I have read carefully information on overseas online newspapers about the recent demonstration of some Vietnamese in southern California against the Viet Weekly Journal. The BBC Radio’s online newspaper even carried photos with captions saying that the demonstrators raised the three-striped and American flags and banners calling for consumers not to buy, read and advertise for the Viet Weekly.

Like many other readers I really feel confused about this event. First of all, I want to mention the article written by Tran Kien My from California. The author wrote that on July 22, “major” newspapers of overseas Vietnamese carried news in a satisfying manner. The Nguoi Viet (Viet People) ran the headline “Thousands of people protested the Viet Weekly”. Meanwhile, the Vien Dong (Far East) said “nearly 2,000 fellow-countrymen took to the streets for a demonstration”. The Little Saigon Radio provided a more accurate figure when it estimated that the demonstration involved about 700 - 800 people.

However, in fact there were only about 500 demonstrators. What happened in that demonstration? The author said Ms Ngoc L. coming from Oregon to attend a meeting of a former fellow-countrymen, witnessed a man who tied a copy of the Viet Weekly with a string, threw it to the ground and then stepped on it while reporters were taking photos. He quoted Ms Ngoc L. as saying it was a “ruthless” act. She said, “I’m not familiar with this type of culture. However, this act happened in the US. If they had seized power, what would happen then?”

As a witness of this and other events, the author said, “Except for some intellectuals and government officials who attended the recent reception given to Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet, all big businesspeople were within the aim of the demonstration organizers. These people are seeking business opportunities in Vietnam in order to contribute to the country’s development and generate jobs for the people. However, they were blamed for “lending a hand to the Viet Cong (Vietnamese Communists)” (!)

“Most of the demonstrators were familiar old-hat faces. In fact, they have been taken advantage of to turn “anti-communist” demonstrations into struggles for the market or political arena. This demonstration was obviously aimed at excluding the Viet Weekly from the overseas press corps. It is now time for the silent majority to raise their voice as the Viet Weekly’s work is legal and legitimate.”

Some editors in the Viet Time and the Nguoi Viet Tu Do (Free Vietnamese) newspapers have steadfastly refused to publish incorrect information about Vietnam or slanderous allegation against the policy on unity of President Nguyen Minh Triet. They said, “We, freedom and democracy loving citizens, are discontented with those who take advantage of press freedom to threaten and illegally scramble for business interests”.

I started in surprise after hearing that the Viet Weekly was blamed for “pro-communist and benefits the communists” because it had sent a reporter to Vietnam to cover the APEC Summit hosted by the country on November 14, 2006. After sending objective information and comments on the event, the reporter made an inspection and wrote about the real life of ethnic minorities in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. The Viet Weekly once interviewed former Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet about Vietnam’s national renewal process. and most recently, in June 2007, it published an interview with State President Nguyen Minh Triet during his visit to the USA. Worthy of note is that the Journal was accused of carrying an article “praising Mr. Ho” on the occasion of President Ho Chi Minh’s birth anniversary.

The fact is clear. The extremists among the Vietnamese community there launched a campaign “not to buy, read and advertise for the Viet Weekly” because the Journal did not fall into line with their scheme to smear and slander Vietnam's Doi Moi (renewal) process.

We share the view with Viet Weekly editor Le Vu who told the BBC in a recent interview that his Journal was not communist and not pro-communist. On another occasion, he said the Journal carried articles from Vietnam in order to build a forum for multi-sided dialogue. It means the Journal is prepared to carry different opinions. He denounced the opponents for distorting the truth and presenting inadequate evidence to incite people to demonstrate. In a recent letter, the editorial board made clear their view about the freedom of speech saying that people could live together and hold certain different opinions. They believed that people could use language, thinking and intellectual methods to persuade one another instead of violence.

In conclusion, I wish to tell those who still nurture hatred and turn their back on the country and the current situation and have extremist and conscienceless actions that sooner or later most of overseas Vietnamese will expose their nature and see the fact.