Path of Vietnam Prisoners of Conscience Interview Nguyen Huu Cau

Hello uncle Nguyen Huu Cau! We’re from Sai Gon travelling down here to Binh An hospital to visit you. You’re just out of prison, so we would like to ask about your current health status. After the home-coming trip, I was exhausted. The next day I felt dizzy and fell over. My blood pressure was high. Then my family took me to the town clinic. The doctor there told me to get hospitalized, otherwise I’ll have a deadly stroke. I’ve had 4 bags of intravenous fluids and 6 bags of blood. Tomorrow will be like that. Since then, I have felt better by 60-70 percent. -That’s it. -Okay. On coming home, how did you feel when you reunited with your family – your son and grandchildren? Once the prison truck arrived at my house, it was already 9 pm. My home-town is in U Minh, so frogs and toads were croaking all night… To finally touch the flesh of your children, your grandchildren… That feeling I had never experienced in my life. It was as if you were on another planet. That feeling was very powerful. When I was in school, I learned of the English word "inspiration" You only have that feeling when you’re high on drugs. It’s hard to describe the feeling if you haven’t experienced it. That’s how I felt. It was indescribable. You had been in jail for 38 years. So during such a long time like that, which memories stick in your mind the most? The one that would never be forgotten during those 38 years is also not easy to tell. It was about a lieutenant serving in my prison. At that time, there was a lady called Ba Thu from some Protestant group. She used to send me copies of the Bible. According to the prison rule, all copies of Bible would be officially burned on reception. This lieutenant, he also appeared to carry out the procedure in the presence of a witness. But I knew he had been keeping up until then dozens of unburned Bible books. That was the most unforgettable memory to me. But I just can’t say the name of that lieutenant. Some time later when the [country] situation improves, If the high above allows, I would suggest them reward him. Promote him from lieutenant to major, for example. Not all folks from the government side are bad. Because among demons, there are still angels few and far between. That was the most unforgettable memory. I would like to ask 1 more question. I heard that while in prison, you wrote many poems and songs. And when you were released, you stood up for yourself in order to bring them out of the prison. So, do you have them with you now? Can you share with us? The songs and poems I wrote, after such a long time in jail they now all stay in my mind. I have around 100 songs and poems about love – like love of our homeland, love between mother and child. I also have approximately 40 compositions on struggling, like the song The Ox Pulls The Cart. In my viewpoint, songs written to put some certain men on a pedestal, some of which I also have, are just short-lived, because they’re not coming from the heart. For me, I personally identify with songs like "The Fall Has Passed Away" by Pham Duy They live longer than those “Rise up and fight and die” kind of songs, which are not endurable. So in the days to come I want to introduce more songs about love. I think songs that claim “You’re the bad guy, I’m the good guy” or “I’m superior over you” are just childish… It sounds like kindergarten kids talking silly stuff to each other. Men aged 80 or 90 shouldn’t be like that. That’s what I think. Uncle Cau, a lot of civil society groups and individuals are concerned about you. So, do you want to send them any message? I see among those people who show support, there are also war veterans from this Socialist regime. I’m not talking about war veterans from the South Vietnam. They were quite concerned when I was released. They saw me walking towards the prison gate empty-handed, so they gave me bags of sugar. I start from the lowest level. As for the higher levels, there are groups and associations inside and outside the country. They are conscientious people. They show their thoughtfulness by sending us prisoners gifts, medicines and books. We can’t value this deed at 1 million VND, or that deed at 2 million. I can only pay back by these tears of mine… What they did was invaluable. Via the 2 of you, I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of brothers and sisters who are still in jail… for those books, medicines and presents we received. I have been given permission to say thanks on their behalf. I couldn’t do this if they hadn’t given me the permission. This is what they asked me to say on their behalf: “When you come back, please send our gratitude for us.” Now can we sing your famous song The Ox Pulls The Cart? We will start by you singing the first lines, then the two of us will follow. I can sing that song… But the doctor has just told me to be careful, since yesterday he found out a problem with my heart valves. Usually singing is easy for me. Just a few short lines? Uhm…. Should you or I start first? We’ll sing along after you start. (singing his own song) - I should stop here. - Okay, okay. When I was younger, singing 10 or 20 songs consecutively was no problem. Now it’s just weird, as if somebody was squeezing my neck. There’s such a difference between 30 and 70 years of age. On behalf of Bau Bi Tuong Than Group, we would like to give you a financial aid of 200 USD. And another assistance of 400 USD from Dan Luan online newspaper and The Vietnam Path Movement. We hope our support will help you recover so that you will be able to sing aloud The Ox Pulls The Cart with everybody. I have about 40 or 50 songs better than that one. Then we hope you’ll get well soon to introduce those songs.