A workshop on Vietnamese who wereconscripted by France and brought there as part of their war effort washeld in Paris on Feb. 2.
The workshop was as an initiative of the France-Vietnam FriendshipAssociation (AAFV), the centre for Information and Data on Vietnam(CID) and the Vietnamese Union in France (UGVF).
Prominent among participants at the workshop were journalist PierreDaum, the author of the book "Those who were forced to immigrate –Indochinese workers in France , 1939 – 1952” and some witnesses andtheir children.
The workshop recounted the history of 20,000 Vietnamese farmers whowere forced to immigrate to France and put to work producing weaponsduring WWII.
In 1940, France decided to send the workers back to Vietnam , but thesea route was blockaded, and about 15,000 people could not return home.They had to remain in France throughout the war and some 1,500 peoplewere moved to Camargue to grow rice and produce salt, which contributedmarkedly to the prosperity of the region.
Recently, the contributions of these workers were recognised by the French government.
Pierre Daum spent four years meeting witnesses in France and Vietnam to write his book.
In December 2009, Arles city in the Camargue region presented medals to Vietnamese workers in their city during World War II.
Helene Luc, honorary Senator and President of the AAFV expressed herhope that other areas will follow Arles ’s example and send a requestto the French Government to honour these workers and put policies inplace for them.
Pierre Daum said that France needs to admit a dark page in its historyas a colonial power and recognise the contributions of Indochineseworkers. His book is currently being translated into Vietnamese./.
The workshop was as an initiative of the France-Vietnam FriendshipAssociation (AAFV), the centre for Information and Data on Vietnam(CID) and the Vietnamese Union in France (UGVF).
Prominent among participants at the workshop were journalist PierreDaum, the author of the book "Those who were forced to immigrate –Indochinese workers in France , 1939 – 1952” and some witnesses andtheir children.
The workshop recounted the history of 20,000 Vietnamese farmers whowere forced to immigrate to France and put to work producing weaponsduring WWII.
In 1940, France decided to send the workers back to Vietnam , but thesea route was blockaded, and about 15,000 people could not return home.They had to remain in France throughout the war and some 1,500 peoplewere moved to Camargue to grow rice and produce salt, which contributedmarkedly to the prosperity of the region.
Recently, the contributions of these workers were recognised by the French government.
Pierre Daum spent four years meeting witnesses in France and Vietnam to write his book.
In December 2009, Arles city in the Camargue region presented medals to Vietnamese workers in their city during World War II.
Helene Luc, honorary Senator and President of the AAFV expressed herhope that other areas will follow Arles ’s example and send a requestto the French Government to honour these workers and put policies inplace for them.
Pierre Daum said that France needs to admit a dark page in its historyas a colonial power and recognise the contributions of Indochineseworkers. His book is currently being translated into Vietnamese./.
