Human Rights Organization

 

Last night, Nikki and I attended a Human Rights fundraising dinner coordinated by the Vietnamese Human Rights Organization of Oregon.  Nikki was invited as an honored guest.  The VHRO is a non-profit organization and it’s legitimate purpose is to support:

• Army Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) disabled veterans and their families
• People whose properties were extorted by the Communist gangs in Vietnam (VN)
• Human rights activists, religious leaders who have been jailed by the Communist regime in VN
• Children and women who have been sold for sex slavery abroad and victims of sexual attack and exploitation.

Tonight however, the fundraising event would focus on ARVN disabled veterans and their families, both living in VN.  Imagine if you were a member of the losing army from the VN war.  Imagine if you were injured to the point of life long disability.  Since the conclusion of that war in 1975, the veterans of ARVN living in VN have been victims of deliberate acts of human rights abuse.  The soldiers and their families have been tortured, raped, and denied any chance to heal and live in peace. 

The fundraiser last night was aimed to raise awareness and also to raise a significant monetary contribution to the victims.  I’m not sure how the money will find it’s way into the hands of the suffering but I do know the chairman of the Oregon VHRO, Vu Khoa, is a very passionate man with great ambitions.

The most memorable story I heard last night was from a renowned Vietnamese novelist who spoke about his escape from VN 32 years ago.  It was there that he left his parents and relatives to find a better way of living in America.  While he has certainly found a channel to freely express his ideas and feelings, there hasn’t been a day that goes by where he wishes he could share his success with his father in person.  He had vowed 32 years ago to never set foot in VN again until it abolishes communism altogether.  The tragic news of his father’s death 3 days ago still did not make him want to go home yet he loved his father dearly.  He said his father would have understood his absence. 

 The story reemphasized how horrible it must have been to live in VN after the war.  My dad told me of a story when he was on a date with my mom post 1975.  Government officials had grabbed him on the street and forced him on his knees as they cut his long hair and have my mom watch.  Long hair was not allowed because it’s an expression of rebellion.  In another story, my dad was jailed for playing the guitar in his own house.  The song that he was playing was on the Government’s list of banned music because it spoke of philosophies different from the Communist Government. 

It is these fundraisers and organized events that help make younger people like myself become more aware of such atrocities happening in the world.  I will vow to contribute in some significant way during my lifetime to promote human rights awareness and rid the world of human rights violations one case at a time.  That is the promise I came away with after last night.

For those of you who are interested in reading more, here is a short post to help you become better informed: http://www.vietnamhumanrights.net/Forum/Benge_061707.htm