Government of Free Vietnam (GFVN), (vietnamese: CHÍNH PHỦ LÂM THỜI VIỆT NAM TỰ DO).
History
The Government of Free Vietnam is a anti-communist organization that was established on April 30, 1995, by its founder Nguyen Hoang Dan . Their headquaters are in Garden Grove, California, United States. The organization goals are to remove the current government of Vietnam politically or militarily.
Mr. Nguyen Huu Chanh is the Prime Minister, General Linh Quang Vien serves as Vice Prime Minister, Admiral Lam Nguon Tanh serves as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nguyen Khac Chinh serves as the Minister of Information, Mr. Nguyen Huy Dau serves as Minister of Justice, Nguyen Son Ha serves as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Edgar Foshee is Chairman of the International Committee, and Mr. Ngo Trong Anh is President of the of the advisory council.
The Government of Free Vietnam claims 6,000 members and 100,000 supporters who were trained in secret camp locations along the Vietnam border. They also claim 75 chapters in Asia, Australia, and Europe. Although the GFVN prides itself on its widespread support, there are those who argue that the GFVN never received a true mandate to represent the Vietnamese American community.
They have a base of operations in KC-702 , a secret base along the border between Vietnam and Cambodia.
Some community members also do not condone the organization's political and paramilitary actions. The doubt and disassociation some have towards the GFVN was either initiated or reinforced by a fundraiser failure.
In July of 1998, Prime Minister Nguyen Huu Chanh was ordered by the California Department of Corporations to cease the marketing of "gold reserve depository bearer bonds." Chanh and other members were selling gold bonds to supporters without a permit, which is illegal under state law. The authenticity of the bonds and their investment promises were also held suspect by the California Commissioner of Corporations, Dale E. Bonner.
In 1999, the Unites States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), ruled that the Government of Free Vietnam engaged in false and misleading sales tactics.
Politics
In 1999, Vietnamese police arrested 38 members and seized 37 kilograms of explosives in connection with a plot to bomb statues of Ho Chi Minh to disrupt national festivals, the indiviuals were suspected members of the Government of Free Vietnam.
In August 2000, the Government of Free Vietnam was alleged to be involved in arson at the Vietnamese Embassy compound in London, England.
In April 2001, the Government of Free Vietnam was alleged bomb explodes at Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh, injuring a guard.
In September 2001, Philippine police charged three suspected members for allegedly plotting to bomb the Vietnamese embassy in Manila, they suspected that the the Government of Free Vietnam was involved.
In October 2001, The Government of Free Vietnam gained greater attention when a member, Vo Duc Van, was arrested at the John Wayne airport for the attempted bombing of the Vietnamese embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.
This arrest led to an outcry by the Communist Vietnamese government to pressure the United States to shutdown the Government of Free Vietnam and led to FBI investigations into Nguyen Huu Chanh and the organization, and demonstrations in support of Vo Duc Van from Vietnamese American communities.
In September 2001, Philippine police charged three suspected members for allegedly plotting to bomb Vietnamese embassy in Manila.
The Government of Free Vietnam violates the U.S. Neutrality Act, but like its counterpart the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, the U.S. government has not taken a strong stance against them, except by arresting Vo Duc Van.
Economy
The Government of Vietnam has a budget of about one million U.S. dollars a year, mostly donated by wealthy Vietnamese businessmen around the world.
External Links
Last updated: 05-20-2005 04:07:31
