Saigon: forgotten by Hanoi, S Vietnamese veterans helped by Catholics and Buddhists
Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) - Catholics, Protestants and Buddhists came together in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in a show of solidarity for 435 South Vietnamese war veterans under the impetus of the city's Redemptorist Fathers. The old soldiers are former members of the armed forces of the US-backed Republic of Vietnam that lost the war to North Vietnam in 1975 when the country was reunified.
Since then, the Communist government has forgotten, if not abandoned, these soldiers. After suffering serious battle injuries, they have been unable to earn a living and so have been forced to beg on the streets of the big city. However, for at least for a day, 28 April, they have found shelter and hospitality in Our Lady of Mutual Aid Parish.
Inter-faith groups and leaders of different religions have been trying to heal the wounds caused by the war that divided and devastated Vietnam between 1956 and April 1975.
In nearly two decades of war, between two and five million people died, including foreign soldiers from the United States, the Philippines, Thailand and Australia, as well as soldiers from the Democratic Republic of (North) Vietnam and the Republic of (South) Vietnam.
Despite the passage of time, many war veterans still bear the sign of their wounds, or are maimed and disabled, forgotten or marginalised by Vietnam's Communist regime.
At present, it is easy to find blind or crippled war veterans, with missing limbs, hanging out at street corners, markets, railway stations or in public parks in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), trying to sell lottery tickets, toothbrushes or other small items to earn a living.
Even today, an accurate estimate of South Vietnam's wounded soldiers is unavailable; however, they must be in the thousands even 39 years after the war.
Speaking about the first time the inter-faith event was held, Fr Joseph Đinh Huu Thoai said that it began when Thích Khong Tanh, a leading Buddhist religious, honoured veterans of the Republic of Vietnam at Lien Trì Pagoda in 2012. Last and this year, the monk called on Saigon Redemptorists to help give the event greater resonance.
"Last year, more than a hundred veterans were present," said the priest. This year, "we got 435 soldiers," a substantial number. For this reason, he thanked all "the many benefactors" who contributed US$ 50 each.
Mr Tam, one of the hundreds of veterans, said that he was the victim of discrimination and marginalisation, after the socialist government in Hanoi denied him social assistance on several occasions. After thanking the Redemptorists, he said he was "proud" to have "sacrificed a part of his body for the Republic of Vietnam."
Speaking to the veterans, Caodaist monk Kim Lân, from Tay Ninh, said, "your sacrifice will forever be remembered as part of the history of Vietnam."
Similarly, "You made sacrifices to protect the nation," said Mennonite Rev Nguyễn Hoàng Hoa.
Finally, Fr Vincent Pham Trung Thanh, provincial Redemptorists superior, told the veterans that although "you have been forgotten, not everyone has ignored you." Indeed, "I am happy to see you," he said.
"Today," he added, "Saigon Redemptorist priests and religious want to bring you a bit of happiness. Today we give you small gifts, but first we would like to give you Jesus' love and respect."
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12/02/2016 15:14
16/02/2018 10:36
