Dornan’s Efforts to Help Praised

We, Vietnamese-Americans of Orange County, are writing to express our deep concern and outrage regarding the recent article, “Dornan Idea Blamed for New Exodus” (May 14) and editorial “Talking Before Thinking” (May 15).

The May 14 article blames the increase of “boat people” from Vietnam on Congressman (Robert K.) Dornan and his humanitarian proposal to study the idea of moving Vietnamese refugees from camps in Southeast Asia to Kuwait to help rebuild that war-torn country. This proposal would allow those refugees to avoid forced repatriation to the country they risked their lives to escape from.

The Vietnamese people have been leaving Vietnam by the thousands for many years, depending on the circumstances, which would include the weather and the lessening of security over their lives. Their reason for leaving is not to go to Kuwait, but rather because of a strong desire for freedom.

Mr. Alexander Casella claims that “what started out as a vote-getting gimmick in Orange County has ended up destabilizing Vietnam.”

It’s very interesting to learn that Mr. Casella, a special adviser to the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, a man who holds the lives of thousands of Vietnamese refugees in his hands, considers Vietnam stable!

Congressman Dornan need not resort to “gimmicks” to gain support of the Vietnamese people. He has had the strong support, admiration and appreciation of the Vietnamese community for many years, even before he became our congressman.

Your editorial on May 15 states, “His idea seems to have already raised false hopes among a desperate people.”

If we are talking about a “desperate people,” we should be looking at the reasons for their desperation, which is caused by the Communist government and the thinking and policies of the advisers to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, but certainly not Congressman Dornan, who only seeks to help a “desperate people.”

KY NGO

Santa Ana

This letter was signed by 13 other Vietnamese-American residents of Orange County.