According to Mayor Jim Watson's office, the flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has been flown annually, among some 119 other flags, since 2006 to celebrate each countries national days. The mayor's office has stated that it is the city's policy and is dictated through the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The Vietnamese community here in Ottawa and Canada requests that this policy be revised such that the flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is not flown in the future. The raising of this flag causes distress to the victims of the Vietnam War. At the same time, this flag should not be raised next to the Canadian flag since it represents everything opposite to that of the Canadian flag: freedom, human rights, and peace. Until such time that the government of Vietnam begins to respect its citizens, the Vietnamese-Canadian community strongly urges the mayor's office to not recognize the flag of that government and to not raise their flag to commemorate their "independence day."

In short, this petition demonstrates the support against the raising of the flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at City Hall at any point in the future.

Edit: September 3rd, 2014

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Mayor Jim Watson's office of the City of Ottawa plans to fly the Socialist Republic of Vietnam's flag on September 2nd, 2014 at City Hall in honour of Vietnam's Independence Day.

The Vietnamese came to Canada decades ago to escape the grasp and oppression of the Vietnamese Communist Regime, who now flies their flag as Vietnam's national flag. We, the free Vietnamese, do not recognize that flag in any way shape or form as it represents the horrific acts against human rights committed and still being committed by the Vietnamese Communist Party in Vietnam.

Mayor Jim Watson has been to many events hosted by the Vietnamese community here in Ottawa where only the Freedom Flag of Vietnam is flown; therefore, he should be aware of the stance that the community he represents takes on this issue. Perhaps he needs a reminder:

This petition is to show the strong opposition by the Vietnamese-Canadian community in the City of Ottawa, across Canada, and around the world against the raising of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam's flag.

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Please indicate your home city when you sign the petition! This will let Mayor Jim Watson's office know who is calling him out for action!