. PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Văn viết rồng bay mờ biển Bắc B út vung phụng múa mịt trời Đông. Nguyên Bông, Chúc Mừng Dedicated to. My father Louis Dương Thành Lực, the compassionate and incredibly generous Commander of Sài Gòn’s Reconnaissance Company 330, who taught me many invaluable lesons, among of which was his personal concept for charity works: “Give, don’t ask. Ask, don’t give. Give, just give without condition.” My guardian Honourable Justice Louis Matheson, who always believed in me to be “smart” and cared for me as one of his children and gave me the opportunity to learn tennis, play golf, experience Scottish clan gatherings and court proceedings since secondary school. My legendary master Từ Thiện Hồ Văn Lành, one of Vietnamese martial arts’ original four pillars, who taught me incredible techniques that helped building the confidence needed for resolving life challenges.
. PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh PEN Vietnam Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Contents Preface The Past is an honest reflection of Dignity and Class i Vietnam PEN Club Leadership 1 Synopsis of History 1957-1975 4 Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre [PEN Vietnam] Leadership 7 Synopsis of History 1975-1979 12 1980-1983 14 1984-1988 15 General Assembly I 1988 15 General Assembly II 1989 16 General Assembly III 1990 17 General Assembly IV 1992 18 General Assembly V 1995 20
. PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh General Assembly VI 2003 23 General Assembly VII 2007 24 General Assembly VIII 2009 26 General Assembly IX 2011 28 General Assembly X 2014 29 First PEN Vietnam’s literary camp 30 Houston City’s Proclamation “Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre Days in Houston, Texas.” 31 General Assembly XI 2017 33 Government of Ontario’s official congratulations and “thanks the Board and members of the Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre for their contribution to nurturing the extraordinary voices and stories of our Vietnamese community.” 33 PEN Vietnam Executive Board 2018-2020 35 Era of Literary and International Advancement 2018-2020 Activities ⁜ PENVietnam.org 36 ⁜ The 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Establishment of the Vietnamese Abroad PEN Centre 36 ⁜ PEN Vietnam Executives speaking at different venues during PEN International 84th Congress 38 ⁜ Padmagandha Publishing Co. translated and published works by Lloyd Duong (The Vietnamese ), Lê Hữu Liệu (Mother in Memory), Sean Nguyen (Time) 39
. PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh ⁜ Planted PEN Vietnam tree as Vietnamese writers’ symbol of liberty at Savitribai Pune University 39 ⁜ Christmas 2018: PEN Vietnam began the tradition to send wishing cards to prisoners of conscience in Vietnam each Christmas 40 ⁜ UPR Submission to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 40 ⁜ PEN Vietnam President Lloyd Duong addressing PEN International 85th Congress 43 ⁜ Various universities expressed gratitude towards Vice-President Lê Hữu Liệu, Secretary General Sean Nguyen, Treasurer Tuyết Nga 44 ⁜ Official celebratory program commemorating and honoring the life and sacrifice of former PEN Vietnam President Vũ Hoàng Chương 45 ⁜ PEN Vietnam lobbied Western governments including the European Union in support of writers and activists in Vietnam 46 ⁜ PEN Vietnam President Lloyd Duong wrote various articles published in international publications about the protection of persecuted writers 46 ⁜ PEN Vietnam’s literary symposium commemorating the 200th anniversary of the passing of renowned Poet Nguyễn Du 47 ⁜ Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre worked with PEN International in preparation for PEN International's Centenary celebrations (1921-2021). “An Illustrated History” was
. PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh published by PEN International in which PEN Vietnam was well presented 47 ⁜ PEN International interviewed PEN Vietnam President Lloyd Duong as part of the Centenary celebrations (1921-2021) 48 ⁜ Lloyd Duong served as PEN International WiPC Steering Committee Secretary 49 Addendum Biography of PEN Vietnam’s 2018-2020 Executives 50 Reshaping Southeast Asia: Summary of Speech by Lloyd Duong before PEN International Assembly at the 85th Congress 58 PEN International’s Interview: Lloyd Duong President of Vietnamese Abroad PEN Centre 62 Author Biography 67 Reminiscence 84 Expression of Gratitude 141 Copyright © Lloyd Duong All rights reserved.
. PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Preface The Past is an honest reflection of Dignity and Class “Quá khứ là tấm gương phản ảnh trung thực về Nhân phẩm và Đẳng cấp” Triết Lý Quốc Trị Đông Phương (Eastern Political Philosophies), my third book completed in winter 1996, received many positive comments including an invitation to lead an East-West cultural foundation in Houston, TX. The publisher subsequently recommended me to join the Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre (PEN Vietnam), an organization composed of several noted writers in the past. As soon as I became a regular PEN Vietnam member in autumn 1997, I was asked to apply my legal skills to resolve the ongoing schism within the Centre. I declined due to (i) my limited knowledge of PEN Vietnam, its history, the two opposing factions, the true facts behind their dispute and, (ii) at the time, I was leading the creation of Diễn đàn Dân Chủ, an online popular democratic forum (1999-2006) encouraging open dialogue on national and international issues while respecting diverse and opposite perspectives, and (iii) more importantly, I already embarked on the analysis of massive documents collected since 1985 about Vietnamese refugees and began to write The Boat People: Imprints on History, a 2-volume treatise subsequently published in 2000. In 2009 I was offered the WiPC Chair position by PEN Vietnam’s 2009-2011 Executive Board. I agreed to serve
. PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh because, through my previous experience with Diễn đàn Dân Chủ (Democratic Forum), I had possessed sufficient and objective knowledge about Vietnam’s human rights situation and various contrary perspectives. While carrying out responsibilities as WiPC Chair I felt the need to learn about PEN Vietnam’s history, organizational conflicts and causes, resources and limitations. To my surprise, there was negligible information about the Centre’s past and several so-called “old story” articles were often one-sided and demonstrated deficient knowledge of and complete lack of respect for PEN Vietnam’s Bylaws (Điều Lệ) and Regulations (Nội Qui) and, sometimes worse, contained outright fabrications. I thereafter began the process of collecting and analyzing data, classifying massive amount of electronic messages from the 1995-2000 and 2004-2008 schisms, interviewing former members in important roles from Canada, the United States and Europe. The more I discovered, the more I reached out for more verifiable information and evidence. In 2011 I was invited to run for the office of either VicePresident or Secretary General of PEN Vietnam in the upcoming General Assembly IX election. I declined because I saw a deep division within the 2009-2011 Executive Board composed of the old guards from the same faction that had often used negative means to advance partisan interests. As WiPC Chair I resorted to preparing materials in English for PEN Vietnam’s delegation attending PEN International 77th Congress while researching further into the different roles played by those involved in the power struggle to understand and distinguish between fact and fiction. The first draft of PEN Vietnam’s history was crafted in Vietnamese and forwarded to members and colleagues in 4
. PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh volumes (I-IV) starting in June 2015 for review. I received countless positive comments from across the world because many readers did not know most of the events, especially when it was discovered that a leading member actively involved in both divisive schisms often falsely presented himself as the Centre’s President but, in reality, he had never been elected by PEN Vietnam’s delegates or members in accordance with the Bylaws as amended from time to time. Naturally, this and other pretentious claims ceased immediately after the release of PEN Vietnam’s history in the summer of 2015. A few PEN Vietnam’s chapter chairs (Chủ tịch Vùng) thought the materials contained in the 4 volumes I-IV were so impressive and read like swashbucklers’ tales (truyện kiếm hiệp) with so many interesting twists and turns. One chapter chair (Southwest CA) even expressed hope that one day a movie could be made about PEN Vietnam’s incredible history. At PEN Vietnam’s General Assembly XI in December 2017 the majority of members casted their ballots and overwhelmingly elected me to the office of President of Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre. I did not wish to lead PEN Vietnam at a turbulent time with so much internal conflicts and external disrepute, however when urged to run to “save the boat” (“phải ra cứu vãn con thuyền Văn Bút”), I reluctantly agreed but stated clearly at the beginning that, if elected, I would only serve one term (3 years) to restore the Centre’s reputation and shall not seek second term due to my professional and other obligations. Thereafter, as elected President, I was honoured to work with a talented and resourceful Executive team composed of Vice-President Lê Hữu Liệu, Secretary General Sean Nguyễn Anh Sơn, and Treasurer Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Nga whose invaluable contributions are recognized on PEN International’s centennial archive website.
. PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh https://www.pen100archive.org/lieu-huu-le/ https://www.pen100archive.org/anh-son-nguyen-sean-nguyen/ https://www.pen100archive.org/tuyet-nga-thi-nguyen/ The 2018-2020 Executive Board restored PEN Vietnam’s prestige mission in the protection of persecuted writers and the celebration of literary greatness and heroic bravery with concrete actions and successes. We created PENVietnam.org website to promote members’ literary works, filed UPR Submission with the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and dispatched official opinions to the European Parliament requesting official focus on human rights in trade agreements with Vietnam, and successfully organized many important events attended by several hundred members and patrons such as [1] the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Establishment of Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre in Washington, DC (2018), . [2] the trilingual English-French-Vietnamese celebratory program honouring the life and sacrifice of former PEN Vietnam’s President Vũ Hoàng Chương in Toronto (2019), and . [3] Literary Symposium commemorating the 200th anniversary of the passing of Vietnam’s renowned Poet Nguyễn Du in Orlando (2020). We traveled extensively throughout the United States and across the world to advance the interests of PEN Vietnam’s members and to call international attention to and seek protection for persecuted writers in Vietnam, and went as far as the city of Pune in India to plant PEN Vietnam tree as Vietnamese writers’ symbol of liberty at Savitribai Pune University.
. PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh During the 2018-2020 term serving as President of the Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre, I had the opportunity to strategize PEN Vietnam’s objectives, formulated concrete actions and, together with the Executive Board’s members, completed the planned programs successfully. There were occasional challenges as expected in any undertaking, and those challenges were resolved gradually as the Executive term progressed and we achieved success after success. In appreciation of the incredible opportunity to serve the Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre, I decided to compose PEN Vietnam’s history in English for future generations including my children (Lợi II, Triệu-Minh and Tâm) to learn from our unique experience in the protection of persecuted writers and the celebration of literary greatness and heroic bravery. PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 is the final result of this grateful endeavour. Planting PEN Vietnam tree in Pune, India PEN Vietnam’s Vice President The Cowboy Poet Lê Hữu Liệu, Lloyd Duong, Secretary General Sean Nguyễn Anh Sơn In addition to foundational knowledge, History of PEN Vietnam: 1957-2020 Synopsis also includes core documents such as UPR Submission, government records and official appeals, etc., as precedents for members of PEN Vietnam to
. PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh refer to easily and reproduce quickly, if necessary, to facilitate future projects because I believe and have often expressed that a true leader is one who’s capable and willing to assist subsequent leaders to achieve even greater successes. Lloyd Duong addressed PEN International 85th Congress on Reshaping Southeast Asia (Manila 1-10-2019) I crafted History of PEN Vietnam: 1957-2020 Synopsis using free moments between court works and during long intercontinental flights. Time constraint could jeopardize any opportunity for formulating perfect compositions, I therefore earnestly beg the readers for forgiveness over any literary shortcomings. Lloyd Duong December 20, 2020 Dương Dragon Ranch King Township, Canada
1 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Vietnam PEN Club Vietnam PEN Club – an official member Centre of PEN International – was established in Sài Gòn, Vietnam in 1957 by Đỗ Đức Thu, Vương Hồng Sển, Vi Huyền Đắc, Vũ Hoàng Chương, Lê văn Siêu, Bùi Xuân Uyên, Lê Ngọc Trụ, Phạm Việt Tuyền, Như Phong Lê văn Tiến, Tchya Đái Đức Tuấn, Thạch Trung Giả, Triều Đẩu, Xuân Nhã, Mộng Tuyết Thất Tiểu Muội, Mai Xuyên, Hiếu Chân Nguyễn Hoạt, Phạm Tăng, Thuần Phong, Hoàng Đình Lượng. President Đỗ Đức Thu President 1957: Đỗ Đức Thu Novelist (1909 - 1979) Nhà bên kia (1942), Đứa con (1945) Attended PEN International 29th Congress to receive Resolution admitting Vietnam PEN as official Centre
2 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh President Nhất Linh Nguyễn Tường Tam President 1961-62: Nhất Linh Nguyễn Tường Tam Novelist, Political leader (1906 - 1963) Founded Tự Lực Văn Đoàn (Self-reliance literary league), an acclaimed group known for modern novels attracting wide readership Founded Đại Việt Dân chính Nationalist political party to fight the French colonialists Formerly Foreign Minister in Communist-Nationalist coalition government to oppose French reoccupation President Vũ Hoàng Chương President 1963-72: Vũ Hoàng Chương Poet, Educator (1916 - 1976)
3 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Vietnam’s Baron of Poetry nominated for the 1972 Nobel Literary Prize Resisted efforts to politicize Vietnam PEN Club Imprisoned by the Communist regime after 30-4-1975 and died 5 days after being released on 6-9-1976 President Thanh Lãng Đinh Xuân Nguyên President 1973-75: Thanh Lãng Đinh Xuân Nguyên Writer, Educator, Catholic priest (1924-1978) “Nhóm Bút Việt” (Vietnamese PEN Group) became “Văn Bút Việt Nam” (Vietnam PEN Club) with new logo showing a pen breaking a gun into parts (gun represents authoritarianism) Actively politicized Vietnam PEN Club against policies of Republic of Vietnam government in Sài Gòn Prohibited from engaging in literary works by the Communist regime after 30-4-1975
4 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh PEN Vietnam center in Sài Gòn Synopsis of History 1957-1975 Vietnam PEN Club was admitted as an official PEN Centre by PEN International 29th Congress in Tokyo Tokyo (September 1957). Vietnam PEN Club, financially supported by the government of Republic of Vietnam, held regular symposia on various topics ranging from literary to social issues and biennial literary competitions Vietnam PEN Club’s highly regarded President Vũ Hoàng Chương, Vietnam’s crowned Thi Bá (Baron in Poetry), was nominated for the 1972 Nobel Prize in Literature. Although President Vũ Hoàng Chương resisted any attempt to politicize the activities of PEN Vietnam, the subsequent leader Thanh Lãng openly critized the government of Republic of Vietnam
5 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh in Sài Gòn with anti-war fever coupled with anti-American sentiment while remained silence on Communist astrocies against citizens. May 29, 1958 general meeting (source: Thế Giới Tự Do, số 9, tập 7, 1958)
6 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh April 30, 1975: Vietnam PEN Club ceased to exist after the fall of Republic of Vietnam. President Thanh Lãng and all members were prohibited by Hanoi to engage in literary works. Many were arrested and detained by the new Communist regime without charge or trial. PEN Vietnam’s former President Vũ Hoàng Chương was detained by Hanoi in April 1976 and was only released due to illness. Vietnam’s Baron in Poetry Vũ Hoàng Chương passed away 5 days after his release from Communist prison on September 6, 1976. On November 23, 2019 the Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre organized the first-ever official celebratory program in English, French and Vietnamese in Toronto, Canada, to commemorate and honor former President Vũ Hoàng Chương. Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre’s trilingual celebratory program to commemorate and honor former President Vũ Hoàng Chương Toronnto, Canada 23-11-2019
7 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre (abbr. PEN Vietnam) Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre (abbr. PEN Vietnam) is an organization of writers, poets, artists, musicians and literary composers, etc., from across the globe promoting the Voices of Conscience and the Echoes of Compassion of Vietnamese across the globe. The Centre traces its origin to Vietnam PEN Club founded in 1957 in Sài Gòn, Republic of Vietnam, and has been an official member Centre of PEN International since 1979. Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre (abbr., PEN Vietnam) was established by former Vietnam PEN Club members and officially introduced on June 25, 1978 in Paris, France, principally through the tremendous efforts of Trần Tam Tiệp, a highly-respected Editor who tirelessly supported writers and artists persecuted by Hanoi, and Minh Đức Hoài Trinh, a well-known reporter, and Nguyên Sa Trần Bích Lan, an accomplished poet, and Trần Thanh Hiệp, an attorney and writer. Founders: Trần Tam Tiệp, Minh Đức Hoài Trinh, Nguyên Sa Trần Bích Lan, Trần Thanh Hiệp, Nguyễn Văn Hảo, v.v. President 1978-80: Minh Đức Hoài Trinh Poet, Reporter ⩥ Attended PEN International 44th Congress to receive Resolution admitting PEN Vietnam as official member
8 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh President 1980-83: Nguyễn Văn Hảo ⩥ PEN Vietnam’s Secretary Trần Tam Tiệp actively supported dissident writers President 1984-88: Trần Thanh Hiệp Author, Attorney, Political activist Minister of Labor, Republic of Vietnam Founding members of Sáng Tạo magazine (Sài Gòn) ⩥ Registered PEN Vietnam as a legal entity ⩥ Expanded PEN Vietnam to North America President 1989-90: Nguyễn Ngọc Ngạn Author, Media Personality ⩥ Extended PEN Vietnam network to San Jose President 1991-92: Trang Châu Lê Văn Châu Poet, M.D., National Literary Winner ⩥ Extended Executive term to 3 years ⩥ Criticized for controversial 6-7-1992 announcement President 1993-95: Viên Linh Nguyễn Nam Publisher, National Literary Winner ⩥ Extended PEN Vietnam network to Denmark, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida causig the first Schism (1995-2000) that led to to PEN Vietnam being placed in “dormant” state by PEN International Congress from 1997 to 2001 President 2001-02: Minh Đức Hoài Trinh Poet, Reporter Unelected office instituted after Florida Chapter chair Nguyễn Đức An resolved the first Schism by siding with the opposition on the adversary’s promise that he would be elected as the next president of PEN
9 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Vietnam in 2003 (instead of being elected, however, Nguyễn Đức An was expelled in Juy 2003 after the opposition obtained and solidified official authority) President 2003-05: Phạm Quang Trình Author ⩥ The second Schism (2004-2008) ensued when he broke rank with his faction to run for re-election ⩥ Subsequqent infightings resulted in Bylaws amendment instituting direct election (members cast ballots as opposed to prior voting by chapters’ delegates) President 2009-11: Nguyễn Đăng Tuấn Poet ⩥ Presidential power was hijacked by Treasurer Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa and Secretary Yên Sơn Trương Nguyên Thuận ⩥ He failed in an attempt to eliminate the existing framework of Chapters and representative delegates President 2011-17: Vũ Văn Tùng Author, Pharmacist ⩥ PEN Vietnam received charity status ⩥ Published 10 semi-annual literary collections ⩥ PEN Vietnam’s summer summit (2015) ⩥ PEN Vietnam’s first literary camp (2016) Houston City Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaimed “Văn Bút Việt Nam Hải Ngoại Days in Houston, Texas” (Proclamation) ⩥ Books celebration event (Garden Grove 2017) President 2018-20: Vịnh Thanh Dương Thành Lợi Author, Attorney (a.k.a. Lloyd Duong) ⩥ Amended Bylaws and Regulations to enshrine
10 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Republic of Vietnam’s national flag in all Centre’s activities ⩥ Originated Kỷ Nguyên Thanh Lịch (Era of Literary and International Advancement) to rebuild PEN Vietnam into a true global literary organization ⩥ Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne sent official congratulations and “thank the Board and members of the Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre for their commitment to nurturing the extraordinary voices and stories of our Vietnamese community” ⩥ Created PENVietnam.org website to promote members’ literary works ⩥ Planted PEN Vietnam tree at Savitribai Pune University, India, as symbol of freedom of expression ⩥ Began the tradition of sending Christmas cards to imprisoned writers in Vietnam ⩥ Cooperated with international organizations to protect writers including various PEN Centres, NGOs ⩥ Drafted and presented UPR Submission on Vietnam to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ⩥ Implemented major programs: 1. 40th Anniversary Celebration of PEN Vietnam’s Establishment (Washington, March 2018) 2. Official celebratory program in English, French and Vietnamese to commemorate and honour renowned past President Vũ Hoàng Chương (Toronto, November 2019) 3. Literary Symposium commemorating Nguyễn Du, Vietnam’s eminent poet (Orlando, September 2020) ⩥ Addressed PEN International 85th Congress on the issue of Reshaping Southeast Asia ⩥ Established strong working relations with PEN International, English PEN, PEN America, etc. ⩥ Served as Steering Committee Secretary of
11 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee ⩥ Worked closely with PEN International in projects celebrating 100 years of defending freedom of expression 1921-2021 Website: PENVietnam.org https://www.pen100archive.org/pen_centre/vietnameseabroad-centre/ Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne
12 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Synopsis of History 1975-1979 After April 30, 1975 Vietnam PEN Club was dissolved by Hanoi and the Centre’s property was illegally confiscated. President Thanh Lãng Đinh Xuân Nguyên was isolated and prohibited from engaging in literary works. Former President Vũ Hoàng Chương was arrested, detained and passed away 5 days after being released from the Communist prison on September 6, 1976. On June 12, 1978 French weekly news magazine L'Express published the names of more than 130 Vietnamese writers, artists, intellectuals held in prison by the Vietnamese government. On May 30, 1979 in an open letter to the Communist leadership in Hanoi placed in five newspapers (New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner) and signed by more than 80 well-known antiwar activists such as Joan Baez, Daniel J. Berrigan, Allen Ginsbenz, etc., stating: “Instead of bringing hope and reconciliation to war‐torn Vietnam, your government has created painful nightmare that overshadows significant progress achieved in many areas of Vietnamese society.” It was in this dire environment that a few former members of Vietnam PEN Club in Europe decided to re-establish the Centre to raise concerns over Hanoi’s human right violations. The Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre (PEN Vietnam) was founded by former Vietnam PEN Club members and introduced on June 25, 1978 in Paris, France, principally through the tremendous efforts of Trần Tam Tiệp, a highly-respected Editor who tirelessly supported writers and artists persecuted in Socialist Vietnam, and Minh Đức Hoài Trinh, a journalist,
13 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh and Nguyên Sa Trần Bích Lan, an accomplished poet and formerly Vice-President of Vietnam PEN Club, and Trần Thanh Hiệp, an attorney and writer. 1979: PEN International 44th Congress admitted PEN Vietnam as an official member Centre. PEN Vietnam’s first President Minh Đức Hoài Trinh (term 1978-1980) attended the 44th Congress to receive Resolution admitting PEN Vietnam as an official member Centre. Co-founder and noted Poet Nguyên Sa Trần Bích Lan expressed three decades later at a PEN Vietnam function in Southern California: “Founding PEN Vietnam was principally the work of Trần Tam Tiệp. While overcoming difficulties to establish PEN Vietnam, he was also the person who convinced other PEN Centres around the world and their WiPC to provide assistance to fight for imprisoned writers in Vietnam..” . [“Cái công làm thành Văn bút chính là do Trần Tam Tiệp. Không những anh dựng ra Văn bút qua những khó khăn, anh là người thuyết phục các Hội Nhà văn Thế giới và Uỳ ban Nhà văn Bị Cầm tù trong các Hội Nhà văn Thế giới hỗ trợ cho anh để tranh đấu cho các nhà văn còn bị cầm tù tại Việt Nam… (Nguyễn Tà Cúc, Văn Học Việt Nam Biển Ngoài, Sống và viết trên một quê hương mới)] It could be said that, during the first years, Secretary General Trần Tam Tiệp was PEN Vietnam’s soul and mind. In 1978 the overseas community of Vietnamese writers, poets and artist was still struggling with new challenges in Europe and North America; therefore, it was difficult for PEN Vietnam to attract members. While President Minh Đức Hoài Trinh and others tried to expand membership beyond the initial base of no more than 20 founding members, Secretary
14 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh General Trần Tam Tiệp was actively seeking means to support persecuted writers in Socialist Vietnam. . Secretary Trần Tam Tiệp President Minh Đức Hoài Trinh 1980-1983 Under President Nguyễn Văn Hảo’s leadership, the Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre became the source of support for dissident writers in Vietnam as well as the channel for them to publish works in the overseas Vietnamese community. One of the well-known articles from dissident writers was Nếu Chàng Trương Chi Đẹp Trai (If Trương Chi were handsome) by Dương Hùng Cường criticizing human right violations by Hanoi; through the help of Secretary General Trần Tam Tiệp, the article was published in April 1982 by Nhất Việt magazine in Paris, France. PEN Vietnam’s support by for writers in Vietnam ended partly due to insufficient funding but also because Hanoi took a hardline position accusing the Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre as a source supporting anti-revolutionary activities. Secretary General Trần Tam Tiệp was publicly named by
15 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Hanoi’s media as “enemy soldier” in the literary arena. The Socialist government of Vietnam then rounded up those writers, who were in contact with PEN Vietnam, and accused them to be spies for foreigners. Sadly, Dương Hùng Cường died in prison. 1984-1988 PEN Vietnam’s President Trần Thanh Hiệp, attorney and writer, expanded the Centre to North America with the first general election of the Executive Board held in Montreal, Canada, in 1989. President Trần Thanh Hiệp General Assembly I 1988 The first General Assembly of Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre was organized by well-known Professor Nguyễn
16 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Ngọc Bích in Washington, DC, to formulate a new governance structure, Bylaws and to establish a framework for the following year’s election of the Board of Executives. Professor Nguyễn Ngọc Bích General Assembly II 1989 Nguyễn Ngọc Ngạn, author and media personality, from Toronto, Canada, was elected President for a 2-year term. President Nguyễn Ngọc Ngạn
17 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Nguyễn Ngọc Ngạn expanded PEN Vietnam’s Chapter network to San Jose. General Assembly III 1990 Trang Châu Lê Văn Châu, Poet, M.D., National Literary Winner, was elected President for a 2-year term. At his request, the Bylaws were amended to extend the President’s term to 3 years. President Trang Châu Lê Văn Châu It was commonly agreed - although not written down - that the President position was to be rotated among local Chapters’ Chair at each General Assembly. In 1990 Viên Linh was supposed to be President but due to his unresolved family problems, Quebec Chapter Chair Trang Châu Lê Văn Châu was “elected” by the delegates. During this period, President Trang Châu Lê Văn Châu was criticized severely by other Chapter Chairs such as Ontario Chapter Chair Trà Lũ Trần Trung Lương because Lê Văn Châu issued an official announcement published in Thế kỷ 21 magazine to voice support for left-leaning individuals attending an event unrelated to
18 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh PEN Vietnam in Montreal, Canada. These left-leaning individuals promoted conciliation and cooperation (hòa hợp hòa giải) with Socialist Vietnam while smearing the policies of former Republic of Vietnam, the original home of PEN Vietnam. President Trang Châu Lê Văn Châu’s July 6, 1992 controversial public announcement in Thế kỷ 21 magazine General Assembly IV 1992 Viên Linh Nguyễn Nam, Publisher, National Literary Winner, was elected President for a 3-year term.
19 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh President Viên Linh Nguyễn Nam Viên Linh was a highly accomplished journalist and editor in Sài Gòn. He served as Chief Editor for several newspapers and magazines and was able to attract literary contributions from almost all well-known writers and novelists in South Vietnam. His novel Gió Thấp won South Vietnam’s 1974 National Literary Prize. Viên Linh wrote many well-researched papers on authors and literary events. His writings are valuable to those, who wish to learn about Vietnamese literature in the past 50 years. President Viên Linh Nguyễn Nam extended PEN Vietnam network to Denmark, Georgia, Louisiana and Florida.
20 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh President Viên Linh welcomed His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama with a poem before 7000 Buddhists on June 7, 1997 General Assembly V 1995 The General Assembly commenced but was suspended on November 25, 1995 and a schism occurred thereafter because President Viên Linh wanted to re-run for office of the President and, in order to ensure success, he admitted 4 new Chapters (Denmark, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida) to get more delegates (ballots cast by Chapters’ delegates). The opposition led by Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa, publisher of Làng Văn magazine, claimed that new Chapters could only be admitted by the General Assembly, and not by the Executive Board. [Note: Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa did not oppose to former Executive Board’s admission of San Jose Chapter (Phạm Quang Trình) during President Nguyễn Ngọc Ngạn’s 1989- 1990 term.]
21 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh During this schism (1995-2000) there were two rival factions within Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN, namely one represented by Viên Linh, Đặng Văn Nhâm, Nguyễn Ngọc Bích, and the other led by Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa, Sơn Tùng, Minh Đức Hoài Trinh. The infighting was highly unreasonable, especially when Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa, Sơn Tùng, Minh Đức Hoài Trinh faction often resorted to character assignation tactics, i.e. in one case, they passed resolution charging Viên Linh with embezzlement of fund from PEN International. Joanne Leedom-Ackerman, Chair of PEN International’s WiPC, responded in writing on 31-7-1996 that there was no such fund to clear Vien Linh’s name. Letter dated 31-7-1996 from Joanne Leedom-Ackerman
22 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Year 1997: PEN International Congress placed Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN in dormant state and no one was permitted to use the name PEN Vietnam. Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa, Sơn Tùng, Minh Đức Hoài Trinh faction appointed Nguyễn Mạnh Bích as acting President who was subsequently replaced by Sơn Tùng Nguyễn Minh Ngọc and finally settled with Minh Đức Hoài Trinh as President. Viên Linh, Đặng Văn Nhâm, Nguyễn Ngọc Bích faction held election. Dr. Nguyễn Đức An from Florida ran and lost the President position to Đặng Văn Nhâm. There were several occasions that Minh Đức Hoài Trinh and Đặng Văn Nhâm had agreed publicly to unify the two factions but then backroom activists refused to accept such joint accords. During the 1995-2000 schism, former President Trần Thanh Hiệp was asked by PEN International to form a council of former Presidents of PEN Vietnam to unify the two factions but his efforts failed. He was even attacked by Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa for his recommendations citing his political activist background. Year 2000: After the loss to Đặng Văn Nhâm, Dr. Nguyễn Đức An was promised by Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa that he could be the next President of PEN Vietnam if he would join their camp. Nguyễn Đức An took 4 local Chapters from Viên Linh, Đặng Văn Nhâm, Nguyễn Ngọc Bích faction and defected to the other side to become Secretary General under President Minh Đức Hoài Trinh.
23 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Nguyễn Đức An then wrote to PEN International office in London claiming falsely that both factions had been unified. PEN International decided to observe a joint convention to be held by both factions. Viên Linh, Đặng Văn Nhâm, Nguyễn Ngọc Bích faction rejected this solution; a few members including Nguyễn Ngọc Bích and Đặng Văn Nhâm attacked PEN International Secretary using unacceptable language and were subsequently expelled. 2001: The Re-establishing Constitutional Convention (Đại Hội VBVNHN Tái Lập) on 24 & 25-3-2001 in Washington, DC, confirmed Minh Đức Hoài Trinh as President and Nguyễn Đức An as Secretary General. PEN International Congress welcomed PEN Vietnam back into the PEN network. General Assembly VI 2003 Phạm Quang Trình, Author, was elected President for a 3- year term. President Phạm Quang Trình
24 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Dr. Nguyễn Đức An lost and openly criticized Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa, Sơn Tùng, Minh Đức Hoài Trinh faction for reneging their promise to make him the succeeding Centre’s president and accused Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa acting deceitfully as a kingmaker (Thái Thượng Hoàng Văn Bút). Nguyễn Đức An was expelled by President Phạm Quang Trình in July 2003. Two years later when President Phạm Quang Trình was attacked by his own faction (Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa, Sơn Tùng, Minh Đức Hoài Trinh), he retracted the expulsion decision and reinstated Nguyễn Đức An’s membership. By that time Nguyễn Đức An however had lost all his power base to be a significant and relevant voice. [2015: At a speaking engagement on August 15, 2015 in Orlando, FL, Lloyd Duong was approached by Dr. Nguyễn Đức An whose switching-camp act ended PEN Vietnam’s 1995-2000 schism. He still held on intense anger. He wrote long emails to ask Lloyd Duong to act as his attorney to take legal action against Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa, Minh Đức Hoài Trinh, Sơn Tùng, etc. His pleading was declined.] General Assembly VII 2007 There were 3 slates of candidates in this election led by Nguyễn Bửu Thoại, Sơn Tùng and former President Trang Châu Lê Văn Châu. President Phạm Quang Trình wished to run but his faction led by Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa prevented him from seeking second term and preferred Sơn Tùng for this position.
25 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Nguyễn Phước Đáng, a member from San Jose, discovered that Sơn Tùng did not possess the required qualifications to run as prescribed by the Bylaws at that time, i.e. Sơn Tùng was not a member in any local Chapter’s Executive Board. A crisis ensued and Sơn Tùng faction quickly inserted him into the Northeast USA Chapter’s Executive Board as Vice-Chair for External Affairs. This remedial act was questioned by members and rejected by the other candidates, who then complained the unscrupulous tactic to circumvent the Bylaws to PEN International. PEN International recommended the 3 slates of candidates to work together to amend the Bylaws to give all members a direct vote. The General Assembly VII held on 13/14-10-2007 in Annandale, VA, did not elect a new President and Executive Board but just passed amendments to the Bylaws and Regulations to: 1. Extend ballot to all members (not just to only 5 Chapters’ official delegates as in preceding Bylaws); and . 2. Eliminate the General Assembly’s Standing Committee which was abused from time to time to restrict the authority of the Executive Board. Sơn Tùng Nguyễn Minh Ngọc later claimed falsely to be president of PEN Vietnam although he had never been elected. Sơn Tùng went even further to claim in writings that Minh Đức Hoài Trinh was the sole founder of PEN Vietnam and purposely ignored all invaluable contributions from other founders such as those of Trần Tam Tiệp, Nguyên Sa Trần Bích Lan, Trần Thanh Hiệp, Nguyễn Văn Hảo. .
26 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh All Sơn Tùng Nguyễn Minh Ngọc’s false claims were debunked by WiPC Chair Lloyd Duong, who researched into PEN Vietnam’s history and discovered that Sơn Tùng had never been elected to PEN Vietnam’s president office. Sơn Tùng was just president of his faction for a short time in the same fashion as Đặng Văn Nhâm, who was president of the opposing faction, and during the schism PEN International did not recognize either faction, its president and, further, prohibited both factions from claiming to represent PEN Vietnam in all communications. General Assembly VIII 2009 Nguyễn Đăng Tuấn, Poet, was elected President for a 3-year term. President Nguyễn Đăng Tuấn The 2009-2011 Executive Board included Yên Sơn Trương Nguyên Thuận as Secretary General and Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa as Treasurer. Nguyễn Đăng Tuấn was a protégé of Sơn Tùng
27 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Nguyễn Minh Ngọc, who was in charge of the election and thus prevented the opposing candidate Vũ Văn Tùng to gain direct access to members. All campaign materials had to go through Sơn Tùng, who controlled the voting list. There was no activity during this term because, as President Nguyễn Đăng Tuấn revealed later in January 2015, he was prevented by Yên Sơn and Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa from acting as president and, in fact, they seized his President’s authority. [“.. CT (NĐ Tuấn) không có quyền điều khiển và quyết định... (YS và NHN) Tranh chức TTK và nhất là Thủ Quỹ hiện hình thành dối trá lọc lừa. Ngoài mặt thì tranh chức Thủ Qũy, TTK nhưng lươn lẹo bên trong liên kết lập bè đảng gian trá làm CT..” (NĐT, Jan 8, 2015 11:59 am).] During this term, the two-decade-old close relationship between Sơn Tùng Nguyễn Minh Ngọc and Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa disintegrated. In the summer of 2011 both resorted to their favourite character assassination tactics and, worse, accused each other to be “strategic Communist agent” [“cán bộ tình báo chiến lược của CS” (NHN, Jun 22, 2011 10:24 am)]. In November 2014, in a public email to members, Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa went further to accuse Sơn Tùng to be the kingmaker, who orchestrated the 2009 election to give the presidency to Nguyễn Đăng Tuấn. [“Người “dựng” NDT lên làm chủ tịch là cựu chủ tịch Sơn Tùng.” (NHN, Oct 20, 2014 7:53 pm)]. Note that Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa was treasurer in Nguyễn Đăng Tuấn’s Executive Board and thus also benefited directly from Sơn Tùng’s scheme.
28 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh General Assembly IX 2011 Vũ Văn Tùng, Author, Pharmacist, was elected President for a 3-year term. The Regulations were amended to create the Regulatory Committee. The lost candidate Yên Sơn Trương Nguyên Thuận was appointed as Regulatory Committee Chair, and subsequently he abused this position to attack President Vũ Văn Tùng’s works. (This Regulatory Committee, a hidden form of the defunct General Assembly’s Standing Committee, was later abolished by an amendment to the Bylaws at Lloyd Duong’s recommendation). President Vũ Văn Tùng President Vũ Văn Tùng applied for and received Charity status for PEN Vietnam. Semi-annual literary collections were published.
29 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Semi-annual literary collections (10 issues) General Assembly X 2014 President Vũ Văn Tùng, Author, Pharmacist, was re-elected President for the second 3-year term. The lost candidate Yên Sơn Trương Nguyên Thuận and his supporters including Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa and Minh Đức Hoài Trinh submitted a petition with 8o signatures to PEN International President and Secretary alleging fraud and pleading PEN International to intervene to hold a new election. This petition was ignored by PEN International.
30 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh During President Vũ Văn Tùng’s second term, collections of member’ literary works continued to be published quarterly. First PEN Vietnam’s literary camp In August 2016 PEN Vietnam’s the first literary camp was organized by Lloyd Duong in Houston, TX. Yên Sơn Trương Nguyên Thuận’s camp led by Túy Hà based in Houston circulated a letter protesting the literary camp with malicious allegations. Despite their silly attack, members and patrons from Houston and across Canada and the US loved the 3-day camp full of activities including composing poems while competing in paddle boat racing.
31 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh As the camp proceeded, Houston City Mayor Sylvester Turner sent an official Proclamation to the campsite declaring the dates of PEN Vietnam’s literary camp (19-20/8/2016) as “Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre Days in Houston, Texas.” Houston City’s Proclamation: “Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre Days in Houston, Texas.”
32 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh
33 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh General Assembly XI 2017 Vịnh Thanh Dương Thành Lợi (Lloyd Duong), Author and Attorney, was elected President for a 3-year term. President Vịnh Thanh Dương Thành Lợi Premier Kathleen Wynne on behalf of the government of Ontario sent official congratulation and “thanks the Board and members of the Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre for their contribution to nurturing the extraordinary voices and stories of our Vietnamese community.”
34 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh General Assembly XI was held on December 16, 2017 at the Royal Canadian Military Institute in Toronto, Canada.
35 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh PEN Vietnam Executive Board 2018-2020 President Lloyd DƯƠNG Vice President Liệu Hữu LÊ Secretary General Sean NGUYỄN Treasurer Tuyết Nga Thị NGUYỄN Sean Nguyễn, Lloyd Dương, Liệu Hữu Lê Tuyết Nga Thị Nguyễn PEN International 85th Congress Manila, Philippines
36 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh PEN Vietnam 2018-2020 Activities Era of Literary and International Advancement The Executive Board 2018-2020 established Kỷ Nguyên Thanh Lịch (Era of Literary and International Advancement) to actively promote the Voices of Conscience and the Echoes of Compassion of Vietnamese across the globe in order to restore PEN Vietnam’s historic role as the only entity from Republic of Vietnam on international stage. ⁜ 2018 ⁜ 1. Website PENVietnam.org was created to present activities, campaigns and members’ literary works in English and Vietnamese. 2. The 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Establishment of the Vietnamese Abroad PEN Centre was organized in Washington, D.C., on March 31, 2018. The celebration was the biggest event in PEN Vietnam’s history attended by nearly 500 members and patrons. The 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Establishment of the Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre Washington, D.C., March 31, 2018
37 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh Literary Collection published by Executive Board 2018-2020 3. The Executive Board attended PEN International 84th Congress in Pune, India, in 9-2018 and submitted Resolution on Vietnam.
38 . PEN Vietnam: Synopsis of History 1957-2020 Vịnh Thanh 4. PEN Vietnam’s delegates [Lloyd Duong, Lê Hữu Liệu, Sean Nguyen] were invited to speak at different venues during PEN International 84th Congress. Vice-President Lê Hữu Liệu and Secretary General Sean Nguyễn Thanh Sơn spoke to university professors and students in Pune, India