killed: 5 Vietnamese journalists critical of The Front suspects: domestic terrorists from the Front former South Vietnamese military running secret war against victorious communist Vietnam government in 1980s
1981-1990: Murder of five Vietnamese-American journalists between 1981 and 1990 PBS: The Vietnamese journalists were assassinated on American soil, one after another. Duong Trong Lam was the first. He was 27 years old and ran a Vietnamese-language publication called Cai Dinh Lang, which he mailed to immigrants around the country. A gunman found him as he walked out of his San Francisco apartment building one morning and shot him, a single bullet piercing his pulmonary artery, just above the heart. For magazine publisher Pham Van Tap, the end came more slowly. He was sleeping in his small office in Garden Grove, California, when an arsonist set fire to the building. He was heard screaming before he succumbed to smoke inhalation. In Houston, a killer chased Nguyen Dam Phong from his home in his pajamas and shot him seven times with a .45-caliber handgun. The murder marked the end of Dam Phong’s twice-monthly broadsheet newspaper, which he had named Tu Do: Freedom. All together, five Vietnamese-American journalists were killed between 1981 and 1990. All worked for small publications serving the refugee population that sought shelter in the U.S. after the fall of Saigon in 1975 FBI agents came to believe that the journalists’ killings, along with an array of fire-bombings and beatings, were terrorist acts ordered by an organization called the National United Front for the Liberation of Vietnam, a prominent group led by former military commanders from South Vietnam. But no arrests were ever made...
The Front openly raised money in America to restart the Vietnam War, even launching three failed invasions from the borders of Thailand and Laos. Our reporting shows that officials at the State Department, the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency and the FBI knew about the Front’s military operations in Southeast Asia. But federal authorities never acted to enforce the Neutrality Act, which bars residents and citizens of this country from efforts to overthrow a foreign government...
[Hoang Co Minh in 1983] packed convention center in Washington, D.C. announced He intended to reconquer Vietnam.... former officer in the South Vietnamese Navy,.. built a force that would topple the Hanoi government and liberate his homeland from the totalitarian rule of the Communists... started his guerrilla army a few years earlier. It was called the National United Front for the Liberation of Vietnam. The group had established a base in the wilds of Southeast Asia -
Front members used violence to silence Vietnamese-Americans who dared question the group’s politics or aims. Calling for normalized relations with the Communist victors back home was enough to merit a beating or, in some cases, a death sentence. FBI agents eventually opened a domestic terrorism investigation into the Front’s activities.
*Tags
- Arson attack
- Asian suspect
- Asian victim
- Assassination
- Death Squad
- Duong Trong Lam was the first. He was 27 years old and ran a Vietnamese-language publication called Cai Dinh Lang, which he mailed to immigrants around the country. A gunman found him as he walked out of his San Francisco apartment building one morning and shot him, a single bullet piercing his pulmonary artery, just above the heart.
- Houston killer chased Nguyen Dam Phong from his home in his pajamas and shot him seven times with a .45-caliber handgun.
- Insurgency
- Journalist victim
- Nguyen Dam Phong In Houston, killer chased him from his home in his pajamas and shot him seven times with a .45-caliber handgun. The murder marked the end of Dam Phong’s twice-monthly broadsheet newspaper, which he had named Tu Do: Freedom.
- Pham Van Tap magazine publisher killed by arson. He was sleeping in his small office in Garden Grove, California, when an arsonist set fire to the building. He was heard screaming before he succumbed to smoke inhalation.
- San Francisco
- Texas
- US government backed or tolerated
- Vietnamese
*Reference
- PBS story
- Wikipedia Assassination of Vietnamese-American journalists in the ... Wikipedia3.1 Duong Trong Lam; 3.2 Nguyen Dam Phong; 3.3 Tap Van Pham; 3.4 Nhan ... The first of five Vietnamese journalists to be murdered, Duong Trong Lam was ...
*Wikipedia
Assassination of Vietnamese-American journalists in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Assassination of Vietnamese-American journalists in the United States concerns the killing of five Vietnamese émigré journalists for political motives who were active in the United States between 1981 and 1990. While the ethnic press is the most dangerous for U.S. journalists, more Vietnamese journalists have been killed than journalists from any other group, including African Americans, Latinos, Chinese, or Haitians.[1][2] The murders of the five Vietnamese-American journalists were never solved.
Contents
[hide]Background[edit]
The first Vietnamese journalist attacked in the United States survived. In January 1980, the Vietnamese-language magazine office of Van Nghe Tien Phong located in Arlington, Virginia, was set fire by an explosion but publisher Nguyen Thanh Hoang lived.[3] In 1990, when the last of five journalists was killed, the victim also worked for Van Nghe Tien Phong and the publication reported that victim Triet Le was one of 10 of its staff attacked by gunfire inside of one year.[4] After the assassinations of the five and violence that affected other intellectuals, and not only journalists, police in the crime areas had no evidence to pin the murders on any person other than claims made by a group calling itself Vietnamese Party to Exterminate the Communists and Restore the Nation, or VOECRN.[5][6] Despite the implied targets in the organization's name, the opinions of victims ranged across the spectrum.[5]
List of Vietnamese journalists[edit]
| Date | Name | Employer | Location | Notes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 September 1990 | Triet Le | Van Nghe Tien Phong | Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia | A columnist of controversial content for the same Vietnamese magazine that employed Nhan Trong Do. Assassinated. | [1][4][6][7][8][9] |
| 22 November 1989 | Nhan Trong Do | Van Nghe Tien Phong | Fairfax County, Virginia | A layout designer who worked with Triet Le, he was the first employer of the Vietnamese-language magazine to be assassinated. | [1][7][8][9] |
| 9 August 1987 | Tap Van Pham (a.k.a. Hoai Diep Tu) | Mai | Garden Grove,California | He was assassinated by arson while sleeping in his office by an anti-communist group that took responsibility. | [1][7][8] |
| 24 August 1982 | Nguyen Dam Phong | Tu Do(Freedom) | Houston,Texas | Was assassinated at his home by an anti-communist group. | [1][7][8][10] |
| 21 July 1981 | Duong Trong Lam | Cai Dinh Lang(The Village Temple) | San Francisco, California | Killed by gunfire from a member of one of two anti-communist groups taking credit for his assassination. | [1][7][8][11][12] |
Deaths[edit]
Five Vietnamese journalists were assassinated in the United States between 1981 and 1990, and their journalism and the controversial political issues they were writing about played a role. Vietnamese political organizations had formed throughout the country and some of these targeted the Vietnamese journalists.
Duong Trong Lam[edit]
The first of five Vietnamese journalists to be murdered, Duong Trong Lam was shot by an assassin 21 July 1981. He was known as a "left-wing" publisher of Cai Dinh Lang (Translated: The Village Temple), a Vietnamese-language newspaper published out of San Francisco, California, and for his criticism of the Vietnam War.[1][7] A group called Vietnamese Organization to Exterminate Communists and Restore the Nation (VOECRN), which is one of two anti-communism organizations that was known to commit violence, claimed responsibility.[7] His publication of left-wing content was the motive.[7]
Nguyen Dam Phong[edit]
The second murder of a Vietnamese journalist in the United States occurred almost one year after the first incident. Nguyen Dam Phong founded Tu Do (Translated: Freedom) in 1981, which he published out of his home in Houston, Texas. After arriving in the United States, he worked as a factory worker making terrariums and then as a dental technician but was motivated to start his own newspaper as a passion.[10] Phong began receiving threats because the content of his newspaper was critical of right-wing exile groups. He was assassinated on 24 August 1982 at his home and the VOECRN again claimed responsibility.[7]
Tap Van Pham[edit]
The third murder was five years later. This time the VOECRN attacked Tap Van Pham (a.k.a. Hoai Diep Tu) in Garden Grove, California. He did editorial work and advertisements for Mai and other Canadian companies to promote cash transfers and travel services to Vietnam. He was asleep in his office on the morning of 9 August 1987 when it burst into flames and he died afterward from smoke inhalation. Police investigators said the fire was an arson and the VOECRN had doused the office in gasoline and lit it on fire.[1][3][7][8] From this case, police concluded from undisclosed evidence the VOECRN group was connected to other crimes but the Federal Bureau of Investigation refused to get involved in the investigation.[5]
Nhan Trong Do[edit]
The fourth journalist to be assassinated came two years later, when Nhen Trong Do was shot dead in his car in Fairfax County, Virginia. In this case, there were no suspects in the killing.[7] He was a layout designer for Van Nghe Tien Phong.[1][7]
Triet Le[edit]
The last of five Vietnamese journalists to be assassinated was Triet Le, 61, who lived in Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia. He was also employed by Van Nghe Tien Phong,[1] where he was a columnist known for his controversial opinions against communists and the Vietnam government.[9] He was assassinated 22 September 1990. The VOECRN had Triet Le on its hit list since 1982 from evidence found in Nguyen Dam Phong's home. The organization carried out the murder while Triet Le was parking his car in front of his home. The attacker also killed his wife, an innocent bystander, by gunfire.[7]
Impact[edit]
The assassination of Vietnamese journalists in the United States was motivated by the political opinions of the writers and their publications, and this motive increased the fear in the Vietnamese-American community about the free expression of ideas and opinions.[5] After one of the murders, Giang Huu Tuyen, the publisher of Viet Bao, said, "I worry that one day somebody will come into my office and say to me, 'I don't like your paper.' Then, 'Bang!' It's a risky business. People are very emotional over all that has happened."[9]
See also[edit]
http://cpj.org/regions_07/americas_07/CPJ-SilencedReport.pdf the best investigation on the murder of Vietnamese journalists.
References[edit]
^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j Carney, Eliza Newlin (November 1993). "The Dangers of Being A Vietnamese Reporter". American Journalism Review. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
Jump up^ Stacy, Stacy Lu (June 1996). "Journalism for the Brave | American Journalism Review". Ajr.org. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
^ Jump up to:a b "25 Vietnamese Journalists in County Denounce Killing of Columnist, Wife". latimes. September 25, 1990.
^ Jump up to:a b "Political motives in two killings?". Spokane Chronicle. 1990-09-24. Retrieved2012-12-06.
^ Jump up to:a b c d Pinsky, Mark I.; Reyes, David (October 5, 1987). "Anti-Communist Faction Stalks Fearful Vietnamese". latimes.com. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
^ Jump up to:a b Tiede, Tom (December 23, 1990)."Who's killing Vietnamese journalists?". Retrieved 2013-12-19.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j k l m Schou, Nick (2007-08-16). "A History of Violence". OC Weekly. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e f Schou, Nick (2007-08-16). "Red Scare in Little Saigon". OC Weekly. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
^ Jump up to:a b c d Ayres Jr, B. Drummond (1990-09-25)."Slaying of Vietnamese Exiles in Washington Renews Refugee Fears". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
^ Jump up to:a b Kolker, Claudia (1995-02-09). "Casualties of War". Houston Press. Retrieved2012-12-06.
Jump up^ Coburn, Judith (Feb–Mar 1983). "Terror in Saigontown, U.S.A.". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
Jump up^ Tuyen Ngoc, Tran (Year). Behind the Smoke and Mirrors: The Vietnamese in California, 1975--1994. Location: Publisher. p. 149.ISBN 9780549530671. Check date values in:|date= (help)
Terror in Little Saigon - ProPublica
https://www.propublica.org/.../terror-in-little-saigon-vietnam-a...
ProPublica2 days ago - All together, five Vietnamese-American journalists were killed between ....codenamed 'VOECRN' at the direction of then-Director Louis Freeh.
A History of Violence | OC Weekly
www.ocweekly.com/2007-08-16/features/a-history.../full/
OC WeeklyAug 16, 2007 - A group called the Vietnamese Organization to Exterminate Communists and Restore the Nation (VOECRN) claims responsibility.
Transcript | Terror in Little Saigon | FRONTLINE | PBS
www.pbs.org › ... › Criminal Justice › Terror in Little Saigon
PBSBut it's signed by yet another group, VOECRN. The Vietnamese Organization to Exterminate Communists and Restore the Nation had issued an execution order ...
Vietnamese Organization to Exterminate Communists and ...
www.trackingterrorism.org/.../vietnamese-organization-exterminate-com...
1987 Vietnamese Party to Exterminate the Communists and Restore the Nation, ... the Nation (VOECRN), Eliminating Organizations Vietnam Communist and ...
Behind the Smoke and Mirrors: The Vietnamese in ...
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0549530673
2007... Nam GFVN Government of Free Vietnam HEW Department of Health, Education, ...VNCOC Vietnamese Community of Orange County VOECRN Vietnamese ...
Democracy for the Few - Page 126 - Google Books Result
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1111792933
Michael Parenti - 2010 - Political ScienceOne of VOECRN's victims, a publisher of a Vietnamese—language weekly, survived his shooting and identified the gunman. The assailant was convicted but the ...
Invisible Enemies: Who's the real threat in Little Saigon? Ask ...
https://groups.google.com/d/topic/soc...vietnamese/Ma4-hgMWAiU
Mar 6, 1999 - far-more-serious threat to life and liberty in the Vietnamese community:.... Exterminate Communists and Restore the Nation (VOECRN).
Misguided: Frontline's “Terror in Little Saigon”
viettan.org/Misguided-Frontline-s-Terror-in.html
As Internet use surges in Vietnam, users scramble to stay secure ...Never mind that another organization did claim responsibility: the VOECRN.
Trinh Nguyen
By the same author:
As Internet use surges in Vietnam, users scramble to stay secure
Testimony on Vietnam's Prisoners of Conscience before Canada’s House of Commons
Detained in Vietnam: Paulus Le Son
more
October 30, 2015
To:
Raney Aronson-Rath, Executive Producer
David Fanning, Founder and Executive Producer at Large
Andrew Metz, Managing Editor
A.C. Thompson, Reporter
Dear editors,
While limited, I have been in contact with AC Thompson about the upcoming broadcast of “Terror in Little Saigon.” We’ve spoken on background, in late September.
I am writing to Frontline’s editorial staff now because I’d like to point out some serious concerns about the narrative of this broadcast. This is based on my conversation with AC and my understanding that this piece will point to the supposed evidence that links “the Front” to attacks on Vietnamese-American journalists during the 1980s.
A little bit about me: I am not a member of Mat Tran (“the Front” as it’s called in the documentary). I am also not from the generation that this piece is focused on. In fact, I was born after these events took place. I am an organizer for Viet Tan, a pro-democracy organization whose founders were leaders of Mat Tran. I work with the individuals that AC had attempted to interview.
I have not written before because I was honestly incredulous as to how this piece could even exist. It is only after the promotional materials were published that I was moved to write.
“ProPublica and Frontline reopen the investigation into a death squad run by former South Vietnamese military men that killed journalists, torched businesses and intimidated those who challenged its dream of re-starting the Vietnam War — all on American soil.
ProPublica and Frontline re-opened the investigation, talked to victims and suspects, examined once classified files, uncovered government missteps and won startling admissions. Five members of the organization, known as the Front, conceded the group had run an assassination squad. It even had a nickname: ‘K-9’.”
Having not seen the broadcast but having direct knowledge on the subjects in question, let me be absolutely clear: there was never a death squad in “the Front.” There was never a kill list. There was never a policy to use violence to silence critics.
K9 is not the nickname of any assassination squad. K9 was the designation for a regional division/chapter within the organization. It is shortened from Khu 9 — the Vietnamese word “khu” is translated as region. These organizers are Vietnamese refugees. Had they even known of it, why would they want to name any chapter after an American canine police unit?
That these murders occurred and remains unsolved is a grave injustice. If AC did win “startling admissions” from these individuals, why were the authorities not notified? Why have those responsible not been brought to justice?
Through the course of my conversation with AC, it became apparent that a narrative had already been established, based on the documentary “Enforcing the Silence” by the consulting producer Tony Nguyen.
It would appear that AC’s investigation was to gather evidence based on hearsay testimonies that bolstered an existing theory and pinned responsibility to a group that happened to be the largest anti-communist organization from that time — “the Front.” Never mind that another organization did claim responsibility: the VOECRN.
Already, this precluded any leeway for past Mat Tran leaders to speak because questions on supposed violence or murders committed or ordered by them are accusations that did not warrant a response.
The Vietnamese community, like most minority groups, continually suffers from misrepresentation. Stories that are amplified are almost always written by outsiders, with support from voices that are frequently one-sided and unvetted. We want opportunities for discourse, but surely a request for comment for a preconceived narrative is not the place to start.
I will be watching the broadcast and hope that this email can serve to open dialogue. I commend AC Thompson and Frontline for investigating crimes that have darkened my community’s history and for giving a voice to the victims. I’m just deeply disappointed that Frontline would choose to air an ill-founded narrative. I truly hope Tuesday’s broadcast proves me wrong.
Sincerely,
Trinh Nguyen
Business and politics in Little Saigon, California
content.cdlib.org/view?docId=hb28700442&chunk.id=ch04...
n the 1980s, a vigilante group calling themselves the Vietnamese Organization to Exterminate the Communists and Restore the Nation (VOECRN) claimed ...
- November 3, 2015 Terror in Little Saigon | FRONTLINE | PBS PBS FRONTLINE and ProPublica investigate the unsolved murders of a string of Vietnamese-American journalists connected to a militia that sought to fight a covert war against the communist regime. Transcript | Terror in Little Saigon | FRONTLINE | PBS PBSNEWSCASTER: Houston police detectives are still trying to find out who killed Vietnamese newspaper editor Dam Phong Nguyen, nightbeat reporter—. How We Reported It | Terror in Little Saigon ... - PBS Reporting "Terror in Little Saigon" took ProPublica and Frontline to ... as well as to Vietnam and Thailand, and altogether we conducted ... We also obtained CIA, National Security Council and immigration service records. A 1994 report by the Committee to Protect Journalists, “Silenced: The Unsolved Murders of Immigrant Journalists in the United States,” helped us comprehend the scope of the violence. The Vietnamese journalists were assassinated on American soil, one after another. Duong Trong Lam was the first. He was 27 years old and ran a Vietnamese-language publication called Cai Dinh Lang, which he mailed to immigrants around the country. A gunman found him as he walked out of his San Francisco apartment building one morning and shot him, a single bullet piercing his pulmonary artery, just above the heart. For magazine publisher Pham Van Tap, the end came more slowly. He was sleeping in his small office in Garden Grove, California, when an arsonist set fire to the building. He was heard screaming before he succumbed to smoke inhalation. In Houston, a killer chased Nguyen Dam Phong from his home in his pajamas and shot him seven times with a .45-caliber handgun. The murder marked the end of Dam Phong’s twice-monthly broadsheet newspaper, which he had named Tu Do: Freedom. All together, five Vietnamese-American journalists were killed between 1981 and 1990. All worked for small publications serving the refugee population that sought shelter in the U.S. after the fall of Saigon in 1975
No comments:
Post a Comment