Child Refugees,
I Pay Respect To You
We all know that everything on this earth is made by God, but depending on its predestination, things are born into many different countries and are of many different levels of consciousness. The highest level on this earth is the human being. Fortunately, God gave them a brain to reason nobly and also a kind, generous heart in order to help and to beautify each other for this planet Earth.
But, it's too sad that there are some countries that treat their brothers so badly that they are deprived of basic human rights, that they use their own positions and power to create many different systems to oppress each other. Therefore, the words "seeking refuge" have been created in the world. However, some countries let their relatives become wanderers in a strange land with complete disregard and no understanding of what shame is. It is painful to see that a few people must carry the heavy burden of the words "seeking refuge" upon their shoulder to their neighboring countries, begging for the least freedom of mankind that they cannot find in their own country.
How turbulent it has been for the country Vietnam throughout the 20th century, an unforgettable century that nobody wants to ever remember. A pitiful century during which many people leave their own country, their native land, their birth place, carrying this overburdening piece of luggage and sadness from within. These things should not have happened in the first place, but now even an innocent child cannot refuse such hardship, they have to carry on their fragile shoulders such deep sorrow to leave home in search of a life which can be said of the least human dignity
Due to the noble love of mankind, for more than a decade, the Philippines had opened its kind heart, receiving these Au Lac asylum seekers without a complaint. Just like a ferry, it had delivered and escorted them to seek freedom which they could not find in their own country.
This marvelous good deed of the Philippines in the 20th century is a mark in the world's history. However, through many ups and downs in history, they're still unable to change the outcome of dictatorship, and are repeatedly making same mistakes. This is something we can't help wonder, why did the Philippines, after so many years of kindness, suddenly change its policy?
The children are really the pure ones, the souls that represent the godlike quality. As we know the children had to leave their parents. Written on their face is the grief of ill-treatment by their country. They escaped looking for love and a meaningful life.
Even with their innocent heart, knowing nothing, they have to accept themselves as the lonely asylum seekers in a foreign country, in the name of “freedom” and “human rights” that they never found in their own country. How painful it is for their noble souls, that they are now destitute. How sorrowful! My heart is saddened for them.
A huge mist of doubtful bureaucracy covers the generous heart of the Philippines. They cannot decide the policies as they wish. When they carried out the policies at the refugee camp in the Philippines, they looked easy outside but inside it seemed that they couldn't bear those unmerciful actions.
They're isolated in separate houses surrounded by a high barbed-wire fence and situated within a secured gate guarded by an uncountable number of security guards. Even though they are much taller and bigger, they still carry tons of arms, that I could not even carry, in order to deal with these innocent children. Oh, dear world! Please calm down and take a careful look to see to what level of civilization we have progressed!
They're using such low level means to handle these unaccompanied minors. Soldiers are pointing their guns at these children who wear clothes that are worn out after many years of being in the camp, and they can only defend themselves with their soft empty hands that lost their parents' care. A child, when under siege by the police and the army for trying to protect his basic ideals and freedom, has no other way but to point his own knife into his heart saying, “If you try to approach, I will kill myself.” This suffering, helpless plea from the child is so distressful that it has made many people shed tears, but there is no way to save the child.
Some children were having their meal in the meditation center when the soldiers came storming in, ready “to hunt such little bait”. They attacked, halfway through the meal while these children were enjoying their blessed food given by the loving God. They captured these little children who still had their mouths full. Not having time to swallow, unable to cry out, the weak children were furiously dragged away.
The mediation center is a place for the Supreme Master Ching Hai's disciples to move about. They are just practitioners, always think of God and nothing else. Nevertheless, these police still keep an eye on them. The good noble deeds of the Supreme Master Ching Hai are known throughout the whole world nowadays. Especially the U.S.A., this leading nation, honored Her with a great 'Ching Hai Day'. Yet this little country, the Philippines, treats Her disciples so strictly. Her disciples only want peace of mind so as to return to God. They watch Her preaching video tapes, yet never for a second are the police absent. The Supreme Master Ching Hai's disciples ask the police why does a country that allows freedom of religion, restrain these practitioners? The officers answer that they do not want to do so but they do because they have to protect their belly, they have to obey the order of their superiors.
For what reason, under what pressure has the Philippines had to abandon their good, noble deeds that they have maintained for more than a decade?
Today this land of refuge, the Philippines, is soaked with suffering and painful tears. Who knows if it can be dried up tomorrow. How sad it is!
Everyone on this earth knows that tears and weeping are bestowed upon us by God at birth, yet we must cling to it throughout our life.
Little refugees, my brothers and sisters! Even though tears fill my eyes, I pay respect to you with a holy smile. Ý
On July 21, 1994, UNHCR officials, escorted by Philippine soldiers, conducted a house-to-house search for unaccompanied minors to be repatriated on July 28. According to eyewitnesses, a number of minors went into hiding as the repatriation was against their will. Two of them were later captured and detained in a "monkey house" until their transfer to a fenced-off section of Palawan Camp. Seven are reportedly still in hiding. In order to force these minors out from hiding, the UNHCR and the Camp Administration had cut their food rations. Two days later, the rations were reinstated but the minors did not dare to come home, fearing a trap.
Following are excerpts from some of the petitions sent to overseas relatives and organizations calling for help.
Letter of Luong Ky Vuong, dated July 24, 1994: "My two brothers Luong Si Nhan (PS 1008, DOB 1977) and Luong Trieu Phat (DOB 1979) cannot go back to Vietnam since we do not have any relatives besides our grandparents who are very old and not in a position to take care of us. My brothers had to hide from the UNHCR officials and the Philippine soldiers who had been out searching for them to force them to return to Vietnam. Those officials threatened to remove our names from the camp's roll if my brothers did not report to the UNHCR. My brothers are still in hiding and in fear."
Letter of Tran Thi Tuyet Loan, PS (2041) dated July 25, 1994: "I had to evade the forced repatriation on July 21, 1994 for the following reason: I am married to Truong Toa (PS 2044), and we have a son Tran Truong Hao Nam. We were not yet qualified to apply for a marriage certificate since the required age is 19 or older, and I am 18. Since my husband was away, I went to the UNHCR's Social and Welfare Department to request the permission to stay with my husband since I could not return to Vietnam without my husband. However, the UNHCR disregarded my pleas. On July 21, these officials came to my hut when we were not there and threatened to punish others in the hut by taking away their food rations if my child and I did not turn ourselves in...."
Letter of Van Tan Vu, an orphaned minor, dated July 26, 1994: "Currently the UNHCR has implemented many measures of coercion to make me return to Vietnam against my will, such as cutting food rations, asking Philippine soldiers to track me down..., I am living in fear and urgently ask you to please intervene on the behalf of an unfortunate child abandoned by society."