No-U Club: A football club or a reactionary group

31/1/16


As tensions between Beijing and Hanoi escalate over the South China Sea in May, 2014, Vietnamese anti-government elements have found a new form of sabotage: football. Yes, at first, it sounds funny, but then, with their sophisticated schemes, they have turned a sport to kind of reactionary, a football club to an anti-State of Vietnam group. Let see what this football club is doing.
Established in 2011, they call themselves "No U FC" -- a reference to their opposition to the U-shaped “nine-dash line” that China draws on maps to assert its sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, passing close to Vietnam, then around Malaysia and north to the Philippines, an area where potential oil deposits, strategic shipping routes and fishing rights converge in one of Asia's most combustible territorial disputes.
They came together during protests against China’s expansionist moves in the South China Sea. For years, dozens of players and supporters of No-U FC, mostly anti-government dissidents, have gathered every Sunday in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, to kick a ball around — and talk reactionary plots. They also have joined together in political campaigns that caused turbulence and disorder on streets. They aim to promote so-called civil society movement in Vietnam that is misused purposely to protest the Party and State of Vietnam.
"FC" stands for Football Club, but some extreme considers it as "Fuck China". Its’ members are mostly dissidents and anti-government individuals such as Le Van Dung, Nghiem Ngoc Trai, Nguyen Tien Nam, Nguyen Chi Tuyen, La Viet Dung, Pham Van Chinh, Nguyen Lan Thang, Nguyen Van Dung, Dang Thi Phuong Bich, Bui Minh Hang,… But, after a short time, due to internal conflicts, some have separated from the club and acted on their own.
Among the club's fans are notorious dissidents for anti-government activities such as Le Gia Khanh, 80, who was imprisoned for six years for helping former colonial ruler France during the First Indochina War that ended in 1954. He was jailed a second time during the Vietnam War with the United States. They wore black-and-white soccer jerseys with a crossed-out U-shaped crest on the front. Emblazoned on the back: "Hoàng Sa", the Vietnamese name for disputed islands also known as the Paracels. The club now has hundreds of members nationwide.  Most have been jailed — some are currently in prison. 
 Like many Vietnamese, they are angry that China seized control of the Paracel Islands after a battle with South Vietnamese forces in 1974; that it continues to harass Vietnamese fishermen; and that it has now embarked on a massive program of land ­reclamation in the Spratly archipelago. But the anger goes a wrong way. In March 2015, they took advantage of Hanoi’s program of chopping down trees on the streets to conduct anti-government propaganda. In November 2015, several members of No-U FC took to the streets again to protest a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping which totally goes against the country’s interests and diplomatic courtesy.
As members of No-U FC describe it, they try to distort the Party and State of Vietnam’s policies by false allegations that the Communist Party in Vietnam is not defending the country’s national interests in the South China Sea because it depends on China’s Communist leaders to shore up its rule. They propagandize that their target is democracy — multiparty democracy, freedom and a more equal society.
Inter­net penetration has mushroomed, with nearly 45 million people — almost half the population — now online. Facebook is enormously popular among the young. In this environment, No-U FC has inspired others to form small civil society groups across Vietnam. The unregistered groups work on anything from land protests to calling the release of prisoners who have broken laws.
So, as that, we can see the true face of this club, self-claimed as patriots but not, what they really do is to sabotage the administration of the Party and State of Vietnam for their own benefits under the names of democracy and freedom which our Party and State have been widely admitted as done quite good.
It’s sad that some members of No-U club are intellectuals and bloggers whose anger is abused beyond Beijing to sensitive domestic issues — from a widening rich-poor divide to land evictions and go against the government.
They criticized the government for what they see as a weak response to assertions of Chinese sovereignty, especially when China brought the oil-rig HD981 into Vietnam’s EEZ.
"The Vietnam government needs to put more pressure on China," they said.
But, they should share condolences for Vietnam’s leaders that the country’s economy depends heavily on China. Imported Chinese machinery, refined oil and steel are at the heart of Vietnam's factory-fuelled economy, stretching Vietnam's trade deficit with China which our Party and State have worked hard to downgrade. I share the same Chinese resentment that runs deep, rooted in feelings of national pride and the struggle for independence after decades of war and colonialism. Faded grey pagodas etched with Chinese characters are studded around Hanoi, a reminder of the more than 1,000 years of Chinese rule that ended in the 10th century. Even, some recall the invasion of Chinese forces in northern Vietnam in 1979 and the border skirmishes that continued into the 1980s.
But, at this time, we must refrain from hard protests. However, Vietnam’s authorities have done its jobs to raise condemnations on China’s activities on the South China Sea. So, let the government do its jobs and have faith, because after all, we are all Vietnamese./.
Chia sẻ bài viết ^^
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All comments [ 16 ]


Funny Day 1/2/16 06:08

protesting China' illegal actions in the East Sea shows patriotism, but taking advantage of this action against the Goverment is unacceptable

erica black 1/2/16 06:12

in Vietnam many groups disguised fight for democracy but actually intend against the State

Unknown 1/2/16 06:15

No-U is an clear anti-State of Vietnam group, not a pure football clup

Unknown 1/2/16 06:20

right, all members of this club include anti-government people

Unknown 1/2/16 06:22

No-U try to distort Vietnam’s policies by false allegations that the Communist Party in Vietnam is not defending the country’s national interests in the East Sea because it depends on China’s Communist leaders to shore up its rule.

Red Star 1/2/16 20:36

Yes, there's no football club like this, they are just mixed group that aims to undermine the leadership of our Party and State.

Voice of people 1/2/16 20:38

Not just only them who worry about the country's sovereignty!

John Smith 1/2/16 20:40

I agree with Deck Hero14, we are all Vietnamese people, we all concern for our country, our fatherland, but not like what they have done.

For A Peace World 1/2/16 20:41

we can see the true face of this club, self-claimed as patriots but not, what they really do is to sabotage the administration of the Party and State of Vietnam for their own benefits.

yobro yobro 1/2/16 22:05

So funny that they said they propagandize that their target is democracy — multiparty democracy, freedom and a more equal society. Who could believe in that?

Gentle Moon 1/2/16 22:06

Who, I don't!

Me Too! 1/2/16 22:08

It's dangerous that they think what they have done are right, and among them there are some intellectuals.

LawrenceSamuels 1/2/16 22:09

They are totally an reactionary group, no discussion. I think we all know can see their true face now.

Socialist Society 1/2/16 22:12

They should share condolences for Vietnam’s leaders that the country’s economy depends heavily on China. And, once we oppose China so harsh, our people, our economy will be affected negatively.

Voice of people 1/2/16 22:15

We may admit that their purpose is firstly good, but their actions are wrong and have caused many problems for the country.

Vietnam Love 1/2/16 22:16

Yeah, let the government do its jobs and keep the faith1

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