Vietnamese appeals to CNMI’s compassion

A Vietnamese national based in Australia has urged governor-elect Benigno R. Fitial to support efforts to establish a safe haven for Vietnamese human trafficking victims in the Commonwealth.

Tung Nguyen of Vien Xu Radio, a radio station in Victoria, Australia, said his people would be very grateful to the CNMI if the islands agree to host Vietnamese girls sold to white slavery.

“The kindness of the people of Saipan and the Northern Marianas will not be forgotten by my people. Your beautiful people and islands will be well-known among our community around the world and in the United States in particular,” Nguyen said in a letter to Fitial yesterday.

“Your generosity in helping the most uncared for of [God’s] children will reap great rewards in heaven for the people of Saipan and the Northern Marianas. So I urge you please to support [the adoption of regulations] to help those forgotten children of God,” he added.

Earlier, Attorney General Pamela S. Brown said that the safe haven project has the backing of Vietnamese citizens from around the world. She noted that, in southern California alone, there are 500,000 Vietnamese-Americans who are willing to help the children. Vietnamese-Americans in the entire United States reportedly number about 1.4 million.

The project also has the backing of the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and foundations of singer Ricky Martin and actress Daryl Hannah, according to Brown.

Meanwhile, more than 100 local residents have already expressed their opposition to the project.

Sen. Pete P. Reyes, who leads a campaign to stop the adoption of the proposed safe haven regulations, continues to gather signatures of people opposing the project. He has already submitted to the AGO some 100 signatures, along with his written comment on the draft regulations.

The proposed safe haven regulations, published in the Nov. 25, 2005 edition of the Commonwealth Register, would allow the CNMI to host international victims of human trafficking and forced prostitution, particularly ethnic Vietnamese living in Cambodia.

“The Attorney General finds that the proximity of the CNMI to Southeast Asia and its plenary power over immigration provides a useful tool in fighting the global problem of human trafficking and forced labor,” read a public notice issued by the AGO.

“This regulation is intended to allow approved non-profit charitable corporations to establish a safe, healthy environment for victims while carefully continuing to monitor the entry of aliens into the Commonwealth,” the notice added.

According to the proposed regulations, the Safe Haven Entry Permit will be limited to children aged 8 to 16, who will be sponsored by a non-profit entity dedicated to rescuing victims of human trafficking and sexual slavery.

Initial permits would be issued for a 90-day period, but they may be renewed indefinitely at the attorney general’s discretion. A holder of such permit may eventually transfer to foreign student immigration status if he or she meets requirements. (Agnes E. Donato)