Vietnamese Ambassador Draws Protest

A speech by Vietnam’s ambassador to the United States on Tuesday night sparked a boisterous demonstration by at least 500 chanting protesters who lined the streets and parking lot at the Radisson Plaza Hotel.

Carrying placards that read “Human Rights for Vietnam” and “Communists Are Evil,” the demonstrators protested the appearance at the hotel of Ambassador Bang V. Le before a gathering of the World Affairs Council of Orange County.

It was the first visit by a Vietnamese ambassador to Orange County, home of the largest concentration of Vietnamese outside of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, since President Clinton normalized relations with that country in July.

The demonstration, sponsored by the Coordination Committee of the Campaign for Freedom and Democracy in Vietnam, was called to protest human rights violations, political oppression, and the 32,000 political prisoners that Amnesty International estimates are being held in Vietnam, according to the demonstrators.

Inside, a handful of protesters waited for the ambassador to begin his speech and then, one by one, they rose to shout him down. As the ambassador outlined the economic health and aspirations of his country to the audience of about 400, one man unfolded a placard tucked into his blue blazer and began chanting, “We demand human rights for Vietnam.”

A screaming woman was removed by hotel security and police as the speaker stood impassively at the dais.

When the ambassador entertained questions after the speech, one man who identified himself as a Vietnamese American attorney asked what substantive evidence he could offer that Vietnam is indeed liberalizing its political system.

“My presence here, standing here, is one proof,” Le said. “Otherwise, I am not here. I cannot be here.”

Protester Minh Tran, a chemist from Orange, said the demonstration itself was a telling sample of the freedom they enjoy in the United States.

“This is a symbol of democracy in the USA,” said Tran outside the hotel. “People here have rights and freedom. What would it be like if we were in Vietnam tonight?”

Tran said the goal of the protesters and the committee is the fall of the Communist regime “within the next five years.”

“We expect to do that. That is our goal. We hope it happens sooner,” Tran said. “We want everyone to hear our voice so we are here to raise our voice.”

Activist Chuyen Nguyen of Stanton called on the business community of America to shun working with the Vietnamese government and to “realize they are getting in touch with criminals.”

“The Communist regime has oppressed our people. The Communist regime has killed our people,” Nguyen said.

No one was arrested, but six protesters were escorted out by hotel security and Irvine police.

Barbara Cisneros, a spokeswoman for the World Affairs Council, said the protest was expected and was handled diplomatically by hotel security.

She said the council is a nonprofit organization that offers an eclectic mix of speakers on international issues.

“We are not endorsing anyone, we are just allowing them to exercise their free speech,” Cisneros said.