LEST WE FORGET
I refer to Mr Ken Bone's letter (Illawarra Mercury, August 18, 2016). Mr Bone called for our South Vietnamese memorial in Wollongong to acknowledge those living and fighting for North Vietnam as well.
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This is an insensitive call, and shows he does not know much about the communists of Vietnam.
One of the first things the Communists did when they took over South Vietnam was to bulldoze the South's military cemetery. My father and many thousands of South Vietnamese soldiers and personnel after released from concentration camp were forced to live on the streets as beggars, no pension, no jobs.
They had been beaten, forced into hard labour, tortured to death and mentally scarred. There is no place in Vietnam, after 41 year of Communist rule, for us to pay tribute to the fallen and living South Vietnamese soldiers who sacrificed and fought for our freedom. The recent cancellation of the Long Tan commemoration in Vietnam has demonstrated the communist government does not want a reconciliation.
This memorial is being built with funds raised from former South Vietnamese refugees and their families in the Illawarra.
For as long as we live, we will continue to speak up for what happened to us and to our former homeland, because people inside Vietnam still cannot speak up against the regime today. If they dare to do so they can be put in prison without proper trial. We love Vietnam, we love our people, but what we are against is the communist regime. Whether the Australian Army and personnel were conscripted, or enlisted to go to Vietnam of their own free will, we have a duty to remember their sacrifices along with the South Vietnam soldiers who died defending our sovereignty and freedom. We will always remember them for many generations to come. Lest we forget
Ms Teresa Tran, President, Vietnamese Community in Wollongong
WHO IS ON THE JOB?
So Gareth Ward refuses to support the push for Government contracts, both State and federal, to include a quota of Australian steel?
His lame reasoning is this initiative would undermine competition and is contrary to ACCC rules. Well, I've got an alternative for Mr Ward to consider:
Before any contract is awarded to a multi-national company, a factor should be applied. This factor could be named 'Australian Community Benefit' and would include such elements as, workers income tax, payroll tax, company tax, GST, bearing on employment (reduction of dole payments) and the flow-on jobs derived from an employment boost.
Had this factor been applied to the Korean rail carriage fiasco, then the Illawarra may have been gained an extra 600 jobs.
Bob Young, Mount Keira
WAITING TO HAPPEN
In spite of all the good work being done around the “blue mile”, there is still a major problem , and getting worse. I don’t really know what can be done, nor is this letter a criticism aimed at the council, or anyone.
I am referring to the “shared” bicycle track, especially the section from North Beach to City beach. As more and more walkers and bikers are using the path, it has become a dangerous place to be in. Accidents are waiting to happen.
Last Saturday morning ,I was suddenly in a situation of nowhere to go, with toddlers and parents in a group ,left no room for a bike to travel on. I should have dismounted, but tried to go around them by riding off the kerb. As a result, I sustained a fractured shoulder and other injuries.I hope for us all ,that the engineers can come up with something.
May I also take this opportunity to thank the two good policeman and lots of other people , who were there for me, till the “ambos“ came. We do live in a great city, that will never change.
John Pronk BM, Wollongong
