EXCLUSIVE: Vietnamese Rapper's Brave Song Sparks Anti-Communist 'Zombie Movement'

ashley.rae | July 30, 2015
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To most people, Son Nguyen, also known as Nah, seems like an average college student, studying entrepreneurship at Oklahoma State University. His viral rap video, however, has helped energize an anti-communist uprising in his home country of Vietnam. And when he returns home, he faces persecution by the Vietnamese government

In January, Nah’s “Địt Mẹ Cộng Sản,” known in English as “F**k Communism,” went live on YouTube. Since its release, the video has garnered almost 1 million views

 

 

His anti-communist anthem begins with the simple statement, “My name is Nah. My hometown is Saigon. And I’d rather let ya’ll hate me, than to let ya’ll be brainwashed for another 40 years.”

In his lyrics, Nah takes direct aim at the authoritarian communist state of Vietnam. The catchy chorus emphasizes the point of the song (translated):

“Who would go to hell if not me? F**k communism.

It’s wrong to dare to change the country? F**k communism.

You dare to sell our fathers’ land? F**k communism.

Manslaying, blinding, gagging? F**k communism.

Slaughtering our people in Hue? F**k communism.

I will never f**king accept being a slave. F**k communism.

You will be overthrown soon. F**k communism.

Everyone will know the truth. F**k communism.”

He also addresses the issue of youth being too afraid to speak out against the government:

“The whole generation has been brainwashed. What a misfortune!

They’re like zombies that will only waste our bullets

Hate the Communist Party but won’t f**king dare to speak up—you’re as good as mute

Hate public bribery but still give them your money—you’re insane or mad?”

With that simple line about zombies, Nah sparked a movement dedicated to exposing the communist regime, known as the “Zombie movement.”

In an interview with MRCTV, Nah spoke about the reality of life in Vietnam, the emerging anti-communist movement, and the retaliation he can expect from the government when he returns home.

Nah explained how he first learned about the atrocities committed by the communist regime in Vietnam: “Back when I was [fourteen], my friend showed me how to ‘climb’ the Internet firewall to read information about Ho Chi Minh and how evil communism is.”

“There was a lot of cognitive dissonance. I didn’t want to believe communism was bad. After years of digging into it and comparing and contrasting the data, especially after studying in the States and learning about different political ideologies, I finally made up my mind that communism is the worst thing that can happen to a nation.”

 Nah discussed the various human rights tragedies committed by the Vietnamese government. “The government just grab[s] their land with little to no compensation to build industrial projects and make money on the pain of the people.”

Freedom of speech is widely suppressed in Vietnam. According to Human Rights Watch, in 2014, “The Vietnamese government kept tight control over freedom of expression and association as bloggers, human rights defenders, labor and land rights activists, and religious and democracy advocates continued to face harassment, intimidation, physical assault, and imprisonment.”

Nah claimed, “At this time, many human right activists are still in political prison. I don't know the exact number, but I think it's around 150 persons. [A] Musician named Viet Khang who wrote songs against the government is still in jail. And there are many many other anti-communist bloggers, journalists, lawyers... who are also jailed.”

Nah mentioned the “Dan oan Vietnam,” which translates to the "people that got no justice.” On its Facebook page, the community highlights the government’s crackdown on activists.

There are various anti-communist movements in Vietnam in order to highlight the crimes committed by communism, but Nah's rap video directly inspired the Zombie movement.

“The Zombie movement are just one of many other, but it is a strong one with lots of potential. People are doing all kinds of things, from underground comics to rap to small street protests, to raise awareness about how bad communism is for the country,” he explained.

On July 11, there was a public Zombie meet up in Saigon. Individuals congregated together, wearing shirts symbolizing the “Zombie” from Nah’s lyrics. 

Video footage allegedly from the Zombie meeting shows the protesters encountering police:

 

Loa, a website dedicated to Vietnam issues, reports activists wearing the “Zombie” shirt were detained; however, Nah’s friend, Nguyễn Thanh Phước (“Phi”) was still detained at the Ministry of Public Security Detention Center (PA 24) after the other protesters were released.

According to Loa, “After 48 hours in custody, five police officers took Phi home and raided for zombie t-shirts. In the process, authorities confiscated his computer.”

Nah claims Phi was detained for two weeks.

Image source: Facebook

Nah believes the Communist Party is starting to become fearful of the growing anti-communist movement. “Communist politicians are now trying to resign, fearing the fall of the regime. Inside the communist party there [are] a lot of changes too.”

However, when Nah returns home from studying in America, he faces certain retaliation by the Vietnamese government. In his lyrics, he foreshadows the fate he could potentially face at the hands of the government:

“After this song is released, some ‘certain’ ones will find a way to hurt me

Hiring gangsters, faking accidents, doing everything to defeat me

To eliminate people with no wrong-doing

To spread fear and suffering!”

He also wrote a letter to the Communist Party warning them if there is a “kidnapping” arranged, bloggers and journalists will understand it was done by the Communist Party.

Nah stated the government has already attempted to pressure his parents back in Vietnam. His father was forced to answer questions from police such as, "Does Son work with any other organization?," "Does he organize the Zombie movement or just inspire it?," "Do you know anything about projects like Lam Viec Nuoc?," "Do you know what is his motive?" and "Is he preparing for any protest?"

Nah maintains his parents do not know any of this information and says this is pure intimidation.

Asked what he thinks will happen when he returns home, Nah said, “I honestly don’t know what will happen. They might throw me in jail. They might frame me for some crime such as marijuana possession […] They can arrange some gang related murder […].”

Nguyen Van Dai, Vietnamese human rights attorney, told the GlobalPost once Nah is detained, the government could potentially release him—as long as Nah promises to no longer be critical of the Communist Party. If Nah does not comply, he “may sentenced to anywhere between three and 20 years for spreading ‘propaganda against the state.’”

Considering Nah has committed himself to the anti-communist cause by getting a visible tattoo of “f**k communism” across his neck, it seems unlikely Nah will back down from his convictions.

“The details in the song was against the Vietnam communists, but I've always hated communism, whether its North Korean government or China government. As the government gets bigger, the people [have] less freedom, and the nation less developed.

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