On Saturday December 30, 2006, the Dutch chapter of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) joined with the Stichting voor Ontwikkeling van Vietnam (SOV: International Foundation for the Development of Vietnam) in holding a conference "Towards a common future?" to mark the 30th anniversary of Vietnamese in the Netherlands – and Hopeful Developments in Vietnam.

Most of the conference was conducted in Dutch and a report in Dutch can be see at www.iifw.nl/Conferenties/UPF-SOV.html - note the link to a two page photos album. More information re. Vietnam and SOV is in groups.yahoo.com/group/vietnamefree.

In the 30 years since South Vietnam was taken over by the communist north, much has happened and SOV felt that now was the time to suggest that Vietnamese abroad might best help their country develop by looking for ways to cooperate with the existing regime rather than by trying to replace it. Indeed, as one commentator noted, there were so many groups advocating an alternative to the existing government that it might prove immensely difficult to generate enough cooperation to form a democratic government if free elections were suddenly to be held.

However, for many Vietnamese refugees in The Netherlands, this still is a step too far. In their opinion, the present Vietnamese government should show more substantial change in improving the situation of the human rights and a dialogue should take place in Vietnam between the dissidents and government. Looking at the information coming from dissidents in Vietnam, there is indeed reason to not be too optimistic.

UPF founder Dr Sun Myung Moon has always been an ardent opponent of communism, indeed he was imprisoned for nearly three years in a communist North Korea concentration work camp where many inmates perished after only a few months from over work and under nourishment. But his criticism of communism did not arise from this, or political consideration, he always maintained that in its active rejection of God, the whole philosophy of communism was fatally flawed (see www.tparents.org/Library/Unification/Publications/SMM-Communism-060300/top.html ). However, when President Gorbachev started his reforms in the Soviet Union, Dr. Moon flew to meet him and offer his help, as he later did to the then leader of North Korea, Kim Il Sung. In his founding of the Universal Peace Federation, he urges the search for peace in all situations.

The conference began just after 2pm, MC Christopher Davies introducing Drs. Ngo Van Tuan, who on behalf of SOV, explained the background of the conference by reading from the Dutch version of the press release, "Towards a common future?" ("Op weg naar een gemeenschappelijke toekomst?") - see below.

Ir. E. Hessing, a former government minister and Member of Parliament representing the VVD party, spoke on the theme "Vietnamese Refugees and the Dutch Government". He had been connected with SOV for many years and was very complimentary about how the Vietnamese had managed to integrate so successfully in Dutch society, valuing freedom and self reliance and also appreciating what the Dutch call "gezelligheid" (companionship, a warm, welcoming atmosphere); they were indeed an example to the native Dutch, and he liked the fact that on the banner the question mark had been removed from the conference title!

Mrs. J. de Graaf’s talk topic, "Taking care of Vietnamese refugees", was most appropriate: she had met the first refugees when they arrived in the Netherlands all those years ago. She spoke with much feeling about looking after them and said she felt such pride at seeing how many had become established at all levels of society. The Vietnamese were the first refugees she had helped; since then she has worked with peoples from some 80 different cultures!

Her commitment had never been based on politics, she just wanted to help people. Mrs de Graaf van Randeraat is Director of the Diaconal Platform in Alphen a/d Rhijn and a member of the General Synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands - www.pkn.nl/default.asp?rIntNavStepMotherNavId=0&rIntNavMotherNavId=609&inc=info&rIntNavId=616&rIntId=4626.

In considering how Vietnam might develop, it was thought that the experience of Indonesia might be valuable. Dr. Monica Bouman, who took as her theme "Being a World Citizen in The Netherlands", has a Dutch-Indonesian family background and is "one of the few women who has studied the spiritual aspects of the United Nations" (Monica Bouman is een van de weinige mensen die de spirituele kant van de V.N. heeft bestudeerd - www.ddh.nl/pipermail/vredeslijst/2003/001001.html), very much in tune with UPF’s assertion that the UN is in need of renewal.

Mrs. Bouman is an active member of Initiatives for Change - www.iofc.nl/mensen/indonesie/1337.html & www.iofc.nl/mensen/ethiek/384.html, and a member of the board of Religions for Peace - www.wcrp.org . She finds great inspiration in the life and work of Dag Hammarskjöld - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dag_Hammarskj%C3%B6ld - and is the author of the book Dag Hammarskjöld – Citizen of the World - https://secure.iofc.org/shop/en/resources/shop/?room=3&pr oduct=151.

She spoke of the great upheaval following the end of 125 years of Dutch colonial rule in Indonesia in 1949, when some 200,000 people were "forced to leave their homeland and make a living in the Netherlands" and of the "frosty relationship" between the two countries until Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Bot publicly "expressed his regrets for the ‘unnecessarily painful and forceful separation’ of the two countries,... which "opened up a new period of cooperation". This new relationship, between people of different racial, religious and cultural backgrounds, might be a model for today’s difficult confrontations she suggested, mentioning Jews and Arabs, Indians and Pakistanis, Chinese and Japanese and, "particularly necessary", Americans and Iranians.

Dr. Bouman moved on to talk about Kofi Anna’s Alliance of Civilizations - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance_of_Civilizations, adding that the report from The High-Level Group (HLG) did not take into account the "personal attitude that has to be fostered and forged for practicing the attitude of mutual respect" and that "progress towards an ideal always starts with persons, responsible individuals, who decide to be bridge builders and who practice courage, tolerance, integrity and international service. The basis of this attitude is maturity of mind… and that starts in the smallest institution of society, the family, in Dutch gezin and familie".

After citing Freud, she asserted "the Alignment of Civilizations concept proceeds from the ideal of a world family" and stated "maturity of mind is needed to give rights to others" and "maturity of mind is needed to accept rights from others". She closed with a reading, "Forgiveness", from Dag Hammarskjöld’s book Markings - www.amazon.com/Markings-Dag-Hammarskjold/dp/0345327411.

UPF-NL Secretary General Drs. W.A. Koetsier addressed the conference on the topic "Some Principles for Development", stressing that what was most important in the government of a country, indeed any activity, was not the system but the people involved.

It was important to realize that there is a Creator, God, and to learn the importance of living for others, best learnt in the family, "the school of love".

Prior to WWII, conquered countries were not helped to recover, but it was now recognized that helping, say, Afghanistan benefited everyone. Unfortunately, the UN had not managed to fulfill the hopes of its creators and UPF recognized the importance of Dag Hammarskjöld’s spiritual attitude.

To help to solve a conflict, the UN should not take sides, but act like a parent in solving a conflict between children. At the moment, the prayer and meditation room in the UN is very small with a small window allowing in only a little bit sunlight. Was not this symbolic of the minor role spirituality played in UN policies and politics? UPF proposed that it would be of value to create within the United Nations system, as a complement to the General Assembly or Security Council, an Inter-religious Council, composed of spiritual leaders - peacefederation.org/wg/unrelations .

Mr. Koetsier then presented Ambassador for Peace certificates - www.peacefederation.org/afp & www.peacefederation.org/afp/handbook - to Mrs. J. de Graaf, who, when asked to speak, said, "I prefer to be quiet and just do my work with my heart and head and hands, but thank you"; Ir. E. Hessing; Max Ghazi, who appealed for those more blessed to help those in need; Mrs. Bouman; and a Vietnamese one time refugee who is now a city mayor.

The conference had been planned to continue till 6pm., but at the request of some participants it was shortened, ending with the renowned Milly Scott - www.millyscott.nl, accompanied by Hans Campman, singing "Let There be Peace on Earth" and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic".

Some invitees, including representatives of the Vietnamese government and Vietnamese émigrés who felt it was too early to talk with the government, declined to attend, which was most unfortunate, since a remarkable atmosphere of respect and peace prevailed throughout the whole conference.

In addition to, and in the spirit of, the conference, SOV and UPF issued an "Appeal to the Vietnamese Government and International Community" to place human rights in the centre of politics and to formulate clear criteria as to what constitutes a "danger to and violation of the public order", and to encourage and help Vietnam to develop towards a pluralistic democracy. (see in full below).

"Towards a common future?" - 30th anniversary of Vietnamese in the Netherlands –and Hopeful Developments in Vietnam Conference, December 30, 2006, 14-18.00; Hotel Bijhorst

The first refugees from Vietnam came to The Netherlands in 1976, a year after Vietnam's "liberation": not all felt free in the People’s Republic. In the West, the liberal democracies were threatened by communism, whose idea of democracy was guidance by one central party. The two systems confronted each other in a way that seriously threatened the peace of the world. The idealistic dream of communist paradise ended in a society tightly controlled by the state, with almost absolute power in the hands of a few leaders. But in the end, this system will be overcome by people’s inborn desire for freedom and self determination. On the other hand, though Western democracy offers more freedom and prosperity, it has its own problems, resulting from egoism, lack of norms, corruption, hypocrisy, violence and a general hardening of attitudes to others. As a Dutch cabaret performer asked rhetorically: "the West values freedom, communism equality, but where is brotherhood?"

It is estimated that there are now some 18,000 Vietnamese in The Netherlands. When we look back over the last 30 tears, it is remarkable that the refugees were received so well and integrated so quietly and seamlessly into the Dutch society, earning the respect and praise of those who observed them. Many of them also remained committed to their fatherland, especially regarding the situation of their families, dissidents and human rights in general; often petitioning Western governments to put pressure on the Vietnamese authorities to conform with human rights treaties, which has contributed to an improvement in this area. However, Vietnam has also changed from the inside and has moved towards a market economy, seeking economic growth and a softer form of socialism. In this way, East and West have become closer.

This movement seems to be accelerating: in the past two years the human rights situation has shown some improvements (however, still a lot has to be done in this area) and the focusing on economic development has resulted in Vietnam joining the World Trade Organization (WTO). Both East and West now see economic growth as very important. At the same time both systems have similar problems concerning social welfare, youth education, criminality, addiction, the environment, etc.

The time has come to work together in looking for solutions, whereby barriers of nation, life philosophy, race and culture are transcended. The conference will reflect on the past, and, more importantly, seek ways of work together for a better future for Vietnam in the light of striving towards a world, where human rights (and duties) are applied everywhere. Cordially you are invited for this conference, organized by the International Foundation for the Development of Vietnam together with the Universal Federation for World Peace (UPF), where, in the strive for reconciliation and cooperation, for the first time also representatives of the Vietnamese government are invited.

Sincerely yours,

Drs. Ngo Van Tuan

On behalf of the International Foundation for the Development of Vietnam

On the occasion of the conference "Towards a common future?": 30th anniversary of Vietnamese in the Netherlands - & Hopeful Developments in Vietnam, December 30, 2006,

An appeal to Vietnam and the International Community: to place human rights in the centre of politics and to formulate clear criteria as to what constitutes ¨a danger to and violation of the public order¨, and to encourage and help Vietnam to develop towards a pluralistic democracy.

At the end of 2006, we again appeal to Vietnam and the international community to work together for the realization of a truly democratic Vietnam: a new Vietnam that has its roots in the Declaration of the Human Rights, as formulated by the United Nations in 1948. Thus, in Vietnam, the following important points should be realized as soon as possible:

Freedom of religion and conviction;
Freedom of press and opinion;
Freedom to gather, and form political parties;
Separation of powers: legislative, judicial and executive;
Respect for human life and the environment;
Fair sharing of prosperity;
Fair administration of justice and treatment of prisoners (no torture).

Although the situation of the human rights in Vietnam has improved recently, compliance with the human rights treaties is far from perfect. The articles presented to this conference have illustrated this. The authorities often say they are acting because of the "threat to public order", but do not clarify what this means. The government moves to suppress any opinion it dislikes.

We appeal to the Vietnamese authorities to formulate clear criteria as to what constitutes a "threat to public order". At the same time we call on the international community as a whole to address this issue, since this "threat to, or disturbing, public order" accusation is also used by other countries, even Western democracies, to try and silence those who disagree with some aspect of government practice.

We repeat our previous requests for the setting up of human rights education programs in schools in Vietnam, and worldwide, integrated into the regular curriculum. Character education and ethics should be part of this program, because an incorruptible society can only be created by incorruptible people.

We Vietnamese expatriates ask the Vietnam authorities – supported by the international community – to work to establish a Vietnam where there is respect for human rights. History shows that where there is such a respect, prosperity follows.

Drs. Ngo Van Tuan
Namens de SOV
P.O. Box 332, Alphen a/d Rijn

Drs. W. A. Koetsier
On behalf of UPF The Netherlands
www.peacefederation.org, www.iifw.nl

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