Brother Michel was put in a cell, but not for long. He was taken out, between
2 armed policemen, to be interrogated. He had to answer all the usual questions,
have his I.D. photo and fingerprints taken, as for any other detainee. But, in
his case, there was more because of these elements:
. Tien had confessed that “Brother Michel was present at the scene with Brothers
Dennis, Pierre, and Duong Hoang, duplicating prints of the flyer;”
. Policemen had discovered the opened M79 bullet head when they searched his
room (page 213;)
. Policemen might know, or just suspect, that Brother Michel had a “good or bad”
reputation for his expertise in regard to “playing with any kind of gun.”
Thus, interrogating Brother Michel on this matter was intense and more severe,
even more threatening than for us. Perhaps Brother Michel did not know that
Brother Dennis had been at large, at least temporarily at large. In addition, he
didn’t want any Brothers or Juniors - especially Brother Dennis to be in
trouble. He resolved to take all responsibility for what happened. That was why
to the question about the flyer, Brother Michel confessed, “I, myself, brought a
flyer from a newly acquainted friend of mine at the New Economic Zone Binh Son,
whose name was XYZ.”
The problem was not that simple! However, the police investigator aimed at a
more important point: guns and everything related to any sort of weapon. The
chief police asked, “What about guns and bullets found in your room?”
“ What? Guns and bullets found in my room? Never! I cannot accept that
accusation.”
“ Not only in your room! We have found several guns and bullets on the property
of La Salle Mossard.”
Brother Michel shook his head, and then firmly declared, “I don’t know what you
are talking about.” Policemen are very familiar with such a common answer “I
don’t know!” They knew what to do to reverse “don’t” into “do”. Three guards
forced Brother Michel’s back down on a wooden board, and put another wooden
board on his chest, and then used the rifle to batter hard above the wooden
board. To each battering was a corresponding painful sound “hmmm” from the mouth
of Brother Michel, which echoed “You don’t know, or you do know?” from a guard.
At the 10th “... know... know” there was no more “hmmm” echoed. Brother Michel
had fainted from pain and was unconscious.
Lying alone in the dark cell, two fetters tied from his legs to an iron stake
and his two wrists cuffed, Brother Michel had a nightmare. He dreamt of Brother
Colomban’s hands cuffed and tortured, and who could not retain murmuring “pain!
pain!” and crying... He saw Brother Francois, the Director, emaciated and quite
haggard, responding to threatening questions that he never knew how to answer...
He saw Brother Pierre with his bloody fingers... He envisioned Brothers Gervais
and Valery, hands cuffed, and trailed around the Thu Duc Market... He also saw
the Juniors’ pale and petrified faces... Brother Michel suddenly woke up, his
body all wet with sweat, and painful and uncomfortable from wounds - wounds on
body, and especially wounds of mind and heart. “Is it rather better” he thought,
“that I plead guilty? I, and I alone, take responsibility for everything?” He
fell again into unconsciousness.
How long did he fall into unconsciousness? He didn’t really know but, once
awaken, he felt his mind and body much relieved. He resolutely decided to
confess everything for the sake of peace of mind for himself, and overall for
the sake of his confreres. No matter at what time of the day it was, Brother
Michel shouted from the cell, “I want to meet Mr. Interrogator.” It was about
4:00 A.M.
Both the head of the detention center and the investigator were surprised at
seeing Brother Michel’s fragile and emaciated body after enduring just one day
what they called “efficient drug assistance in helping the most obstinate
criminal to confess the truth.” Whether by compassion more or less mixed with
regret for applying such a “drug” to an intellectual or by what people used to
say “tears of crocodiles”, they ordered guards to give Brother Michel a cup of
hot tea, with lots of salt and a half of a lemon. [This is a way to cure
internal disease. In the case of Brother Michel, although the hard rifle
battering on the wooden board above his chest didn’t cause any external wounds,
he had to suffer serious internal wounds from coagulated blood within his
internal organs.] The investigator, who agreed with the detention center
head, said to Brother Michel, “It’s good for you to have one day off to relieve
and cure your internal disease. We will continue our work tomorrow morning.”
Then he said to the guards, “Bring him back to the cell. Feed him with rice and
anything reserved to high ranking officers.” After each meal serve hot tea mixed
with salt as a drink, Brother Michel threw up coagulated blood. But he gradually
felt much better.
The next day, Brother Michel began his confession by the statement that he had
been thinking about and that he was convinced would save his confreres from
disastrous consequences. “I, and only I, take the whole responsibility for
everything that happened to La Salle Mossard. My confreres did not know what I
was doing, not single one knew it. Please release all my confreres, because no
one knew or was involved in what I have done.”
Brother Michel stopped talking, looked at the policemen waiting for their
reactions. The investigator had a talk and shared something with the detention
center head. Even though he showed some anger, his eyes revealed something
hopeful and positive. The detention center head, Mr. Canh, in contrast, showed
more and more cruelty and determination. He shouted, “This is not negotiation or
anything like that. This is interrogation about anti-revolutionary crime at a
serious level, with weapons, guns and bullets and a well organized force.”
Brother Michel was unexpectedly disappointed in hearing that accusation.
“Mistake!” He said to himself, “Big mistake! I thought they were reasonable and
open but, on the contrary, they are just fanatic. I have spilled the beans.” Mr.
Canh lost patience, shouted more loudly, “Do you confess or not? With what
anti-revolution Organization or Front or Group are you connected?”
- “ ...”
- “ From whom did you learn how to use guns and any kind of weapon?”
- “ From nobody.”
- “ From where did you get the opened M79 bullet head?”
- “ I opened it by myself.”
- “ What?”
Everyone in the group of policemen present at the scene opened their eyes,
looking at Brother Michel, in surprised silence. Mr. Canh, calmer, said, “Can
you perform this in front of us?”
- “ Absolutely I can, Brother Michel replied with confidence.”
- “ What tools do you need to do it?”
- “ Just a good metal saw and a good vice.”
- “ OK! We will discuss this later. Right now, you have to confess everything
relating to weapon, bullets and guns. Who brought them to you? Where did you
hide them in the La Salle Mossard property?”
- “ I repeat one more time: I am alone responsible for everything that happened
within the La Salle Mossard property, and no one of my confreres has known or
was informed about anything.”
The detention center head cut short, “None of your bargaining. Your duty is now
to confess everything you have known, and done, and to tell us about any
anti-revolutionary Organization, or Front, or Group. Period!”
- "I received the flyer from..."
Mr. Canh cut him short, impatient, “I knew that... Talk about the bullet
containers and bullets found on the La Salle property.” Brother Michel realized
that Mr. Canh didn’t mention guns; this meant that the policemen hadn’t found
any guns on the La Salle property. He felt more confident and calmer. He
continued, “The container with bullets and bullet belts in them, even the opened
M79 bullet head, were dated a long time ago. I brought them from Dalat in 1970,
‘just for fun’.” Mr. Canh shouted, “Are there, right now, guns or any weapon in
the La Salle property? Where are they hidden?”
This question made it clear: Brother Michel was convinced that they hadn’t found
any guns or weapons yet. The problem was “Were my confreres really arrested and
put in jail? I didn’t hear from any of them. If they were arrested, what did
they confess?” The investigator, who noticed that Brother Michel took a longtime
thinking, shouted in a threatening tone, “Do not think we know nothing yet!
‘Bloke’ Dao has confessed everything; ‘Bloke’ Thang could not stand up under
tortures, and confessed everything. Also ‘Bloke’ Tien, although younger, knew
the right thing to do...”
- "I have said that in the La Salle property, specifically in my room, there
were these rusty bullets that I picked up a long time ago..."
He ordered guards to bring Brother Michel back to cell, and said, “Treat him as
a dangerous man!”
In the early afternoon, Brother Michel heard someone crying, painfully, “Oh!
Oh!... I said I don’t know, I really don’t know!” Brother Michel, petrified,
lamented, “Brother Colomban is being tortured! Oh my God!” Each sound of a colt
gun rifle beaten on the handcuff forcing to tie the detainee’s hands - thus, to
cause more pain to him - pierced like sharp thorns stinging Brother Michel’s
heart. The voice of the interrogator was clearly heard, “Who gave you the
flyer?”
- “ Brother Hong.”
- “ You know that’s from an anti-revolutionary Front, why didn’t you inform the
revolutionary government?”
- “ ...”
Sounds of a colt rifle beating on the handcuffs were heard again, and again. But
after the 3rd sound, Brother Michel didn’t hear Brother Colomban crying anymore.
The latter had fallen into unconsciousness. Sounds of water splashing onto
Brother Colomban’s face were heard. Then, sounds of pain gradually resonated
from his mouth. The investigator started, again, interrogating him, “Who typed
in, then duplicated the flyer?”
- “ Brother Pierre Thang typed in, but I don’t know who duplicated it.”
- “ Where is the Gestetner printing machine now?”
- “ I don’t remember whether someone has borrowed it or has it been sold...”
The sounds of the colt gun beating on the handcuffs became louder, and sounds of
painful crying followed. The voice of the investigator became more cruel, “Are
there guns and any weapons in the La Salle property? Where are they hidden?”
- “ ...”
Brother Michel paid more attention to listening to the responses of Brother
Colomban. But, nothing could be heard. “Poor Brother Colomban must have fallen
into unconsciousness, again,” he thought. He suddenly realized that it was not
involuntary that the investigator spoke loudly, and the table for the
investigation was set nearby his cell. His suspicion was that “The police
intentionally want me to hear the interrogation.” Indeed, a few minutes later,
the investigator’s voice was heard, - “Speak! Where are guns and weapons been
hidden?”
- “ I really don’t know whether or not guns and weapons are in the La Salle
property. How can I know where they are hidden? Whatever I have known, I have
confessed.”
There was quiet for a while. Perhaps the interrogator discussed something with
the detention center head. Then, the interrogator asked, “Is there any promise
from the anti-revolutionary Front in exchange for accepting to duplicate this
flyer?”
- “ No promise, not at all. But, if the change of the government was successful,
I would volunteer to be the Education Service Head of the District of Thu Duc,
in order to ameliorate and renew if necessary the existing educational system.”
There was a longer time of silence. Perhaps, both the interrogator and the
detention center head and policemen still present at the scene, were so
surprised at such a revelation that they couldn’t say anything else. In the end,
the interrogator said, “Bring him back to his cell!” Brother Michel was certain,
now, that no one had confessed anything about guns and weapons in the La Salle
property.
“Drive Mr. Hoang Gia Quang here!” Brother Michel heard from his cell a few
minutes later. “What?” he thought, “Brother Visitor was arrested, too? Oh my
God!” Hearing the voice of Brother Visitor, he was assured that Brother Visitor
was not tortured. Thank God! He tried to listen to the interrogation, but some
sentences and words were not audible. He knew and was convinced that such an
interrogation would be very important for him to decide whether or not to “tell
the whole truth”, even though “NOT all the truth is good to be told.”
- “Where is Mr. Nhon, now?” The interrogator’s voice sounded clear. Brother
Michel paid more attention.
- “ I don’t know!”
- “ You are Visitor, superior of the order, and you don’t know the doings of
your members?”
- “ ...”
- “ Did you know that Mr. Nhon has been at large? If he is a member of your
order, why doesn’t he report to you?”
Brother Michel kept himself from shouting aloud “Good!” He was now sure that
Brother Dennis Nhon had been at large. The interrogator’s voice continued to be
heard, “... If you want us to release all other members at La Salle Community,
than inform us where Mr. Nhon is, now?”
- “ ...”
- “ If you don’t know where he is now, you should do everything in your power as
his superior, to look for him. He must show himself to us, at any price...”
Brother Michel didn’t hear anything else. His mind turned on the fact that
Brother Dennis was at large, and it was good news. However, another idea came to
his mind, “Why did the interrogator, intentionally, let me hear, clearly, this
interrogation, especially such an important section of the interrogation? What
was their main goal?”
The next morning, the interrogation continued. Brother Michel wondered, who
besides Brother Visitor, had been arrested or at least had been connected to the
so-called anti-revolutionary crime at La Salle Mossard Community, “What about
other Brothers of the District of Saigon?” The main purpose of the interrogation
this morning turned on the problem relating to Brother Dennis Nhon. “What had
Mr. Nhon been working on for several months?” The interrogator asked.
- “ As far as I know, Brothers Nhon and Hong have been driver-aids for a long
time. That’s a way to contribute to the living of the community.”
- “ Who else?”
- “ No one else.”
A few minutes of silence, and then the interrogator continued, “What about Mr.
Thang?”
- “ Brother Pierre Thang has been delivering ice blocks to different coffee or
refreshment kiosks in the morning, and the rest of the day, helping Brother
Colomban...”
- “ What about the others, Mr. Anh, Ha, Diep, Phuc, and An?”
- “ Brothers Francois Anh, Gervais Ha, Jerome Diep were still looking for a job.
Brothers Augustin Phuc and Valery An have been working at the 471 Company for
several months now.”
Listening to fluent answers from Brother Visitor, who really had a thorough
grasp of the Brothers’ activities at the La Salle community, Brother Michel felt
more confident and comforted. However, the main problem that concerned him the
most was “What my confreres at La Salle Mossard community had confessed,
especially about my activities, even just confessing anything they had heard
about me?” He guessed that Brother Dennis was at large, but, who knows, if they
set a trap? In addition, if Brother Dennis had been really at large, it was only
for 3 or 4 days. In the near future, he may be apprehended. Still thinking, he
heard Brother Visitor’s voice, “... The driver of the school bus is Mr. Lai,
former driver of La Salle Mossard school.”
- “ Where is the school bus now?”
- “ At the former Provincialate Home in Phu Tho.”
- “ Mr. Lai and Nhon lived there?”
- “ No. The morning they come to Phu Tho on a Honda motorcycle to pick up the
bus to go to the bus station, and after returning the bus , they went back home
in Thu Duc.”
- “ Where is the Honda motorcycle now?”
- “ I don’t know.”
- “ Don’t know! Don’t know! It is the same refrain “I don’t know!” to the
critical question.”
- “ ...”
- “ If you 'don’t know' what happened in just one community, how can you
administer other communities?”
***
During the next two days, there were the same interrogations, loud enough for
Brother Michel to be able to follow up. Although only two Brothers, Visitor and
Colomban were investigated, Brother Michel could not stand it. “Things cannot
continue like that,” he thought. On the morning of the third day, he decided to
“confess everything.” What he told the interrogators was the following:
“First of all, I want to make it clear that the following is the truth, all
the truth: I did the sawing, alone and by my own hands, in order to open the M79
bullet head; nobody ordered me to saw it. I myself picked up several bullets of
different sizes, in order to compare, to examine, and to admire the marvels of
techniques; just for fun and to satisfy my curiosity. Thus, I want to add that,
I, alone and without connection with anyone else - my closest friends and
confreres included - did these things; and I take the entire responsibility for
this. Therefore, if there was anyone who declares or confesses that he or she
has seen me doing something bad, it is just pure invention or false
interpretation from my bad reputation from years ago. I was pretended that I
like playing with guns and bullets of any sort, in spite of fraternal warnings
and corrections, even commands, from my Superiors.
The following is the succession of facts on the matter related to guns and
weapons. After the explosion at Fort Long Binh on the first days of Tet in ‘76,
I was curious to study more about TNT, different sorts of guns, and started
going near the fences around Fort Long Binh, picking up some guns or parts of
guns in order to assemble them to make a new gun. I knew that it is a dangerous
game, but I could not resist my curiosity. That’s why I hid everything from
anyone, even from my closest friends and Brothers.
During the years 1976 and 1977 many of my classmates at the University of Dalat
from 69 to 71 came to confide in me that “... to flee overseas, but the danger
is not from the coast guards because people can ‘buy’ them; the danger is rather
from pirates at sea, especially from Thai pirates. There were so many cases of
our poor ‘boat people’ that they wanted to ‘buy arms of any kind, e.g. guns’ to
protect themselves.” I had categorically refused to share guns, even frankly I
called them and said, “My friends! Before ‘75 tt was OK to play with these kinds
of arms, but nowadays, you must realize that just keeping them clandestinely is
very dangerous.” Although my mouth spoke strong words, my mind and heart were
pained to hear such bad news related to the boat people who encountered Thai
pirates on the high seas. These horrific stories were related by boat people
survivors - my two nieces had been among these poor victims. They killed men who
dared protect women they raped; they even killed women and young ladies after
raping them. If some of them survived, they were sold somewhere to be
atrociously treated as prostitutes or something like that. Some even committed
suicide after suffering such an abuse. My friends’ confidence led me to help
them protect boat people, and it has been working efficiently, at least for 5 or
more attempts to flee overseas.
When my student, Tien, was arrested and put in jail, I knew that sooner or
later, policemen will come to “visit” La Salle Community. For this reason, I
have buried some guns, bullets, and grenades, at a place nobody except I could
find.
Whatever could happen has happened. I confessed the truth, and once more, I
strongly attest that I, and only I, take all responsibility of this happening,
and that no one of my confreres or the Juniors would know about it. I am ready
to accept all consequences of my doings.”
***
On January 8, 1978, Sunday morning at 9:00 A.M. a policeman called Brother
Gervais and me to “go to work.” We just passed the front door. The policeman put
handcuffs on Brother Gervais’ right hand and my left hand, then pushed us into
the back seat of a Jeep, ready to go. Two armed policemen were seated on the
rear. The Jeep moved in the direction of La Salle Mossard school, then stopped
at the rear gate of the Junioriate. The driver, before getting out of the Jeep,
said, “Sit still,” then went to meet Mr. Le Thu, the chief of police.
I looked inside the Junioriate through the wide open gate and saw Brother Michel
under a big tree. He looked really emaciated and seemed to pay no attention to
anything around him. Brother Colomban, with ruffled hair and miserable in
appearance, sat on the stone bench nearby. A few meters inwards stood Brother
Francois who looked tired and nervous. A little farther on stood Tien, the
Junior, with a bewildered look. Scattered everywhere were many armed policemen
standing guard. An amazing point I noted was that no one of them had their hands
cuffed like Brother Gervais and me, still sitting on the Jeep.
A few minutes later, the driver came back to the Jeep, started the motor, and
then U-turned in the direction of the temporary detention center #1. On the road
outwards to Hoang Dieu Street, I saw a car en route to the Junioriate. I glanced
at it and saw Bishop Mam, adjutant to the archbishop of Saigon, Mgr. Nguyen Van
Binh. “What’s happening?” I thought, “Why did they drive Brother Gervais and me
to the gate, then returned ‘home?’ Why is the bishop there, the bishop who since
the events of ‘75, people said, ‘has been changing color’ come to the Junioriate?”
I guessed that something very important and decisive for the La Salle Mossard
Community was happening. After the confessions of Tien, Brothers Colomban and
Michel, and Brother Francois, as Director of the coomunity, were there. Mgr. Mam
, adjutant bishop, was “invited” to be the clerical witness. Brother Lucien,
Visitor, would be there too, I thought.
The Jeep stopped in front of the door to “our” room. We were un-cuffed. Brother
Gervais was driven back to the large room. I was pushed into a small room.
***
After his "sincere" confession, Brother Michel was allowed to enjoy freedom
for his legs and hands, i.e. still in dark cell but no more handcuffs nor
fetters. In addition, his meals were much improved with white rice and hot tea
mixed with salt and lemon. He felt peace of mind after he had relieved of
himself a burden that had haunted his mind and soul and heart several days
before. However, one more thing he could not digest, “Can I believe these guys,
the investigator and Mr. Le Canh, in releasing my confreres? Just hope!”
Early morning of Sunday January 8, a policeman called, “’Brother’ Hong! Let’s go
to work!” Without handcuffs, Brother Michel was driven back to his beloved home,
the Junioriate, where he had been enjoying teaching and living among those
innocent and dynamic Juniors for 7 years. “What?” he said to himself when he
entered the La Salle Mossard property, “Only ‘temporarily’ absent for six days,
and it becomes that desolate?” He felt tears rolling down. He was allowed to
take a tour, alone, around the property. To his surprise both amazing and
anxious, he saw Mr. Cau hidden behind a corner of the building. Mr. Cau was one
of the Boy Scouts Brother Michel had taken care in Dalat and had been “the most
wanted” for his military career as member of 302 Brigade of the former Saigon
Army. He knew what had happened to the Brothers at La Salle Mossard community.
When he saw Brother Michel, he started to run toward him, but Brother Michel
made a sign to stop and to jump over of the fence, immediately. He did it,
realizing that serious things had happened.
A few minutes later, policemen escorted Brother Francois to the scene,
handcuffed then un-cuffed before getting out of the Jeep. Then Brother Colomban
got down from the Jeep. The four brothers looked at each other, then shared a
head shaking that signified they had the same feelings. Mgr. Mam came, then
Brother Lucien, Visitor, followed by Brother Fidele, Auxiliary Visitor, and 2
other Brothers. Lastly, many journalists with lots of media equipment, e.g.
cameras, radio microphones, etc. gathered in small groups that apparently had
been set up before.
The chief of police, Mr. Thu, said aloud, “’Brother’ Hong! Go ahead and lead the
delegations to the location where “Brother’ has buried guns and weapons.” At
this order from Mr. Thu, the cameras recorded the dazed and petrified faces of
all the Brothers present at the scene.
While policemen were digging the ground at the place Brother Michel pointed to,
cameramen worked zealously, running around the hole that policemen gradually
explored. Some journalists attempted to interview Brother Michel, but he shook
his head. They turned to Brother Colomban, then to Brother Francois, and then to
Tien, the Junior. They received the same head shaking as responses.
“Here is a big plastic bag,” a policeman digger shouted. A few seconds later, a
big black and strapped trash bag was displayed to the view of all. It was about
50cm below the level of the ground. Two more black trash bags were exposed at
two different places. Different sorts of guns were in three trash bags included:
. 6 M2
. 1 garant
. 1 Thompson
Mission accomplie!
***
Pushed into the small room, I saw Brother Etienne, in his 70’s, and Reverend
Ngo Dinh Hien, in his 80’s. The latter was an Affiliate of the De La Salle
Institute. Brother Etienne looked at me, a little surprised, smiled while
shaking his head, covered by all white hair, and then said, “Eh you! What
strange things like this are they doing to us? Why did they put us in this small
room?” I didn’t know what to do and to say, except to shake my head, taking his
hands in mine, trying to retain tears from rolling down my face. I felt really
pained and anguished for those Senior Brothers who, for a whole life committed
to education of young people, had now to endure such outrageous accusations of
anti-revolutionary, and to be rewarded by being jailed. “Was education for young
people”, I wondered, “also considered a crime against society under the
communist system? Being deprived of teaching and of living among youth, isn’t
that enough?”
After dinner, whose menu was manioc and sweet potatoes, I suddenly had a feeling
that something weird would happen to me, very soon. I whispered to the chaplain,
“Father, I would like to received the sacrament of reconciliation.” He held my
two hands. I said, “Father, please bless me because I am a sinner. Father, I...”
He cut short, saying, “Brother, we believe and recognize that it is great grace
God gave us, because we are now being martyred. You don’t need to confess your
sins... Nothing’s more precious than the blood of martyrs, and we are being
martyred. Even though our blood is not spilled yet, the fact that we have been
arrested for no reason but for the name of Jesus Christ, clearly expresses our
being martyred. Thank God!”
I said, “Thank you, Father, but I would like to...” He, again, cut me short,
“You don’t have to tell your sins, Brother! Be assured that all your sins have
been forgiven. Your sins have been washed by your belief in God’s Love,
expressed just by your now being in this small room... All the Brothers, and the
Juniors included, all of us, even your two young nephews... all of us have to
praise God for such a marvelous opportunity to show Him that we love Him, too.
Praise to God! Thank God!...”
He talked and talked nonstop. I knew him for a long time. He led a big group of
refugees from North to South after the Accord of Geneva in 1954. Although he was
not a former student of the Brothers, he recognized how the Lasallian Education
System in Vietnam since the end of the 19th century had been doing quite
positive things for the whole country. He had been with the Brothers as chaplain
in the service of education for young people for over 30 years, and as a reward
for his total dedication to the service of young people, the La Salle Institute
had awarded him the Affiliation Certificate in 1973 at La Salle Mossard
Community.
He stopped talking for a while. He held my two hands in his, then raised his
right hand giving the absolution: “I forgive all your sins in the name of the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” I replied, “Amen!” Then we laughed.
Brother Etienne joined us, joyfully and relaxed.
Less than 15 minutes later, a policeman opened the door of the small room,
called my name, and then said, “Transfer to another camp.” I looked at Reverend
Hien, smiling. Then I looked at Brother Etienne, bowing my head. There were no
words of farewell, however, through the eyes of my Old Brothers, I could
recognize that feeling of compassion, of love and... good luck!
I walked between two armed policemen across the Thu Duc Market, handcuffed,
towards the detention center. It was about 10:00 P.M. when we reached the gate
of the detention center.