Doctor Who Hosted Vietnam Communists Is Picketed

Co Pham, a gynecologist and president of the local Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce, has become the target of bitter protest after he hosted a delegation from Vietnam’s Communist Party at his home.

About 50 Little Saigon residents stood in front of Pham’s Bolsa Avenue office on Friday, calling for a boycott of his medical practice. They carried signs that read “No Business with Oppressive Hanoi Regime” and “No Democracy in Vietnam, No Trade.”

“Co is a betrayer of our county,” said 55-year-old Cuong Doan of Westminster, who began a three-day hunger strike Thursday as an added protest. “How could he in good conscience advocate for business as usual in Vietnam when so many of our citizens are suffering? He wants to bring business into Vietnam but as refugees who left an oppressive government, we could never accept that.”

Friday’s protest was the second of a planned three-day demonstration by many who believe the United States should oppose any economic overtures to the Vietnamese government until democracy is restored in Vietnam.

Pham, who supports lifting the U.S. trade embargo against Vietnam, said that his meetings were intended to acquaint the communist regime with the economic benefits of operating within a democratic form of government.

“The only way we can expedite reform is through democracy,” Pham said. “I think (the protesters) have misunderstood what I was trying to do.”

Visitors to his home last weekend included Le Van Bang, Vietnam’s ambassador to the United Nations, and two economic advisers to the Vietnamese government.

“I took them on a tour of Little Saigon, and they were impressed with what the Vietnamese people had done here,” Pham said.

“But some people are too emotional,” he said, referring to the protesters. “They have lost their families and they have lost their dream in Vietnam.

“I have found a new country here and a new dream,” Pham said. “I will continue to speak my mind.”

Although there were fewer demonstrators Friday than Thursday, those gathered outside Pham’s office were just as vocal.

Binh Nguyen, 31, of Garden Grove led jeers until her voice grew hoarse. She said that Pham “plays only a small role in all of this. If it was only he who’s advocating that sanctions be lifted, then maybe we wouldn’t be so concerned.

“But there are many more out there who are like him,” she said. “They’re not as well-known in the community and we need to send the message out that their line of thought will not be tolerated by those who are against communism.”

Nguyen said many in the crowd had suffered losses when they left Vietnam, be it a home or loved ones.

“How could you ask us to support a government that caused that loss?” she asked. “The Communists killed our spirit and hope; we will not support them financially. It perplexes me how someone like Dr. Co can come here, make lots of money off the community and can turn against that community by saying we should reach out and extend a friendly hand to the Communist government.”

Although initially worried about his safety, Pham said Friday that he was not angry with the demonstrators.

“I wish they knew more about what I am doing,” he said. “I think I did a lot for the people of Vietnam by having them here.”