The Statement

We, Vietnamese in North America, speaking as individuals and independently of any political or religious organization, together voice our anguished concern over the war in our country.

At the moment, in the name of the highest sounding principles, the parties to the conflict in our country are fast reducing our villages and cities to ashes and rubble, in the process, tearing apart the whole fabric of our society.

To our widows and orphans, to our civilians mangled and burned beyond recognition, to our dead rotting unburied in sun and rain, we owe nothing less than the truth: this is not a struggle for freedom and democracy; it has become a war of genocide.

By now, it is clear that there are limits to what American power can do in Vietnam; on the other hand, there are no limits to what American power can do to Vietnam. Unleashing on a small country the most destructive firepower ever known to mankind, the United States has brought our nation to the brink of annihilation. The words of the American commander, that "To save Bentre it has become necessary to destroy it," plainly reflect the moral, political and military bankruptcy of American policy in Vietnam. Both self-interest and moral responsibility, then, make it imperative that the people and government of the United States take the lead in ending this conflict.

To end the war before it is too late, we call upon the American government to heed Secretary-General U Thant's appeal and stop all bombing of North Vietnam. We call upon the United States government, the government of South Vietnam, the government of North Vietnam and the National Liberation Front to promptly reach a peaceful settlement. [A lasting peace for Vietnam should be based upon a total withdrawal of foreign troops that will allow us, Vietnamese, to shape our future free from all foreign interference.]

We urgently appeal to the world community, through the United Nations, to condemn, in view of their devastating effects on our people, the use of chemical warfare, napalm, and anti-personnel bombs. Finally, to prevent the ultimate crime against mankind, we ask the General Assembly to forbid the use of nuclear weapons by any party in this conflict.

In this dark hour of history, we appeal to all men of good will in the world, particularly in the United States, to join us in denouncing this war and in working for an immediate return of peace to Vietnam.