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SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - On Friday, April 21, 2006, UCSF Vietnamese Student Association observed Black Friday and shared with the UCSF community the significance of this historical date. VSA members dressed in black to signify mourning and passed out black ribbons to the audience who packed the auditorium to the isles. The audience also received a short handout explaining the significance of Black April. For the first thirty minutes, VSA showed the documentary “Rescue Mission on South China Sea,” by the Boat People S.O.S Committee, that details the plight of the boat people and the rescue efforts by numerous nonprofit organizations as well as private ship-owners.
To many in the audience, this was the first time they saw the tiny fishing boats’ lonely battle against the sea in search of freedom. These boats were packed to their fullest spatial capacity, with everyone having only enough space to sit or stand. Lying down was out of the question. At sea, these refugees were completely vulnerable to nature’s tempest. The boats were old and fragile, packed beyond their weight capacity, and were mostly manned by inexperienced hands. The slightest storm or sea wave could turn the boats over and drown its passengers. Furthermore, these refugees were particularly vulnerable to pirates who took advantage of the crisis situation. Tightly packed, inexperienced, starved and dehydrated for days to weeks, they became easy targets. Even regular fishermen in the area could take advantage of these people, and thus many dishonest ones took their opportunity and switched occupation from fishing to pirating. For the first time, many in the audience saw the pain and anguish engraved in the eyes of the refugees, particularly women and children. These people had been through days at sea, in the unbearable heat of the open sun during the days, the skin-cutting cold at night, the lack of food and water. Furthermore, the emotional torture was of particular significance. Many days at sea gave them significant time to reflex and dwell on the surging emotions that could drive weak minds to insanity (many did). It was the loss of their fatherland, of leaving beloved family and relatives forever that tore their heart. On top of that were the fears, of the unknown future, of pirates and storm, of rape and death that constantly tormented their souls. Thanks to the kind hearts of humanity, of the rescuing parties, of the sponsoring countries, many of these lost souls received a second chance at freedom, and at life. Following the documentary was two very descriptive, emotional accounts from student speakers Ha Park (P1) and Andy Hoang (D3) who traversed the sea in 1987 and generously shared their families’ personal fight with fate. Ha Park gracefully shared her childhood memories of the planning before and the experience during the journey. In Vietnam, Park’s family suffered unbearable living conditions and governmental regulations. The entire family lived in a tiny hut with mud wall and palm leaf roof. All commercial items were rationed, even plastic water bottles. During the planning periods, her parents took months to stock up the few bottles necessary to carry enough water for the family’s need, without evoking suspicion from the neighbors and the police. There was a total sense of distrust in the community, with neighbors reporting any suspicious activities for small rewards from the government. Everything in Vietnam was tightly regulated; there was no freedom. Those were their living conditions, and the reason Ha Park’s family left. Among her anecdotes were the sad story of a man who put his heart and his family’s savings into bringing his two teenage sons to freedom. They had traveled a long distance from Saigon through much hardship to get to the site of departure. However, on the night prior to departure, while waiting in the nearby forest for the opportune time to load the boat, the two boys went missing. When the time came, the party had to leave without them. With the political situation at the time, the most likely perceivable outcome for the two boys was police capture, imprisonment, torture for information, and possibly death. With such worries in mind, and added pressures from the arduous trip, the poor man died a few days after arriving at his destination. He fought through life and left his beloved homeland for his sons’ future, for hope. Now that hope is gone, he has no more reason to go on. Andy Hoang’s account was particularly moving. It was Hoang’s first time watching the documentary, and it touched him so deeply that he quietly wept through every minute of it before delivering his speech. As he fought his tears to deliver the experience, the audience just let it loose. To many in the audience, the video and personal stories also touched home, bringing back painful memories and evoking compassion for their fellow countrymen. Like Park, Hoang’s family also left Vietnam in 1987 on a fishing boat. However, having no money to pay for the trip, Hoang’s father had to put his name down as the boat captain instead. With the regulations at the time, if captured while leaving the country, the captain had to take full responsibility for this “treasonous” crime, with the most severe punishment. Despite such horrendous possible outcomes, Hoang’s family was still determined to leave, for freedom was worth all the risks. Hoang was only a child, but he understood the situation, and would forever love and admire his father for such sacrifice. Among the most engraved memories that Hoang recounted was his family’s direct face-off with death. There was a storm. The boat was full of water to waist height, at the brink of sinking. Everyone on board was ready to die. Hoang’s father tied his family together, so they would not be separated when death came. Hoang could hardly keep himself together as he retold this experience, for the emotion was too overwhelming. The audience, too, were on the verge of sobbing out loud, no longer able to keep their tears silent. To most Americans, freedom is free and is often taken for granted. But to these boat people, it came with a price, and often, the price was blood. Free Vietnamese around the world are all very fortunate, for they reached their destination, freedom. Unfortunately, many others did not. Black April is not a celebration, but is the time of remembrance, of mourning. It is paying respect to the uncounted numbers who lost their lives due to this historic date. It is also thanking the world for their generosity and hospitality in receiving these lost souls. More information on Black April and the Boat People experience can be found at: |
