Speech #1010162737

Nor is the push to establish full diplomatic relations generally embraced by the Vietnamese who escaped in 1975 or have fled in flimsy boats since then. "The U.S. should not normalize until the Vietnamese government guarantees human rights." says Phac X. Nguyen. advertising manager of a Vietnameselanguage newspaper in San Jose. "They lowered people to the life of animals." Antipathy toward the regime in Hanoi is highest in the ranks of South Vietnamese rangers and paratroopers. many of whom have settled in California. In a speech in San Jose early this month. former President Nguyen Van Thieu. now living in London. suggested that if political changes are not forthcoming in Hanoi. the refugees should be prepared to head home. shoulder weapons and seize control again. The passion in the Vietnamese exile community is a puzzle to many Americans. That is no surprise to Phuong Dai Nguyen. a sophomore at the University of California.