The Campaign for the Billboard of “Father Ly’s Muted Mouth.”
Father Nguyen Van Ly and his associates on March 30, 2007 were sentenced from 5 to 8 years in prison by the VietNamese Communist Government. At the trial, Father Ly shouted "Down with Communism," during which time his mouth was physically muted by the attending court’s bailiff. Throughout the trial the Father and his associates repeatedly denied government’s alleged crime. At the same time they resolutely maintained their conviction to fight for a more democratic Vietnam. Please speak for him by promoting the campaign for the Billboard of “Father Ly’s Muted Mouth.”


FUND-RAISING DINNER TO SUPPORT

THE BILLBOARDS OF FATHER LY'S MUTED MOUTH

IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA


Little Saigon, Southern California, Oct 21, 2007: "Picture of Father Nguyen van Ly's muted mouth is the clearest and most impact way to tell the dark side of the status of the Human Rights and Democracy in Vietnam today. We must display this picture everywhere to let the whole world know the real face of the communism in Vietnam." Mr. Nguyen Xuan Nghia, an attorney and the Coordinator of the Committee of Father Ly Billboard in Southern California, declared in his speech during a fund-raising dinner to support the expenses of the two billboards, those have been erected in downtown Los Angeles and in Little Saigon, Orange County. On Oct 21, 2007, at 6PM, more than 300 Vietnamese were presented at the fund-raising dinner at Paracel Restaurant on Brookhurst Blvd. Westminster, which is very close to the location of the billboard of Father Ly's muted mouth. During the open ceremony, Mr. Nghia summarized the progress of erecting the two billboards in southern California, and introduced the representatives of Vietnamese communities and groups those have been supported the billboard campaign. Supporters for the campaign introduced were Mr. Nguyen Duy Nghieu, Rep. of Vietnamese Community in Los Angeles, Mr. Nguyen Tan Lac, Rep. of Southern Californian Vietnamese-American Community; Dr Nguyen Xuan Vinh, Rep. of Southern California Vietnamese Community; Mr. Phan Ky Nhon, Committee of Support Democracy in Vietnam; Reporter Vi Anh; Musician Ho Van Sinh; and, from the Committee of A Call For Democracy (CACFD), Messieurs. Nguyen Thanh Trang, Tran Quoc Bao and Dr. Pham Dong Cac.


From Left: Messieurs Nguyen Duy Nghieu, Nguyen Tan Lac, Phan Ky Nhon, Nguyen Xuan Vinh, Vi Anh, Ho Van Sinh, Nguyen Thanh Trang, Dr. Pham Dong Cac, Tran Quoc Bao

As guest speakers, Mr. Nguyen Duy Nghieu, Rep. of Vietnamese Refugee Community in LA County Community and Mr. Nguyen Tan Lac, Rep. of Southern Californian Vietnamese-American Community expressed their supports to Committee of Father Ly Billboard in Southern California and each of them donated $1000 US to the fund-raising. Reporter Vi Anh commented, "Not only Father Ly's mouth was covered, but all Vietnamese in Vietnam were muted too." And he urged that everyone, especially the media, must promote the billboard campaign of Father Ly's muted mouth to speak up for them. Mr. Tran Quoc Bao, representative of the ACFD, presented the progress of the billboard campaign, which was initiated right after the "historical picture" of Father Ly's muted mouth was taken at the Vietnamese communist trial on March 30, 2007, and has been dispersed all over the world. Using a slide show, Mr. Tran presented all the billboard events in Seattle (WA), San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco (Northern California), Houston (TX), Atlanta (GA), Brisbane (Queensland, Australia), and three other locations in Southern California. According to Mr. Tran, within the scopes of the billboard campaign, the ACFD is promoting more billboards in many other cities in the US, Canada and Australia. As a representative of the ACFD, Mr. Tran expressed his appreciation to all the Vietnamese communities, groups and media representatives, who have been supporting the billboard campaign, especially Mr. My Loi who designed the photos and web site of Viet Vung Vinh.

Within the same efforts to fight for democracy in Vietnam, Professor Nguyen Thanh Trang a representative of the Vietnam Human Rights Network, presented his points of view that the Vietnamese-American voters must strongly implore their home state senators and congressmen to support the bill HR-3096 (Human Rights for Vietnam) when it again faces the Senate for the final approval for the bill into the law. Invited guest speaker, Ms Janet Nguyen, an American-Vietnamese elected officer, showed her supports to the Committee of Father Ly Billboard in Southern California by donating $200.00 and stated that she will try her best to support the HR-3096 Bill.

During the fund-raising dinner, MC Bich Ngoc lead the auctions of wine bottles with label of Father Lys billboard and of a Father Ly portrait. Both auctions were successful. The auction for Father Ly portrait was offered with many bits, before The Vietnamese People Forces (Luc Luong Quoc Dan Viet Nam) finally offered it at $1,400.00.


The Vietnamese People Forces and Father Ly's portrait

During the fund-raising dinner, also presented were many entertainers, singers and bands, Ho Van Sinh, The Phong, Chieu Phuong, Hoai Tam, Van Khanh, Dat Thinh, Thy Hau Hung Ca and Phu Dong Youth Group. Specially, Mr Nghia of the Hung Ca Chorus, who performed a duet with singer Hong Duyen.

Singer Hong Duyen and Nguyen Xuan Nghia

The entertainments were well received by the audience with enthusiastic applauds. The event ended at 10PM with the uplift spirit in everyone's heart.
According to the Father Ly Billboard Committee, the fund-raising dinner collected approximately over $13.000, before expenses. The detail financial along with Notes of Appreciation will be posted in the news release at the websites: ACallForDemocracy.org and LoiKeuGoiDanChu.org.

Trieu My
Report from Little Saigon, South CA.