All They Seek Is A New Home
Duong Thi Dinh, 34 years old, graduated from a teacher training school in Hanoi. She lost her teaching job after the Vietnamese authorities learned that her brother had been a squadron leader in the South Vietnamese Air Force. Duong escaped in January 1984 and says, "I have no future in Vietnam. I hope to be reunited with my brother in Los Angeles."
How Long Must They Wait?
Ho Quang Minh, 31 years old, a Hanoi architect, arrived in Hong Kong in March 1983. He once taught at an architectural college and earned a good salary. He was unhappy though because, "We have no freedom in Vietnam. A man cannot improve himself, he cannot think what he wants. The future of our country looks darker and darker so I decided to leave."
Pham Thi Mai, from Hai Phong, is 13 years old. Her father was sent to a New Economic Zone for seven years. "Because of this, I was discriminated against. I was not allowed to join any of the youth groups at school", she explains. Asked of her wishes, she says, "I want to go to a country where people will not look down on me."
Nguyen Mau Thich, 34 years old, was forced to leave a Da Lat theological seminary in 1975. And because of his former services to a U.S. army chaplain, he was not given any work by the Vietnamese Government. He made one abortive escape in 1980 but was caught and sent to prison for three years. Nguyen hopes for resettlement" in a country where I am allowed to complete my theological studies and become a priest."
Nguyen Luong, 80 years old, a fisherman, thought it was time to leave when the com- munist authorities began to confiscate his fish. Taking his son, daughter-in-law and four grand- children, he fled in his fishing boat and arrived in Hong Kong in September 1982. When asked where he would like to be resettled, he drew chuckles from listeners by replying, "Where there is liberty is my new country." Nguyen hopes his family will be given the chance to make a new life.
Bui Minh Phuoc, 23 years old, was refused a university education as the son of a former Saigon army officer. Until his escape in a small boat in September 1982, he was not permitted to work because of his father's former political connections. Bui says, "There is neither freedom nor future under communist rule. I wish I could be given the chance to make a new life in a free country."
Nguyen Tri Huynh, 37 years old, as a lieutenant in the South Vietnamese Army led his troops into battle against the Viet Cong. He was taken to a re-education camp in 1975 and passed through terrible ordeals in the following seven years. He was released in 1982 and made three escape attempts before finally succeeding in June 1984. Nguyen has a sister-in-law in the U.S. and hopes to resettle there.
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Nguyen Thi Thao, 18 years old, a Da Nang student, arrived in Hong Kong in April 1983 with her sister. "My parents advised us to leave because our country has nothing but a bleak future. It is unlikely that one can make any achievement in life under the present regime", she explains. Nguyen and her sister hope to join their brother in the U.S.