VIETNAM SURVIVOR'S TEARS FOR OMAGH GIRL
Vietnam survivor's tears for Omagh girl
By Seamus McKinney
THE NINE-year-old girl whose napalm-burned body became an icon of the brutality of the Vietnam war has made an impassioned plea for peace for the children of Ireland.
In June 1972, as a nine-year-old, Kim Phuc was taking shelter in a temple in her native Vietnam when US war planes bombed the building with napalm. As she ran from the building, her clothes burned off and suffering from third degree burns over 75 per cent of her body, her picture was taken by a press photographer. The resultant photograph has become an anti-war icon of the 20th century.
Now 36-years-old and a UNESCO goodwill ambassador, Kim arrived in Ireland this week where she met victims of the Irish conflict, including 16-year-old Clare Gallagher, blinded in the Omagh bombing.
Following a meeting with Derry mayor Joe Miller, Kim. who now lives in Canada with her husband and two children, called for peace for the children of Ireland. In an interview with the Irish News, she said: "Please let the children live in peace and let people work for peace."
Kim came to Ireland as a guest of Eyewitness: Bloody Sunday author, Don Mullan and will lead the last ever Irish famine walk in Co Mayo tomorrow.
Mr Mullan interviewed the Vietnam survivor for a new book and invited her to Ireland. He felt it would be a good idea for her to meet victims of the Irish conflict and put her in touch with the charity Children in Crossfire, headed by Derry man Richard Moore, who was himself blinded by a rubber bullet in 1972.
Mr Mullan, who accompanied the peace worker, said the similarities between Kim's story and Mr Moore's were remarkable.
"Both were injured as children in 1972 and Richard's uncle, Gerry McKinney was killed on Bloody Sunday," he said.
During a highly emotional visit, Kim admitted that the plight of young Clare Gallagher from Omagh moved her to tears.
"I met Clare, the young lady. I felt very sad about that and I burst into tears when I saw her because she is so young; how is her future going to be; why did she have to suffer?" she said.
By Seamus McKinney
THE NINE-year-old girl whose napalm-burned body became an icon of the brutality of the Vietnam war has made an impassioned plea for peace for the children of Ireland.
In June 1972, as a nine-year-old, Kim Phuc was taking shelter in a temple in her native Vietnam when US war planes bombed the building with napalm. As she ran from the building, her clothes burned off and suffering from third degree burns over 75 per cent of her body, her picture was taken by a press photographer. The resultant photograph has become an anti-war icon of the 20th century.
Now 36-years-old and a UNESCO goodwill ambassador, Kim arrived in Ireland this week where she met victims of the Irish conflict, including 16-year-old Clare Gallagher, blinded in the Omagh bombing.
Following a meeting with Derry mayor Joe Miller, Kim. who now lives in Canada with her husband and two children, called for peace for the children of Ireland. In an interview with the Irish News, she said: "Please let the children live in peace and let people work for peace."
Kim came to Ireland as a guest of Eyewitness: Bloody Sunday author, Don Mullan and will lead the last ever Irish famine walk in Co Mayo tomorrow.
Mr Mullan interviewed the Vietnam survivor for a new book and invited her to Ireland. He felt it would be a good idea for her to meet victims of the Irish conflict and put her in touch with the charity Children in Crossfire, headed by Derry man Richard Moore, who was himself blinded by a rubber bullet in 1972.
Mr Mullan, who accompanied the peace worker, said the similarities between Kim's story and Mr Moore's were remarkable.
"Both were injured as children in 1972 and Richard's uncle, Gerry McKinney was killed on Bloody Sunday," he said.
During a highly emotional visit, Kim admitted that the plight of young Clare Gallagher from Omagh moved her to tears.
"I met Clare, the young lady. I felt very sad about that and I burst into tears when I saw her because she is so young; how is her future going to be; why did she have to suffer?" she said.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0281
Published Date: 15-May-99
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