress 1,500 Au Lac refugees in the Whitehead Detention Camp on 7th April, 1994 is under investigation and a report will be published on 10th June 1994. We are now waiting for this report.
The news bulletin - published by the State Department - indicated that the Hong Kong Government had confirmed that violence was used against the Au Lac refugees at the Satin Whitehead Detention Camp, in early April 1994. Thorough investigation is now underway to find out the cause of the incident, the extent of the violence used by the Hong Kong Government and the consequences that followed.
According to the report, of April 7, the Hong Kong Government had intended to relocate 1,500 refugees from the Whitehead Detention Camp to High Island Detention Camp. Some 1,200 policemen and jailers had used more than 500 canisters of tear gas against 1,500 refugees. More than 250 refugees were injured, amongst them were women, children and the aged who had no idea what was happening.
[Latest Hong Kong news]
With regard to the continued demonstrations and hunger strikes by the Au Lac boat people at Satin, Whitehead and High Island Detention Camps, the Hong Kong Security Secretary - Mr. Asprey - stressed on May 1, that the repatriation policy for the Au Lac boat people would not be changed. There is no doubt that those screened as “non-refugees” would be sent back to Au Lac.
According to Mr. Asprey, ever since the Hong Kong Government implemented the screening process in 1989, most of the Au Lac boat people - who were screened out of the 'refugee' status - had been repatriated back to Au Lac.
Regarding the recent demonstrations and hunger strike protests in the Whitehead and High Island Centers and their proclamation of suicidal intentions, Mr. Asprey said that they were closely monitoring the situation of the boat people. They would cautiously deal with the hunger strikes, and had also taken measures to handle the mass suicide threat made by the boat people.
Mrs. Ogata - Japanese Commissioner of the UNHCR - who had just visited Hanoi, told the news media that Hanoi Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam had reassured the United Nations that all refugees going back voluntarily would not be punished or ill-treated. She also made a further statement to say that all the refugee centers in Hong Kong would be closed by the end of 1995; and hence, all boat people in Hong Kong would be repatriated.
According to reports from Hong Kong: On April 30th and May 1st, more than a thousand Au Lac boat people in Whitehead and High Island Camps had conducted demonstrations and hunger strikes, strongly protesting against the forced repatriation policy of the Hong Kong Government. The Hong Kong Government had intensified their 24 hour surveillance on the activities of the boat people in each camp and were on full alert to prevent any riots. Fortunately, the Au Lac boat people in Whitehead and High Island Camps had responded to the appeals of many people from international meditation associations and finally dropped their plan of mass suicide, and were now resorting to an orderly demonstration and hunger strikes.
The latest news revealed that in the Whitehead and High Island Camps on May 1st there were still more than 1,500 boat people on protest and about 600 were on hunger strike.
The day before, over a thousand members of the meditation associations
The members of the meditation associations came from many nations to support the Au Lac boat people detained in Hong Kong, led by the Supreme Master Ching Hai. They held a procession around the refugee camps - displaying their banners and slogans - and at the same time, shouted slogans, sang holy songs, and prayed for the refugees. The peaceful demonstration ended at about 6.00 p.m. that day.
Au Lac Boat People Pham Van Chau In Galang Island Dead Of Self-Immolation Protesting Against Forced Repatriation Unexpected Incident Shocked Whole Indonesia
Jakarta News:
When the Security Superintendent of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry
inspected the Galang Island Refugee Camp last weekend, he was gravely
shocked to see a 39-year-old Au Lac boat person burn himself in protest
against the forced repatriation policy. The burning man was sent
immediately to a nearby hospital for resuscitation, but he eventually died.
This incident shocked various countries' diplomatic communities in
Indonesia, and it showed that the forced repatriation policy should be
reviewed.
Aged 39, the Au Lac boat man, Pham Van Chau, first joined the hunger strike on April 29th. When the Security Superintendent accompanied by UNHCR officials were inspecting the camp, he suddenly stood out, poured gasoline on his body and set himself on fire. As the incident occurred so rapidly, the security staff were not able to react quickly enough and the officials were terrified by the act. Later, Mr. Pham was brought to a hospital on the island outside the camp for emergency treatment. Eventually, he died of severe burns.
At present, there are ten thousand boat people on Galang Island. Among them, 8,000 were screened out and would be repatriated by force. Protesting against this inhumane action, 400 recently went on hunger strike. As of last weekend, 150 boat people - on hunger strike - had collapsed because of fatigue, and were sent to a hospital for treatment. The hunger strike still continues.
In the Tai A Chau refugee camp in Hong Kong, 28 Au Lac boat people - holding R.O.C. passports - were classified by the Hong Kong Government as "non-refugees" due to the screening process. They are now facing forced repatriation. For their sake, a few days ago, the senior consultant of the Hai Ninh Association, Mr. Ma Zhao Jiang, Director Ho Ky, Superintendent Xu Hsing Xiang and Chief Secretary Wang Fu Hsing submitted a namelist and petition from these people to the Director of the Chinese Culture Center of the CCNAA office, Teng Yi Hsiung. They requested him to relay the message to President Li Teng Hui and the Minister of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, John H. Chang hoping that the R.O.C. Government would render help so that they would not be forcibly repatriated and give them an abode.
28 Au Lac Boat People Holding ROC Passports, Screened Out As "Non-Refugees", Facing Forced Repatriation The Leader Of Hai Ninh Community Association Pleads With The Chinese Culture Center Of The CCNAA Office They Pray That President Li Teng Hui And The Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission Will Render Help In Time
Los Angeles News:
In their petition, the petitioners - including Chen Xi Hua, etc. - stated that they bore no grudges against the R.O.C. Embassy for not evacuating them - when Saigon fell - as they were leaving hurriedly. However, when the Au Lac Communist Regime later deported them, they could not get approval from the R.O.C. Government to come to Formosa just because they had lived in the Communist territory for over six months; and now, they had become 'boat people'. Since they were holding R.O.C. passports, they were treated as “non-refugees” and would be forcibly repatriated. On the other hand, the Au Lac Communists had also refused their re-entry, citing that they were “foreigners of R.O.C. nationality”. The UNHCR had even hinted to them, to abandon their nationality secretly and pretend to be Au Lacese, and then apply to be sent back Au Lac voluntarily... They felt that they were like “human balls”, being kicked around by people. This made them feel very distressed and angry.
After Boat Person Ngo Van Ha Attended Hearing
House Of Representatives Urged State Department
To Inform Hong Kong Government
To Temporarily Stop The Forced Repatriation Of The Boat People
And Agree That The Screening Policy Of The Refugee Status Is Wrong
Washington News:
Mr. Akeman - the Chairman of the House of Representatives, Asia
Pacific Section - after listening to the Au Lac youth boat person, Mr. Ngo
Van Ha, who attended the hearing last week, on the spot demanded that the
State Department Refugees Committee Chairman - Ms. Ohenkli - quickly inform
the Hong Kong Government to temporarily stop the forced repatriation of Au
Lac boat people.
Au Lac - Chinese Newspaper May 6, 1994
28 Au Lac Boat People Holding ROC Passports, Screened Out As "Non-Refugees", Facing Forced Repatriation The Leaer of Hai Ninh Community Association Pleads With The Chinese Culture Center Of The CCNAA Office They Pray That President Li Teng Hui And The Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission Will Render Help In Time
Director Ho Ky of the United States Hai Ninh Community Association, besides submitting a namelist of the 28 Au Lac refugees holding R.O.C. passports and their petition, has also written to President Li Teng Hui asking him to help these R.O.C. passport-holders. We will be most grateful if approval is granted. The following is the namelist of the 28 Au Lac boat people holding R.O.C. passports and their petition to President Li Teng Hui:
To: President Li Teng Hui
Your Excellency,
We are a group of R.O.C. passport-holders who are lost in the refugees
camps of Hong Kong. After an unfair screening by the Hong Kong Government,
we are classified as 'non refugees' and we face the ill-fate of forced
repatriation.
Before 1975, we were holders of valid R.O.C. passports which were issued by the R.O.C. Embassy in Au Lac. We also have Foreign Resident Visas issued by the Home Affairs Ministry of the Republic of Au Lac. These documents prove that we are overseas nationals of R.O.C. and have legal right of abode in Au Lac.
After the fall of Saigon into Communist hands, the military authorities ordered us to report to them. As we did, the Au Lac Communist Overseas Resident Bureau confiscated our R.O.C. passports instead. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, R.O.C. severed their diplomatic relationship with the Communist Au Lac, closed their embassy, and ceased to issue any passport or certificate to overseas Chinese. Later, the Au Lac Overseas Resident Bureau gave us Overseas Resident Certificates, which was all the while our only proof of our original Formosan identity.
As our ambassador left Au Lac in a hurry in 1975, they had no time to evacuate overseas nationals. We understand very well the situation during the war. We never complained being unable to flee from the Communists. Later, the Communist Au Lac regime tried to expel us - the dangerous 'Opposition Jaing Gang' - out of the country; so, they arranged departure procedures for us. However, we were refused entry by our own nation; the reason being: according to the Law, any person - having resided in a Communist country for over six months - is forbidden to apply for abode in Formosa unless they have direct relatives in Formosa, or they themselves are members of the K.M.T. party, or Overseas Chinese Leaders, or staff of principal grades in overseas Chinese schools. As we were none of the above, abode in Formosa was denied. We were refused entry by our own country with the above excuses. It was indeed a rare example of rejecting overseas nationals. Should the R.O.C. Government have accepted us, we could have escaped the disastrous ransack by the Au Lac Communists.
We are a group of patriotic overseas Chinese. Affected by the war, we have no outstanding performance in community affairs; but our pure loyalty to China never fades. More than ten years have elapsed after the fall of Au Lac; we were denied protection from our home country. The Au Lac Communists persecuted us at will; we could only endure. Most importantly, our next generation cannot receive the education of Chinese culture. Our future has been entirely destroyed by the absolutely inhumane Au Lac Communist regime! Our loss - both in mental and material aspects - are beyond calculation.
As prisoners in a strange land, we have been detained for many years. Recently, we were all classified as “economic refugees” by the screening process of the H.K. Government. We have written demanding help from our free motherland and explained our situation to the relevant departments. However, there was no decisive reply. Some of us, because of individual special reasons, have voluntarily registered to go back to Au Lac. However, they were refused by the Au Lac security officials posted at H.K., the reason being: they are Formosa nationals - foreigners - not our nationals! So, we can see the Au Lac Communists still bearing hostility towards us and are reluctant to take back anybody whom they think are “harmful” to them. The UNHCR handled our problem in a even more ridiculous way. They asked us to secretly abandon our “nationality”, pretend to be Au Lac people and then re-apply to go back to Au Lac. This is a big joke and a naive way of reasoning. Anyway, we are dignified and imposing Chinese. We have vowed never to return to the Au Lac Communist inferno and be sacrificed under the Au Lac Communist dictatorship!
We shouldn't be kicked around as “human balls”, nor are we willing to
go back to Au Lac as “a person without nationality”, persecuted by people
randomly! Our situation now is critical. Desperate and helpless, we wrote
and signed a letter together, requesting the United States Hai Ninh
Community Association
This is the complete list of R.O.C. passport-holders who are detained presently at Tai A Chau Detention Center in Hong Kong:
Tan Le Lam Min Hue Mau Hung Kien Bang Ly A Siu Fou Seng Fang Ly Ni Cuong Tsa Liang Ken Ung A Siu Liu Thinh Sang Mao Khi Sam Tsan The Wa Tran Nhu Mui Dam Ngoc Luong Le Thanh Ly Hue My Tcheou (Chou) Ngu Muoi Truong Quoc Quqen Ha Lieng Ninh Lieu Tu Phung A San Lau Ngoc Anh Luc Hao Buu Chau Cun Bau Lieu Cal Oai Ly Thanh Cuong Ung Lam Muoi Ha Tu Muoi Lieu Ngu
Au Lac - Chinese Newspaper May 6, 1994
Director Ho Ky Says That The Hai Ninh Community Association Will Carry On Regarding The Fate Of Au Lac Boat People In Hong Kong. Enquired three times by telephone the situation in the camps on April 30, and sent petitions to the United States, England, Hong Kong and United Nations requesting that refugees be given a chance.
According to Director Ho Ky, over 200 Au Lac Chinese Hai Ninh compatriots - now detained in the refugee camps in Hong Kong - are still on hunger strike, protesting against the repatriation. They will not stop until after the Geneva convened International Refugee Conference, to be held on June 1,2,3, is over. He says that the local Au Lac, Cambodian and Laotian communities are much concerned about this matter. The Hai Ninh Association has written to the U.S. States Department, the British Government, the Hong Kong Government and the UNHCR, asking them to give the boat people in Hong Kong another chance, rescreen them, instead of implementing the forced repatriation policy. He also hopes the R.O.C. Government will accept the twenty-eight Au Lac Chinese refugees in the camps who are holding R.O.C. passports.
Ho Ky says that all the refugee camps in Hong Kong are on high alert these few days. Even the telephone lines to the camps are barred by operators, who would not allow him to speak to the boat people. The Hong Kong Government is also employing measures to soothe the refugees. Although they don't promise to cancel the repatriation, they agree to do their best. The U.S. Hai Ninh Community Association held a press conference at noon on April 28th regarding the mass suicide plan of the Au Lac boat people in Hong Kong on April 30th, condemning the forced repatriation. Director Ho Ky has appealed to people in all communities to use their individual influence in supporting the refugees, and has pleaded with the refugees to cancel the suicide operation and to wait for further help.
These past three years, Ho Ky in directing the Association, has persistently pleading everywhere for the boat people in Hong Kong as well as giving them mental and material support. He has personally visited the detention camps in many places to appreciate the true situation. He reprimanded the Hong Kong Police for using undue violence against the Whitehead Camp Au Lac boat people, particularly against the elderly, the women and children. This was indeed inhumane! He also demanded that all the overseas Au Lac Chinese, who have relatives in the camps, should waste no time in approaching the immigration department of the country they reside in to sponsor their relatives to enter that country, and to sponsor all their living expenses.
The Hai Ninh Community Association
2221 Johnston St., Los Angeles, CA 90031. Tel: (213) 221-4902
When the world is rejoicing over imminent destruction of Communism, our Nung tribesmen of Chinese descent are facing forced repatriation by the Hong Kong Government to go back to the grip of their deadly enemy - Au Lac.
A concrete fact - well-known to the world - is that the four thousand Au Lac Nung tribesmen of Chinese descent, now detained in the Hong Kong camps, themselves or their fathers or brothers had served in the French, American or Au Lac Republic armies, that fought the Communists, and had contributed an immense sacrifice in defence of freedom and democracy.
Following the withdrawal of the South Au Lac Government and the American forces, the Nung tribesmen became the most afflicted and direct victims. They suffered political persecution and labour punishment more severely than any other tribes. This is a fact well Known by the world. Having no assurance of their livelihood and lives, they desperately fled to the surging ocean to look for a new life regardless of the deadly dangers.
However, the Hong Kong Government initiated the screening policy on June 15, 1988. Not realizing or ignoring the historical background of the Nung Chinese, most of them were classified as “economic refugees” after the screening. Although they had an opportunity to appeal, most of them were rejected with unjustifiable reasons. This unfair screening process by the Hong Kong Government is the cause of the recent chain of demonstrations, hunger strikes and protesting activities.
In 1993, the International Human Rights and Amnesty Organization had launched an intensive investigation into Au Lac, probing the human rights situation under the Communist regime. According to their written report, the Nung tribesmen were still under the discrimination and persecution of the Communist Au Lac authorities. This report was published by an authoritative international organization, and we have no doubt about its authenticity. Truly, the free world can today stop the red torrent of Communism, and even force it to the edge of destruction; the Nung tribe freedom-fighters played an important role in the prolonged and draining Au Lac war. Their meritorious contribution in preventing Communism from engulfing the world cannot be ignored. Consequently, deep animosity has been ingrained into their relationship with the Au Lac Communists; their peaceful co-existence seems to be really impossible.
Enjoying the peace today, the whole humankind should express their gratitude by extending a helping hand to the Nung tribesmen of chinese descent and supporting their righteous demand!
The Hai Ninh Community Association in the United States of America.
May 22, 1994, California.
Au Lac - Chinese Newspaper May 20, 1994
Born in Au Lac and recently residing in Formosa, the Supreme Master Ching Hai - with all Her compassion - has initiated an all-out support of the Au Lac boat people who are Her countrymen. She toils everywhere, striving for the rights of the boat people. She gives money as well as effort. With great compassion, She launched the activity of “Refugees be brave! Don't die!” She and Her disciples conducted a peaceful sit-in outside the Formosa Legislation House on April 29th, praying for the suffering boat people. As a result, they won the earnest supportive signatures of the entire R.O.C. community. Political leaders, who signed in support, are Chao Shao Kang, Kao Yu Jen, Lin Cheng Chieh, Chen Che Nan, Lee Chin Yung, Kao Wei Ho, Yeh Hsieu Hsien, Chao Hsiu Wa, etc. This spectacular namelist shocked the Hong Kong Government and the UNHCR.
On April 7th, with the consent of the UNHCR, the Hong Kong Government sent in a large force of police and CSD staff to forcibly relocate the Au Lac boat people in the Whitehead Detention Center to another detention center to await repatriation to Au Lac. The boat people refused, and were beaten up. Many unarmed children and women couldn't escape either. Consequently, more than two hundred boat people were injured. The world was shocked! Even the Hong Kong media reported this most tragic event. As a result, the boat people planned a solemn and stirring mass suicide action for April 30th, the day commemorating the fall of Au Lac into Communist hands. Au Lac, Cambodia and Laos, and their members are very concerned about the situation. The Hai Ninh Community Association in the United States, together with the Zhong Xing News and our press have appealed to all overseas Au Lacese Chinese organizations to respond unanimously to save these suffering helpless Au Lac refugees.
Mr. Ho Ky, Director of the Hai Ninh Community Association, has been striving hard everywhere on behalf of the Au Lac boat people in Hong Kong. He hopes that some countries in the world will accommodate boat people, giving them a chance to live in freedom once more after all the deadly dangers they've undergone. Besides, Mr. Zhu Bang Sheng, a disciple of the Supreme Master Ching Hai in Los Angeles, visited our press on Tuesday morning, affirming our mutual intention of supporting the cause of the Au Lac boat people in Hong Kong.
Powerful group submits protest to the Hong Kong Governor,
accusing the Hong Kong Police and CSD staff of treating
the Au Lac boat people brutally.
Compensation is demanded.
In a press conference, Refugee Concern, a group very supportive of the boat people, announced officially to the public the findings of their independent meticulous investigation. They proved that the Hong Kong Police and CSD staff indeed brutally beat up the unarmed children and women boat people at Whitehead Camp last month. The Group submitted the report to the Hong Kong Governor demanding justifiable compensation for the harm done to the boat people.
According to reports, Governor Patten has also ordered an investigation to find out the truth about the incident. The Hong Kong Government admitted that only one casualty was incurred in this Whitehead relocation incident, and even accused the reporter of a newspaper for falsely reporting that hundreds of boat people were injured. Actually, Refugee Concern, a group very supportive of the boat people, has already acquired concrete evidence that over three hundred refugees were injured unnecessarily. In their accusations submitted to Governor Patten, they severely reproached Commissioner Assadi of UNHCR in Hong Kong, who was informed by the Government in advance that Police and CSD forces would carry out the forced camp relocation, yet Mr. Assadi did not try to stop the operation. On the contrary, he consented entirely ... apparently, being on the side of the violent authorities.
Crying Souls Wronged In Whitehead Camp Who Could Tolerate No More Vaguely Heard Formosan People, Trying To Save Them
For three consecutive days, our paper has published articles "severely reprimanding the Hong Kong Government for violently suppressing the Au Lac refugees." Support was gathered from every corner of the country. About a million people participated in the signature campaign protesting the forced repatriation of Au Lac boat people. However, the Hong Kong Government have stuck firmly to their course of treating the refugees brutally, increasing their agony; hence, driving the refugees to towards choosing death. Yesterday, the Hong Kong Eastern Daily News and Sing Pao News reported mass suicide incidents in the refugee camps. This greatly upset us. Can it be true that the Hong Kong Government is so cold-blooded, and will not stop until the refugees eventually die? A proverb says, "Saving one life could earn one infinite merit." We appeal to all righteous people: please, do your best to help and support them through these suffering days. Encourage them to treasure their lives and to bravely live on.
According to the reports in the Sing Pao News and Eastern Daily News in Hong Kong yesterday, the number of refugees who committed mass suicide has increased gradually to forty-three at the Satin Whitehead Detention Center. They cut open their abdomens and arms with sharp instruments, and deliberately injured their heads to protest against the forced repatriation of boat people to Au Lac. Due to the large number of casualties, a long queue quickly appeared in the emergency department of the Satin Prince of Wales Hospital.
At eleven o'clock yesterday morning, the CSD staff of the Whitehead refugee camp found that twenty-seven refugees had cut their abdomens and arms with razors, or slammed their heads against the wall, causing injuries. Paramedics were summoned immediately to dress their wounds on the spot. Four of them were treated at the hospital, discharged, and brought back to the camp by the CSD staff. The rest were hospitalized for observation. At around noon, again, more than a dozen refugees were found with head and abdomen injuries. Again, the authorities called ambulances to bring them to the hospital for treatment.
To spokesperson of the Security Secretariat said that the Government was concerned about the incidents of Au Lac boat people in the camp injuring themselves. However, it was stressed again that any action by the boat people could not alter the repatriation policy decided by the Government.
We wonder how many refugees the Hong Kong Government intend to force to their death? Should they all kill themselves one by one? Solving the refugee problem in such an inhumane way is extremely cruel, provoking wrath from heaven to earth! Life is priceless. The Hong Kong Government should no longer ignore the right of existence of the refugees than let them commit suicide one by one. These refugees protest Hong Kong Government's forced repatriation by committing suicide. The Hong Kong Governor, Mr. Patten, should be responsible for this “wrong policy”, and should stop all this violence and inhumane repatriation. They should counsel and comfort the refugees to treasure their lives, and look for a third country to accept the refugees. This is what a responsible Hong Kong Government should do. The brutal incident at the Whitehead Camp on April 7th must not repeat itself. If Governor Patten can order the suspension of the repatriation, allow international philanthropists to help them, find a country that would accept them, give them another chance to live, then Mr. Patten would still be held in high regard. Why must he repeatedly emphasize repatriating them? All the disciples of the Supreme Master Ching Hai of R.O.C. are working hard to try to bring new life to the refugees. Why must the Hong Kong Government be so anxious to repatriate them at all cost? Governor Patten has braved the barbarous pressures of Communist China, negotiated with them to implement democracy in Hong Kong, established the Legislative Council providing self-administration to the Hong Kong people. All these have been positively acknowledged by world's critics. However, he is now being severely criticized for the forcible and brutal repatriation of the Au Lac refugees, horrifying the whole world. In the mean time, Governor Patten should reinstate social justice. The life and death of the refugees are in your hands, Mr. Patten. Treat them nicely, then you will be rewarded with blessings later on. Here, the reporters pray that the refugees will overcome this dilemma, treasure their lives, and secure a new life. We also appeal to the world: please, extend to the refugees your helping hand of justice.
The International Federation For Human Rights and The World Cultural Communication Association together invite all enthusiastic persons to the International Human Rights Conference to be held at the Taipei International Convention Center on Wednesday evening, May 25th, at 7:30 p.m. The aim of the conference is to save the Au Lac refugees, announce the World Human Rights Proclamation, and reinstate international justice and humanitarianism. We hope all righteous people will participate earnestly. For equerries, please call (02) 3937678, or fax to (02) 3979085. The conveners respectfully invite VIP's, political and economic leaders from all nations, and international organizations to attend. Address: City Hall 3rd floor, No. 1, Section 5, Xin Yi Road, Taipei.