Vietnamese refugees

Press, 11 July 1979, Page 18

Vietnamese refugees

Sir, — We need idealists like the Rev. Brian Turner (July 9) but we also need historians to remind us of the fruits of such optimism. Vietnam has no gas chambers yet, but neither did Germany in the 19305, when it treated its Jews precisely the way Vietnam is treating its Chinese. Racial prejudice and resentment against Germany’s Jews forced them to flee penniless anywhere they could, and only half made it. Christianity teaches that the Vietnamese should love his neighbour now, rather than when it becomes economical, and we proclaim our outrage at the Vietnamese actions. If they demobilised their Army and’ sold the hardware America left behind, they could better rebuild their shattered land. We must not make excuses for the Nazilike brutality of Vietnam, lest they too work out a “final solution to the Chinese question” and start building Vietnamese Dachaus. — Yours, etc., The Rev. RAYMOND OPPENHEIM, Vicar of Avonside. July 9, 1979.

Sir, — While you acknowledge that comparing Vietnam's leadership “ . . . with Nazi Germany may not be exact in detail . . ~” you insist that “exporting people to possible death at sea is not very different from providing and filling gas chambers.” First, there is a considerable difference between exporting people and assisting them to leave. Second, for whatever reason they leave, there is a vast difference between the high survival rate on small or large boats and the nil survival rate if forcibly incarcerated

within a Nazi gas chamber. However, to come back to my original point, while the displacement (and loss) of Vietnamese refugees is extremely regrettable, let us assist in a manner that avoids wholesale condemnation of the Vietnamese leaders. Let us recognise and assist the immense reconstruction task facing Vietnam and Kampuchea, as well as recognising and assisting refugees from the area. — Yours, etc., The Rev. BRIAN TURNER. July 9, 1979.

Sir, — Had the Vietnamese closed their borders and not allowed citizens to leave, they would have been accused of holding people against their will as Communist European countries are. Vietnam has suffered two or three bad harvests and has enormous devastation and social disruption to repair after American activities in the war. Life cannot be easy there.—-Yours, etc., JOY McLEOD. July 9, 1979.

Sir, — The Rev. Mr Turner’s comments (July 9), putting the blame on families leaving Vietnam in small leaky boats when they could be leaving on larger, safer Government vessels ignores the question of why these people should be allowed to leave Vietnam at all. While concern for Vietnam’s reconstruction problems is commendable, should not the restructuring include the reeducation of all ethnic groups, shopkeepers, traders, etc. If communism is the answer to a country’s problems, it should be prepared to solve all the problems. To encourage hundreds of thousands of people to take to the sea, with complete indifference to their welfare or destination, not to mention the problems the survivors cause smaller over-populated countries, and for them to be charged a fee for doing this, shows a complete contempt for human life and values. — Yours, etc., J. SHARP. July 9, 1979.

Sir, — Mr Turner, director of the Christian World Service division of the NationalCouncil of Churches, (July 9), is quoted as follows; “If we were an Asian country we would have at least 40 million people in New Zealand.” Maybe Mr Turner should ask himself why there would be such an impossible number of people for comfortable living, living in this country if we were an Asian country. — Yours, ROSIE WITTY. July 9, 1979. Sir. — Considering our part in creating the present situation in Indo-China, I think it irresponsible of any New Zealander to seek a parallel in the refugee problem and the persecution of the Jews in World War 11. Furthermore, if you are to show such reactionary bias as you did in your reply to the Rev. Brian Turner (July 9), I think the same rule should apply to you, as you enforce on your

correspondents; i.e. to write over their own names, not pen names like “editor.” — Yours, etc., E. R. MIDGLEY. July 9, 1979. [New Zealand did not help to create the Communist Government of Vietnam or its policies which have failed to win the loyalty of all the people whom the Hanoi regime set out to embrace — E. B. Lock, Editor ]