English translation by Nguyen Chi Thien, the author of Hoa Lo, Hanoi Hilton Stores (Yale University Council on Southeast Asia Studies, 2007) "The Vietnamese refugees who have their relatives who died in reeducation camps located in the jungles of North Vietnam (after the fall of Saigon) demanded that the remains of their relatives should be brought home. These graves have been neglected so long. The Vietnamese government has accepted this non-political humanitarian demand. HO/POW Association P. O. Box 8496 Pear Land TX 77584 Tel. 832-725-3231. USA, March 23, 2008 Translation on June 5, 2008. Thank you Mike Benge for alerting us about this new policy of the VN government.   more »

Excerpts and links to articles, video, and interview by these authors gathered by Jean Libby, editor, VietAm Review from published sources. All authors support the protest of human rights violations in China except for Voice of America, who support Beijing position and the anti-American and antiEuropean rantings of President Musharraf of Pakistan. Senator John McCain recommends that President Bush not attend opening ceremonies in Beijing in August.   more »

Tiếng Vọng Từ Hoả Lò by Bùi Văn Phú in Viet Tribune, November 30, 2007. Summary in English by Jean Libby, editor, VietAm Review. “Echo from Hoa Lo” by Phu Bui, a student at UC Berkeley in 1981 and today a journalist and public school science teacher, was published in the Vietnamese language newspaper Viet Tribune on November 30, 2007. “Tiếng Vọng Từ Hoả Lò” is the story of the original event at Kroeber Hall on May 1, 1981, which discussed the plight of prisoners and the prison system in Communist Vietnam. The students did this by arranging the event with the Amnesty International Campus Network, particularly Laola Hironaka. They invited former prisoners at the reedcuation camps who had made it to the United States as Boat People refugees to come. The students learned that the author of the anonymous poems “Tieng Vong Tu Day Vuc”, (Echo From the Abyss) which had surfaced among Vietnamese exiles in 1980 was Nguyen Chi Thien, still in prison in Hanoi at Hoa Lo. They were the first to publicly proclaim him as the author with a recitation of his poems in Vietnamese and English translation, which was accomplished by Nguyen Khoa Thai Anh, another UC Berkeley student. Some of the poems which had been set to music by Pham Duy were performed by students and Dr. Nguyet Mehlert of San Jose. The author Phu Bui describes his feelings in creating the program just six years after the fall of Saigon. The escape of Boat People had begun in 1978; by 1980 the Refugee Act allowed admission of new exiles who would become Americans but were then suffering from the hardships of refugee camps in foreign Asian countries. Phu Bui has traveled to Hanoi and been drawn to the Hoa Lo prison museum. He writes that the reeducation camps are closed and the inmates relocated to other prisons. There is still need for attention to human rights in Vietnam and for Prisoners of Conscience throughout the world. Original article in Vietnamese: http://www.viettribune.com/vt/index.php?id=1679 translation for the English summary was made by phuocDiem Truong of San Jose. The poster for the May 1, 1981 event from the Collection of Bui Van Phu is attached.   more »

The four famous prisoners and their periods of imprisonment in the Communist gulags of Vietnam are: Nguyen Chi Thien (27 years), Vo Dai Ton (12 years), Phan Nhat Nam (14 years). They are moderated and connected by Ly Tong Ba, a Brigadier General of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) (12 years). You can find their descriptions and information about connecting to Paltalk in Vietnamese on http://www.vietvungvinh.com/Portal.asp?goto=VietNam/2007/20071128_03.htm These brief histories in English are written in the hope they may be useful for the planned Paltalk event on December 1, 2007. Scholarly references used for preparation are available on request. Jean Libby, editor VietAm Review   more »

Author Nguyen Chi Thien's booksigning in San Jose on November 17, 2007, revealed that he had intervened for a young girl (age 19) who was sentenced to death for burning a harassing policeman and his family in their house in Hanoi in the 1980s by helping her write to Truong Chinh, General Secretary of Vietnam, for clemency. This had never been granted before by Truong Chinh Dang Xuan Khu (1907-1988), who was a founder of the Communist government with Ho Chi Minh. The New York Times obituary by Glenn Fowler is quoted which states Truong Chinh had personal responsibility for killing as many as 50,000 of at least 200,000 killed by the Communist government during the Land Reform of 1953-1956. The story excerpt of "The Moon and Waters of the Red River" with the character of the young woman and another prisoner who was later executed was read in his written dialogue for the author at the event. A presentation of poetry reading was made by two Vietnamese Americans who are now teachers about their translation on May 1, 1981 at UC Berkeley, when they were students. The booksigning was organized by Internet Bookselling--Multicultural Perspectives. Jean Libby, editor, VietAm Review.   more »

On Saturday November 17, final Vietnamese American Authors Book Fair. It is scheduled at ViVo, (Vietnamese Voluntary Foundation, Inc.) 2260 Quimby Road, San Jose 95122 from 1 to 5 p.m. The Internet Bookselling Collection of books by Vietnamese American authors are listed on the attached order form. They may be ordered by mail as well as at the event at ViVo on November 17. The collection is also featured online at www.atozproductions.com/Vietnamese_Titles.html . There will be a Vietnamese language literary program of readings of the work of Nguyen Chi Thien beginning at 2 p.m. This is followed by a major speech by the author Nguyen Chi Thien about Human Rights in Vietnam Today, which will begin after 3 p.m. The readings and Mr. Thien's speech are in Vietnamese language which will be briefly translated. Please join me in honoring the author with his new work published by Yale University Council on Southeast Asia Studies, the Hoa Lo/Hanoi Hilton Stories. This is English translation of the original Vietnamese Hoa Lo published by Nguyen Ngoc Bich in 2001. Mr. Bich is one of the volunteer translators. The others are journalist Saroyan Vann Phan, Tran Van Dien (the father of Assemblyman Van Tran of Garden Grove), and Nguyen Kiem Phong of Canada. Both hardback and paper editions will be available for signing by the author. Sincerely, Jean Libby Internet Bookselling proprietor Editor, VietAm Review   more »

Program for Vietnamese American Authors Book Fair #2 Saturday, November 3, 2007 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Launching HOA LO/HANOI HILTON STORIES by Nguyen Chi Thien** published by the Southeast Council of Asian Studies at Yale University ** to be featured at the Asian American Studies Conference in Atlanta, 2008 English translation by Nguyen Ngoc Bich, Vann Saroyan Phan, Tran Van Dien, Nguyen Kiem Phong Foreword by James C. Scott, Sterling Professor of Anthropology, Yale University Preface by Jean Libby, editor, Viet-Am Review Tully Community Branch Library community room 880 Tully Road San Jose 95111   more »

Vietnamese American Authors Book Fair at San Jose City College on Thursday, October 18, 2007 from 12:30 to 5 p.m. features authors Andrew Lam (Perfume Dreams, Reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora, Heyday Books 2005); Andrea Nguyen (Into the Vietnamese Kitchen, Treasured Foodways, Modern Flavors, Ten Speed Press 2006); Nguyen Chi Thien, dissident poet (two bilingual softcover editions by Allies for Freedom Publishers in Palo Alto and VICANA in Virginia). Amnesty International regional coordinators will introduce Mr. Thien, who was a prisoner of conscience from 1986 - 1991, when he was successfully rescued from 27 years of imprisonment in Communist Vietnam. Two titles by Nguyen Ngoc Bich (Tet! the Vietnamese New Year and classical Vietnamese literature Cung Oan Ngam Khuc, Complaints of an Odalisque translation of Nguyen Gia Thieu (1741-1798) with illustrations by Mai Lan). The event is sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor of the San Jose/Evergreen Community College District (Rosa Perez), the Office of the President of San Jose City College (Michael Burke), Internet Bookselling--Multicultural Perspectives (Jean Libby) in cooperation with the San Jose City College Bookstore, and the Vietnamese Community Heritage and Cultural Advisory Committee (Cary Pham, Nguyen Xuan Vinh). Merylee Shelton, professor Communications is chair for the event, which is a returned Community Arts and Lecture Series. Events from 12:30 - 5 p.m. digest: Andrew Lam at 12:30 - 1:30 Andrea Nguyen at 2 - 3 p.m. Nguyen Chi Thien at 3:30 - 5 p.m. Ms. Andrea Nguyen is introduced by the Asian American Women's Alliance; Mr. Nguyen Chi Thien is introduced by Amnesty International.   more »

Nhân dịp Ngục Sĩ Nguyễn Chí Thiện sang Úc công tác, hôm nay lúc 3giờ chiều thứ Bảy 22/9/2007 tại Trung Tâm Văn Hóa & Sinh Hoạt Cộng đồng tiểu bang NSW, Hậu Duệ VNCH tiểu bang NSW/Úc Châu, đã tổ chức buổi tâm tình với ngục sĩ Nguyễn Chí Thiện về các vấn đề liên quan tới Nghị- Quyết 36 của nhà cầm quyền CSVN qua hiện tượng tờ báo “Việt Weekly” tại Hoa kỳ. Bác Sĩ Nguyễn Mạnh Tiến và Luật Sư Võ trí Dũng đã lần lượt phát biểu cám ơn thi sĩ Nguyễn Chí Thiện và đồng bào tham dự. Thi sĩ Nguyễn Chí Thiện cũng cho biết, số tiền bán sách của tập thơ "Hoa Địa Ngục" kỳ này sẽ được gởi giúp dân oan và các nhà dân chủ trong nước. Buổi tâm tình kết thúc lúc 5giờ, và đồng bào đã ở lại đến phút chót. Đặc biệt cảnh mọi người chen lấn mua tập thơ "Hoa Địa Ngục" và xin chữ ký của thi sĩ Nguyễn Chí Thiện.   more »

If Nick Schou ("A Vietnam War in O.C." in L.A. Times Sept. 6, 2007) investigated how many are voting American citizens among the people he calls “Vietnamese exiles” he might think again about his knee-jerk reactionary rhetoric. This is the regime that is supported by the publisher of Viet Weekly, Le Vu. He has been caught red-handed cutting and pasting articles from the Communist papers into his own. His Spring 2007 trip to Hanoi to cover the police manhandling of women outside the Ambassador’s residence in the presence of Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is a good example. On the previous day the former Ambassador Michael Marine had written a powerful op-ed essay criticizing the Vietnam government and political imprisonment of Father Nguyen Van Ly... There was a demonstration of 2,000 people in Saigon only a month ago who demanded redress for their losses in the aftermath of communist victory. They were forcefully dispersed into the countryside in military trucks. One elderly woman demonstrator died. An African news agency says there were more. It’s not about yesterday that 1,000 Vietnamese Americans in Orange County are peacefully assembling and protesting within the law, it’s about today. Jean Libby's response is based on experience with the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi press office, which has done the same obfuscation technique with Nick Schou. As an investigative journalist with a recent book on the alliance of the CIA with the cocaine traffic that was exposed by Gary Webb in the San Jose Mercury in 1996, and then denied by that newspaper, the OC Weekly investigative editor has done little investigative reporting for this story. He prefers to vilify and ridicule the Orange County Vietnamese American population.   more »

The Australia Vietnamese Federation writes a letter to John Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia, on August 28, 2007. Subject: APEC and Human Rights Abuses by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Letter printed in Vietnamese and in English on VietAm Review. Protest demonstration in Belmore Park in Sydney on September 9 announced. Vietnamese Americans Nguyen Chi Thien, dissident poet, and Black Eagle Ly Tong, a political prisoner whose extradition to Vietnam was successfully revoked due to international pressure in 2007, will be present at the demonstration in Sydney.    more »

Life, Poetry, and Prison--Cuoc Song, Thi Van, va Tu Day is a new bilingual publication of the poetry of Nguyen Chi Thien especially designed in small inexpensive size for students use and organization benefits. The author and his editorial assistant Jean Libby will be presenting some of these poems at the Milpitas Community Library on July 14, 2007. The Vietnamese reading is at 3:00 p.m.; English reading at 4:15 p.m., and a reception at the the library is at 5:15 p.m. Admission is free and all are welcome. 40 N. Milpitas Blvd. 95035 The Friends of the Milpitas Library program sponsors have prepared a souvenir for attendees which commemorates the anniversary (Ky Niem Hoa Dia Nguc) on July 16, 1979 when the author brought his manuscript of prison poems to the British Embassy in Hanoi, asking that they be published in "their free country." The souvenir reproduces the original handwritten French inscription by the poet (he brought it first to the French Embassy on July 14, 1979 but was unable to get in), the English translation published by the Index on Censorship in London in July 1982, and a new handwritten translation in Vietnamese by the author. The original inscription and English translation was first published by QueMe in 1982 in a trilingual collection Nguc Ca--Chants de Prison--Prison Songs--with music by Pham Duy. This is reprinted with the permission of the original publisher in 1982, QueMe in Paris. The author was presented commendations from the Mayor of Milpitas, Jose Esteves, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, and the Viet Arts Institute.    more »

Published works of the dissident poet Nguyen Chi Thien, whose Hoa Dia Nguc won international recognition while he was imprisoned for twenty-seven years in Communist Vietnam between 1961 and 1991. The author immmigrated to the USA in 1995, and is a US citizen. List updated in July 2007. Compiled by Dan Duffy, director of the Viet Nam Literature Project; Jean Libby, editor, VietAm review; Vietnamese editing by Nguyen Thi and Thuy Anh Truong. This listing may be found on the webpage of Nguyen Chi Thien, poet at www.vietamreview.net    more »

“Writers on writing aim for the heart” by Mark Panek. Review of Beyond Words, Asian Writers on their Work in the Daily Yomiuri Online, December 23, 2006. A quotation: “When writers get it right, the particular becomes the familiar, and suddenly we find ourselves, say, locked in a dark prison cell somewhere in Vietnam secretly composing an anthology of poems in our heads along with the political prisoner-poet Nguyen Chi Thien.” Article on Vietnamese American Achievement blog cites experience of creating the autobiography by Nguyen Chi Thien--his first original work in English--with Dan Duffy, director of the Viet Nam Literature Project, Jean Libby, editor of Viet-Am Review, and Brent Fujinaka of Manoa Magazine.   more »

Last Saturday, July 29, the renowned poet Nguyen Chi Thien spoke before a packed audience (some standing outside in the sun) about his poetry and his life which has been dedicated to freedom for the Vietnamese people. He was joined by five men who survived the Communist prisons in North Vietnam with him and now live in Orange County, California. His next booksigning of Hoa Dia Nguc is in Houston on Sunday, August 6, at Little Saigon Radio, 6250 Westpark Drive.   more »