Savannah, Georgia 1 March 2008
Dear readers,
Since 2000, I have been carrying with me the agony and tragic stories-not knowing who to tell them to. It has been over seven years. Those pains have consumed my whole life. It has consumed me physically, mentally, and even in my dreams I can still see those haunting images. But most importantly, they have consumed my heart. There were times when I wanted to scream, scream loudly so everyone can hear-but many people stepped in to stop me. They were afraid that, by making these stories public, would distract my life and what I was called to be. So then, I bit my tongue and kept those cries to myself.
Of course, they had their reasons. I was, during that time, a Seminarian and later ordained a Catholic Priest in June 5, 2004. How can such a man speak of those "outrageous" stories? Who would believe me? And even if they did believe me, they would still wonder, "If you were a man of God, what reasons would you have to stumble into those places?"
But my dear friends, I can no longer hold back the agony in my heart. I need to shout out loud! Shout out to anyone who wants to hear the truth of those "frightening" and "disgusting" stories. The truth about the newfound slavery in Asia, the stories about how the young Vietnamese children (my mother land) are SOLD, KIDNAPPED, and FORCED into sex slavery in the brothels in Cambodia and Malaysia.
**********************************
Before I begin my cries of those true stories, please allow me give you a brief introduction, to lay a foundation, so that you can better understand what is happening.
1997 was the year when this all began (11 years ago!). Every year, I would spend my annual vacation in Vietnam and other countries working, living and helping homeless children. I have shared these experiences with you in the series called "Part of My Journey!" (They are in Vietnamese if you want to read them. Just log into http://www.fathermartino.org/ and choose "chuyện có thật" on the left menu and then scroll down to "một chuyến đi.")
The next turn of my life again started in 2000, I returned to Vietnam to live with these homeless children. One day during a meal, I was "unexpectedly" introduced to a "reporter" who was taking a trip to Cambodia. He was investigating the lives of the Vietnamese children who were sold into brothels to be sex slaves. So then I, a seminarian-in my first year of Theology-"volunteered" to go with him. Since then, I have been making nearly annual trip to Cambodia.
Every time I went to Cambodia, I would "be" in the role of a Singapore businessman. I knew only English-and not a word of Vietnamese. I would "rent" four or five girls for about three to five days and "be" with these children.
The story of my life that I always used to win the trust of these children was: "I have a family (and of course I always wore a wedding band). My wife and I are going through a tough disagreement and I am taking a few days off. I really love my wife and would never do anything disloyal to hurt her; I only want someone (who act like children - they don't talk back!!!) to hang around with as a distraction so that I can free my mind from its distress.
To "prove" that my story was true-and to also limit the times I can potentially be seduced or tempted-I always took them to tourist attractions or public places where there were many other people around. We would stay out the whole day-until very late at night. We would be very exhausted before going back to the hotel. By that time, all we can do is roll over and... sleep!
In the days I spent with the children, I was able to know a lot about them-because I could understand every conversation they had with each other in Vietnamese! I know the reasons and path that lead them to this "living hell"; the reasons why they wanted to escape, but didn't have a chance or the courage to. I learned about the spine-chilling physical endurances they had to face, and even a little bit about the "sick" men who came to these brothels for these "services" these children were forced to do. Aside from the horrifying physical and mental breakdown afflicted onto these children by these sick men, they also have to endure beatings-sometimes to the point of fainting. And after these beating, they were left to starve-with only water and no food-by the pimps and the gangs they hired to keep these young children from running away. The worst nightmare happened mostly to the new girls, because they refused to provide services to the "customers." Not only they were beating and starving, they were given illegal drugs so they can no longer physically fight against these men.
*******************************
Everything I've heard, I will tell you. I truly believe that these stories are TRUE because never once did I ask them to tell me their stories. And also, they don't even understand anything I say. For every ten English words I say, I'd be lucky if they can understand one of them. But because they don't know that I am listening and that I understand Vietnamese, they freely speak to and tell one another their stories in Vietnamese (and of course, I try to encourage it). The following stories are the storms and tragedies that these girls have told each other, so that they can sympathize with each other, to help each other AVOID similar situations that can potentially occur.
I know that when I "shout out" these stories, my life could be endangered. But that will not stop me from "voicing" and "shouting" for them. If I don't, who will! I pray that these kids (girls) can be saved! As for me, I have yours and... God's protection!
My beloved readers, if you think the stories I am about the share are too much for your life, then please do not continue. Use your wise judgment. If you are ready to know about the "agony" of life that these little girls went through, please enter the first story: "Hitting Rock Bottom"
Father Martino Nguyen Ba Thong
