At around 9am on Sunday 22 June 2014, Tuyến Xích Lô was abducted by
police as he stood alone in front of Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon. He
bore a slogan with the words “To delay taking legal action on China is to betray the Nation”.
Tuyến Xích Lô's true name is Đinh Quang Tuyến; born 1965, he is a local
citizen of Saigon. He became well known by his distinctive way of
expressing his patriotism. On 8 June 2014, Tuyến, using a shoulder pole,
carried two buckets of water to Tao Đàn Park, offering free drinks (of
water). At the same time, he raised slogans saying: “Nước nhà không bán/ Homeland - not for sale” and “Mất nước là chết/To lose the country is death”.
(Translator's note: ‘Nước’, in Vietnamese, has two meanings: water, or
country. Tuyến's slogans thus contain a pun, though they could be simply
understood as “Home water - not for sale”, and “To lose water is
death”)
A witness told us that on 22 June, Tuyến stood in front of Notre Dame
Cathedral, raised his slogan and shouted ‘Down with Chinese invasion!”.
In less than five minutes, many policemen surrounded him, grasped his
neck and quickly took him to Bến Thành ward police station.
On the way to the station, even after this harsh treatment, Tuyến continued to shout loudly:
“Down with the Chinese invasion!”,
“Down with traitors that are cowards to invaders, and cruel to the people!”
Tuyến Xích Lô used to demonstrate at Tao Đàn Park, equipped with
buckets of water and the messages: “Homeland - not for sale!” and “To
lose the country is death”
The whole nation hurts
Tuyến Xích Lô was escorted to, and detained at Bến Thành ward police
station (District 1). There, the city securities lectured him regarding
the Vietnamese East Sea situation and relations between Vietnam and
China. They then accused Tuyến of disrupting public order and began to
interrogate him.
Tuyến replied: “I am only a citizen, now I am in your hands, do
whatever you want. You, Vietnamese police, said you are the best in the
world... then go ahead, interrogate your own people.”
Talking about his protest against China, Tuyến said honestly: “We
shout if our arm hurts. Now, China has invaded our homeland, the whole
nation hurts. How can we not shout out loud to protest them?”
After a few hours of fervent argument, the police made a report accusing
Tuyến of having disrupted public order. They also ordered him to get
into a police car to be transported to his local officials. However,
Tuyến refused to either sign the report, or get into the police vehicle.
I try my best, and do whatever I can
|
| Tuyến at the anti-China protest in Saigon on 11 May with his very fiery, unique ‘slogan’ |
At around 1:40pm, Tuyến Xích Lô walked out of the police station. It began to rain.
He shared his thoughts to Danlambao at a shelter on the road:
“For many days I have been very angry seeing China deploying so many
oil rigs in our territorial sea. As for the government, they dare not
sue China. That’s why I have to carry the slogan: “To delay taking legal
action against China is to betray the Nation” for everybody to see.”.
“The nation leaders do not dare to do it, so I have to do it, it is very simple!”
The man who “won't sell his nation” added: “I feel very happy I’ve
done this, as when I did, I showed my responsibility to my Country and
my People. I am an average person, not particularly capable or talented,
so I think I must do what I can - I must try my best for my country.”
Tuyến was well known, with his image as a man who “won’t sell the
nation” on 8 June at Tao Đàn Park. His simple and meaningful act was
admired by the public. Tuyến said: “Our lives are difficult. I, like
everyone else, am struggling to earn a living. Many of us, due to being
so caught up with our own lives, do not always clearly see the dangers
of losing our nation. Using the buckets of water, and declaring
“Homeland - not for sale”, I wanted to warn everyone of the threat of
losing our country to foreign hands, and the price that our people would
pay for it”.
Through Danlambao, Tuyến sent his thanks to everyone who has supported
him and shared with him a love for the country. He speaks of himself as a
'little swallow' that cannot make it to the spring season alone: “that
swallow needs to fly up, not to just perch on a branch. If we all work
together, it will be a flock of swallows bringing spring to our People”.
Below are some of Tuyến’s photos from Uyên Kha Facebook on 22 June:
Tuyến raised his slogan: “To delay taking legal action on China is to betray the Nation”
The security who grasped Tuyến’s neck and escorted him to the police station
A security, often spying on patriots in anti-China protests
Corner Phạm Ngọc Thạch – Hàn Thuyên
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