COUNTYWIDE : A Protest on Behalf of Refugees

About 500 people held a noisy but peaceful demonstration in Westminster’s Little Saigon on Sunday to protest the forced repatriation of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong.

The marchers, mostly Vietnamese-Americans from Orange County, waved placards and banners denouncing a recent agreement between British authorities in Hong Kong and the Communist Vietnamese government. The Oct. 29 agreement provides for the forced repatriation of all Vietnamese in Hong Kong who are found to be economic rather than political refugees.

Many marchers said they felt a responsibility to speak up on behalf of the refugees.

Richard Thanh Vo--who was carrying a sign that read, “Human conscience where are you?--said it is time to ask “Congress to do something to protect human rights” of the refugees. “They always talk about that,” he said.

“(President) Bush and (U.S. Secretary of State James) Baker have not lifted a finger to stop this. . . ,” said Chuyen Van Nguyen, vice chairman of the Vietnamese Community of Southern California, which organized the morning march. Nguyen said the U.S. government should try to help the Vietnamese refugees resettle safely in Vietnam.

During the march, which took place on Bolsa Avenue between Moran and Brookhurst streets in Little Saigon, passing motorists honked in support of the demonstrators. Meanwhile, a group of organizers in a pickup truck led marchers in songs or cheers while driving slowly ahead of the line of people.

Vietnamese refugees “should be given a chance to come here,” said 17-year-old Anh Ha of Orange, waving a miniature South Vietnam flag during the march. Ha said she fears for her aunts, uncles and grandparents who live in Vietnam and who want to immigrate to the United States.

The two-hour rally was also held to denounce the opening of talks between the United States and Vietnam over re-establishing formal diplomatic relations. Organizers said they want to see democratic elections in Vietnam before the United States normalizes relations with the Communist government.

Westminster police, who helped control traffic along the route when protesters crossed intersections, said there were no problems along the protest route.