Protesters Urge Boycott of Vietnamese Media

A group of Vietnamese American anti-Communists on Saturday called for a boycott of Vietnamese books, magazines and videos that they consider propaganda disseminated by the Communist Vietnamese government.

The boycott was announced on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the fall of Saigon today, a day marked by official celebrations in Vietnam and angry speeches and denunciations in Westminster’s Little Saigon.

Organizers of Saturday’s protest initially planned to burn Vietnamese books, which they said were produced under Communist censorship. Those plans were scrapped after Westminster police warned that the act would violate city fire codes.

Instead, protesters symbolically shredded books and magazines and destroyed music CDs and videos that they said were available in local shops and that exist “to spread lies.”

“Since the [trade] embargo was lifted [in 1994], this propaganda has been infiltrated into the community here,” said Kevin Khoa Nguyen, 26, one of the organizers of the protest and boycott. “They glorify the Communist regime and denounce the lives of Vietnamese living overseas.”

Nguyen said organizers weren’t seeking to purge the materials, an act that runs contrary to many Americans’ sense of the constitutional guarantees of free speech. He said they want Vietnamese Americans to recognize the products for what they are.

“We’re trying to convince people to boycott,” Nguyen said. “You have to take the responsibility for yourself to throw this out.”

Another organizer, Le Khal Le, denounced the Vietnamese regime for human rights abuses and for stifling political freedom and freedom of expression. He called on fellow emigres to reject Vietnamese propaganda.

He also invoked the controversy in Vietnam over U.S. Sen. John McCain’s remarks during his current visit that “the wrong guys won” the war.

“We lost our country to the Communists, not because we were unable to defend our country, but because the war policy changed, making us a loser,” Le said. “I agree 100% with Sen. John McCain that the wrong side won the war.”

The 5:30 p.m. demonstration drew about 150 people to a stage across Bolsa Avenue from the Asian Garden Mall. It followed a rally that drew about 400 people for a moment of silence to remember the war dead and missing, and to encourage opposition to the Communist regime.

An elaborate altar was decorated with red gladioluses and yellow chrysanthemums. A miniature version of a proposed war memorial statue depicting friendship between an American and a South Vietnamese soldier was displayed.

Ha Tong, 16, brought her American and Vietnamese friends to Saturday’s ceremony.

“We don’t know anything about communism. We are the generation that was raised after 1975. We don’t have anything against the communist,” said Tong, of Westminster, who left Vietnam in 1993. “But we oppose them because we see the 80 million people who are suffering back home.”

Organizers raised $5,000 during the three-hour ceremony to help build the statue.

Bon Tran, 60, of Santa Ana said April 30 is a somber benchmark in his life.

“We lost our homeland and fled for our lives on this day,” Tran said.