Your Excellency:

 We, Vietnamese living around the world, vehemently protest against the unprovoked brutality of the Chinese maritime police on innocent Vietnamese fishermen in the Tonkin Gulf, within the Vietnamese water, on 8 January 2005.
On January 8th, in the Tonkin Gulf, within the Vietnamese water, Chinese maritime police illegally opened fire on several Vietnamese fishing vessels killing 9 fishermen, wounding 7 and detaining 8. Up to now, the government has not shown any clear evidence of any wrongdoing by these Vietnamese fishermen. Until such evidence is presented by the Chinese government, the action of Chinese maritime police is considered unprovoked, illegal, and atrocious thence deserves a thorough investigation and condemnation by the international community.

 The attack, a clear violation of international seafarers’ practices, on these fishermen, who were operating within Vietnamese water, impacts profoundly on the relations between Vietnam and China as well as relations amongst their peoples. It accentuates the aggressive behaviors and clear contempt by China for international laws, practices and humanity with her repeated violations towards her neighbor’s sovereignty in recent years. Therefore, without any attempt to cover up with unsupported claims, the Chinese government should immediately start an investigation on this brutal crime while allowing the U.N. unrestricted access to the Chinese personnel involved, thus an investigation by the U.N. can also proceed independently. The guilty when found must be brought to justice in accordance with international laws and practices.
 The dignity of these Vietnamese victims must be restored. Their loved ones must also be properly compensated. The impact, that these senseless murders are and will be having on their families, must not be trivialized just because they were poor fishermen. In the case of those who were murdered, their families have not only just lost their fathers, husbands or sons but also important bread-earners. Those who are being detained illegally by the Chinese government must be suffering great anxiety. In all cases, without a doubt their families are spending many sleepless nights, and are traumatized about those men’s fate and what tomorrow will bring. With each passing day, their peaceful lives will only be further in danger due to such abrupt disruption to their livelihood.
 On behalf of the Vietnamese fishermen, we, citizens of the world of Vietnamese descent, strongly condemn the Chinese maritime police’s brutal actions and violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty as well as international laws and practices.
 We demand that the Chinese government
 * · Immediately return the illegally captured Vietnamese fishermen, fishing vessels and assets.
 * · Adequately compensate for lost lives and assets resulted from the illegal killings and seizures.
 * · Actively prevent further killings of Vietnamese citizens, open a thorough investigation and prosecute and punish the murderers in accordance to international laws and practices.
 * · Respect Vietnam’s sovereignty, international rules of laws (UNCLOS), diplomatic regulations and protocols at the sea borders between Vietnam and China.
 Sincerely yours,

 World citizens of Vietnamese Descent.