VIETNAM MEDICAL & LAOS SCIENTIFIC AID CAMBODIA NEWS BULLETIN www.msavlc.orgwww.msavlc.org

No. 198 November 2019 Registered Charity 252906 OPERATION BABYLIFT

In March I was contacted by an American man, who asked if we could provide him with any details from 1975, about Operation Babylift. He was searching for answers, as he was a baby of eight months old when he was taken to America from Hoa Binh Orphanage, in Saigon, as part of that operation. I knew nothing of Operation Babylift, and sadly was unable to help him at the time, but I was fascinated to research more about the subject. Operation Babylift was the name given to the mass evacuation of some 3,000 war-orphaned babies and young children from Saigon to America, Australia, Canada and Europe, during the collapse of in 1975. It took place during the final days of the , as Saigon was faced with a massive North Vietnamese offensive, and Photo: VVA.org rocked by and endless attacks on the city. As chaos ensued, them when the war was over. paddy. Half of its passengers were President commissioned It was a massive operation, and killed, including volunteers, crew U.S. planes to fly orphans from war- was aided by many volunteers and members, air force personnel, and 78 torn Saigon to be adopted by new relief agencies. The babies and babies and children. families in the western world. children were carried into aeroplanes Despite its tragic beginnings, in However, although Operation and laid in cardboard boxes both on the following weeks Operation Babylift was set up to help orphans, and underneath the seats. Blankets Babylift flew approximately 3,000 many of the children airlifted still had were strewn on the floor and some children to safety worldwide. Upon parents who were still alive. As the babies secured with cargo netting, arriving in the United States, the North Vietnamese forces advanced others crawled in the aisles. Nappies, planes were met by medical teams that rapidly, rumours were spreading milk and other provisions were loaded treated some of the children for a quickly that the advancing soldiers onto the plane, as the volunteers variety of illnesses. The sickest were would brutally murder any mixed-race attempted to feed and comfort the taken to hospitals, before being found infants. Some mothers acted to protect hundreds of crying babies. new adoptive parents, of which there their children and saw the evacuation Tragically, soon after the first was no . Many potential to America as the best option for them. plane left, one of its cargo doors adopters stood waiting for the planes They handed their children over to be malfunctioned and blew out, causing to arrive. transported, hoping to be reunited with the plane to crash land in a nearby rice However, although many

. , westerners saw Operation Babylift as a humanitarian necessity, many Vietnamese and some westerners considered it kidnapping, particularly as some of the children were not, in fact, orphans. A great number of the children grew up contented, and live happy and fulfilled lives with their new families, but the legacy of Operation Babylift is a deeply complicated one. T h e e v a c u a t i o n s w e r e controversial, as many questioned whether the children were really without any family, and many lawsuits were filed on behalf of the children that sought to reunite with their biological families. Others are still searching for answers. Mary Lidgard Operation Babylift Photo;Americaoncoffee.wordpress.com DAUGHTERS OF CAMBODIA

We have recently had news that hoping to reach a much wider clientele from sales are reinvested in the one of our partner organisations, by marketing their products online. Daughters’ social enterprise, enabling Daughters of Cambodia, is moving The new Christmas Catalogue is now more victims to walk free, gain with the times and has come up with a available, and items ordered now will employment outside of the sex trade great new initiative. arrive from Cambodia in plenty of and experience value, dignity and a Whilst MSAVLC provides an time for Christmas. new life. To see their beautiful selection To help augment their social of jewellery, home accessories, bags, enterprise income, Daughters also purses, laptop cases and Christmas offer a sponsorship programme. To accessories, visit their website: sponsor a girl to leave the sex trade, www.daughtersstore.com see www.daughtersofcambodia.org Daughters of Cambodia has helped 750 girls walk free from the sex industry. Their model is successful because they focus on sustainability and empowerment, rather than institu- tionalisation. Most sex workers want to leave the trade but need to earn an income to support their families. They annual grant to Daughters to support are considered the outcast sector of their Health and Wellness Project, they society, despised in their local are still in great need of funds to help community and they struggle to find Cambodian girls and boys escape from meaningful work because of the lack the sex trade. of education. Through the jobs, skills, Daughters has for some years training and development programs sold the clothes, jewellery, bags and offered at Daughters, they are fashion items made in their workshops equipped to make changes to their own at their Visitors’ Centre in Phnom lives, discover their own value, and Penh. However this year they are raise their quality of life. All proceeds THE BULLETIN - John Firth , DATA PROTECTION data that you share with us, we will keep it Honorary Treasurer MSAVLC, safe, and we will not share it with third 1 Hillside, Tregunnel Park, MSAVLC is committed to making parties. NEWQUAY sure that our communications with you are If you no longer want to receive the Cornwall TR7 2AJ. secure, considered and welcomed. Bulletin and want to be removed from our Or email: We promise to respect any personal mailing list, please contact: [email protected] westerners saw Operation Babylift as a HEROES

In this Bulletin we begin a series of biographical articles inspired by a book written by our Vice-President, John Pilger, entitled “Heroes”. The book’s cover notes “The heroes of John Pilger’s narrative are the many ordinary people he has witnessed coping with their lives in difficult and often brutal conditions” MSAVLC’s heroes are also ordinary people coping with difficult conditions, and these articles give us an oppor- tunity to identify and thank them for what they are doing for their fellow citizens, for the charity, and for humanity.

Our first Hero is Vietnam’s Highland Education Development Organisation’s Director:- PROFESSOR TRINH NGOC TRINH

Trinh Ngoc Trinh was born in HEDO called on both interna- Ninh Binh Province, in northern Viet- tional and domestic organisations to nam in 1934. His early life must have help improve the material and spiritual been quite torrid. At that time Vietnam life of ethnic minority people. To date was governed by the French, then they have supported more than 200 during World War II it was overrun by programs and projects serving ethnic the Japanese, and following their minorities in 43 provinces, most of defeat, Vietnam was again subjected to them educational projects. Under cruel colonial rule by France. Trinh’s direction, HEDO regularly So, it was little wonder, that in organizes conferences and seminars on 1945 at the age of only 11, Trinh mountainous education development joined the Viet Minh, Ho Chi Minh’s and supports ethnic minorities in army fighting for Vietnam’s poverty reduction and sustainable independence. He was a volunteer, socio-economic development. and his job was to run with messages A vital part of their work has during the fighting. His commanders been in running training courses for hoped that being young and quick, he traditional midwives, and a University would escape the enemy fire, but on a Medical Training Course designed mission in 1947 he was ambushed and specifically for students from ethnic shot in the arm. Nevertheless, he kept minorities. MSAVLC has been running and delivered the message of the “Three Prepared" movement in partnering HEDO and funding these before fainting because of the pain. In Hanoi. It rapidly spread throughout activities since 2003. order to save his life, the field doctors Vietnam to become a national As a result of his practical had to cut off the injured arm. movement. Its goals were; contributions to the community, Inspired by the lad’s courage, to be prepared to defeat the Professor Trinh Ngoc Trinh was the surgeon who removed his arm, Dr American empire; awarded the second-class Labor Medal Nguyen Trinh Co, wrote a short story to be prepared to fight to protect by Vietnam’s President. about him entitled “Brother Ngoc”. the North and liberate the South, He is known in the Northern The story has become well known in unifying the country; Highlands of Vietnam as ‘Brother Vietnam. It was included in the Grade to be prepared to go anywhere, Ngoc’, but he still likes to be called a 5 schools’ reading list and has been and do whatever the Party, people and teacher, because he says his life is a translated into English, French, the country demanded. constant journey to bring the word to Russian and Chinese. In 1965, Trinh was promoted at remote areas where students still have Trinh went to China for a while Hanoi University of Education to be difficulties. to recover, and then returned to the Head of Political Affairs. He He joked “People ask why I Vietnam where he studied and became proposed and set up the "Policy have been in the same job for twenty- a teacher, working mostly in the Education” department, acting as the nine years with no promotion, but I mountainous North-West Highlands. head of the department and also don’t mind. I have friends in Hanoi, During the resistance war teaching students about policies and friends throughout Vietnam, and against the US, Trinh Ngoc Trinh guidelines of the Party and the State. friends all over the world” worked as a teacher and subsequently In March 1990, now Professor In 2018 Professor Trinh Ngoc taught at Hanoi University. In his Trinh Ngoc Trinh was appointed Trinh was recognised as one of the ten capacity as Secretary of the Union of Director of the Highland Education Most Outstanding Citizens of Hanoi, Hanoi National University of Educa- Development Organisation (HEDO), an honour richly deserved. tion, he was instrumental in the launch part of the Ministry of Education. PROFESSOR TRINH VISITS COVENTRY In June, Professor Trinh Ngoc Trinh, director of Vietnam’s Highland Education Development Organisation (HEDO), visited Coventry. There he met with Peter Lacy, former Chairman of MSAVLC, and his wife Sheila, a former Trustee. They were joined by Trustees Peter and Mary Lidgard, and after a delicious lunch, they visited the graves of Dr. Madeleine Sharp, former Secretary, and Margaret Methley, former Chairman of MSAVLC. Prof. Trinh had worked alongside Madeleine and Margaret for many years, organising traditional midwives’ training in the northern highlands of Vietnam. He had formed a life-long friendship with them both. the work that both Madeleine and It was a moving experience; Margaret had done over a span of CURRY AND QUIZ flowers were placed at both of the nearly thirty years, to help the people The annual Curry and Quiz gravesides and prayers said. We all of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Night took place at the Organic Farm remembered with love and gratitude They were an inspiration to us all. Shop in Cirencester on Friday 18th October. For the sixth year running a

was 15% higher than the previous proportion of the profits were ANNUAL donated to MSAVLC. year, and that project spending totalled Once again the Trustees would GENERAL just over £100,000. Non-project like to thank our supporter, David expenditure, including production of Smethurst and his team for an MEETING the Bulletin, and all expenses, enjoyable evening, and for their amounted to only 2.3% of our generous donation. The 2018 Annual General spending. Meeting was held at St Mark’s The following Trustees were Methodist Church Hall in Cheltenham, FOLLOW US ON re-elected: on Saturday on 11th May, 2019. Peter Lidgard (Chairman), FACEBOOK Chairman of the Trustees, Peter Mary Lidgard (Honorary Secretary), Keep up with the latest news Lidgard welcomed Trustees and John Firth (Honorary Treasurer), about the charity by visiting supporters to the meeting and thanked Lynn Firth (Bulletin Distribution), www.facebook.com/msavlc. them for their attendance. Susmita Ghosh (Facebook Manager). Please ‘like’ and ‘share’ our Honorary Secretary, Mary Author and journalist John page with your Facebook friends. Lidgard, told the meeting that 2018 Pilger was confirmed as the charity’s had again been a good year for the third Vice-President. LORRY DEATHS charity, despite the fact that we had Nic Hewlett was again As the Bulletin goes to press, lost a considerable number of appointed as Independent Examiner of details are emerging of the tragic supporters because of the GDPR accounts. deaths of 39 migrants found in a regulations. The charity had supported Peter Lidgard thanked everyone refrigerated lorry in Essex. seven main projects during the year, The Trustees and supporters and Mary said that she was in regular who gave their time to keep the charity running smoothly. In particular of MSAVLC send our sincere contact with all our project managers. sympathy to everyone in Vietnam he mentioned Nic Hewlett, Jon and Honorary Treasurer, John Firth who has been affected by this Deborah Dainton, our website was pleased to report that our income tragedy.

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