C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 HANOI 002084

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL - KOH AND DRL/IRF - SEIPLE
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HANOI 02084 01 OF 06 190912Z
STATE ALSO FOR EAP/BCLTV, INR/EAP AND INR/B
NSC FOR HUSO
SECDEF ALSO FOR ISA/EA/LSTERN
CINCPAC ALSO FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/10
TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV PINR VM HUMANR
SUBJECT: VIETNAM'S DISSIDENTS: IRREPRESSIBLE IN FACE OF OFFICIAL HARASSMENT

REF: (A) HANOI 1671; (B) HANOI 1752

(U) CLASSIFIED BY POLCOUNS JAMES L. BRUNO. REASON:
1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) BEGIN SUMMARY: MISSION OFFICERS RECENTLY CALLED ON
SEVERAL LEADING DISSIDENTS TO ASCERTAIN THEIR SITUATIONS AS
WELL AS THEIR VIEWS ON VIETNAM'S FUTURE. ALL REMAIN
SUBJECT TO ONGOING OFFICIAL MONITORING AND HARASSMENT,
ALBEIT UNEVENLY APPLIED. INTERESTINGLY, SECURITY
AUTHORITIES, IN MOST CASES, APPEAR TO HONOR A PROVISION OF
LAW THAT REQUIRES POLICE TO TERMINATE AN INVESTIGATION IF
FORMAL CHARGES ARE NOT BROUGHT WITHIN TWELVE MONTHS. AN
EXCEPTION IS THE CASE OF DR. NGUYEN DAN QUE, WHO REFUSED TO
LEAVE VIETNAM FOR THE U.S. AFTER HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON IN

1998. ALL THE DISSIDENTS WE CONTACTED, AS WELL AS OTHERS
WE HAVE NOT YET CONTACTED, APPEAR TO REMAIN COMMITTED TO
CONTINUING THEIR OUTSPOKEN CRITICISM OF THE REGIME, MAINLY
THROUGH ESSAYS WHICH EVENTUALLY FIND THEIR WAY INTO THE
INTERNET. ALL HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY FOREIGN HUMAN RIGHTS
AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. THERE IS AN ACTIVE
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DISSIDENT NETWORK WHICH SECURITY PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN UNABLE
TO CURTAIL, LARGELY BECAUSE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY,
PARTICULARLY CELL PHONES, FAX AND ARE INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S OFFICIAL
AMNESTIES. HANOI'S TREATMENT OF DISSIDENTS TODAY STANDS IN
SHARP CONTRAST WITH THAT OF A FEW YEARS AGO, WHEN A LONG
JAIL SENTENCE WAS A VIRTUAL CERTAINTY. THE SRV'S TREATMENT
COMPARES SOMEWHAT FAVORABLY WITH SOME OTHER COUNTRIES,
NOTABLY CHINA. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GAUGE WHAT KIND OF
FOLLOWINGS OUTSPOKEN DISSIDENTS MAY HAVE IN THIS
POLITICALLY THWARTED SOCIETY. IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT MOST
DISSIDENTS ARE WELL INTO MIDDLE AGE OR OLDER, A SIGN THAT

COMPLACENCY OR FEAR, OR A COMBINATION THEREOF, MAY CAUSE
VIETNAM'S YOUTH TO HOLD THEIR TONGUES. IT WILL BE
INTERESTING TO OBSERVE WHETHER, IN THE FACE OF THE SOCIAL
CHANGES THAT ACCOMPANY VIETNAM'S ECONOMIC GROWTH,
VIETNAMESE YOUTH WILL REMAIN SILENT OR WILL ALSO
AGITATE FOR POLITICAL CHANGE. END SUMMARY.

NGUYEN THANH GIANG: AN INTELLECTUAL WITH AN EDGE
-------------- --------------


2. (C) POLCOUNS AND POLOFF CALLED ON NGUYEN THANH GIANG
AUGUST 2 AT HIS HOME IN HANOI. HIS AMCIT FATHER WAS ALSO
PRESENT. GIANG, A 64-YEAR OLD RETIRED GEOPHYSICIST, WAS
ARRESTED IN MARCH 1999 AND DETAINED FOR TWO MONTHS FOR
WRITING ARTICLES CRITICAL OF THE REGIME AND CALLING FOR
DEMOCRACY AND A FREE MARKET ECONOMY FOR VIETNAM. GIANG
SAID HE CONTINUES TO BE WATCHED INTERMITTENTLY BY POLICE
AND SUBJECT TO TRAVEL AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS. HIS HOME
PHONE HAS BEEN CUT OFF FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, PREVENTING HIM
FROM BEING ABLE TO CORRESPOND BY EMAIL FROM HOME. HE USES
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HIS HOME COMPUTER TO WRITE ARTICLES AND CORRESPONDENCE (A
PREVIOUS ONE WAS CONFISCATED BY POLICE LAST YEAR DURING
QUESTIONING). HE SENDS AND RECEIVES EMAILS THROUGH A
HOTMAIL ACCOUNT VIA FRIENDS' PC'S. (NOTE: VIETNAMESE
DISSIDENTS AND OTHERS FAVOR HOTMAIL SINCE IT REPORTEDLY IS
DIFFICULT FOR THE AUTHORITIES TO MONITOR. END NOTE.)
AFTER HIS PHONE LINE WAS CUT, GIANG BOUGHT A CELL PHONE
WITH WHICH HE KEEPS IN ACTIVE CONTACT WITH FRIENDS AND
FELLOW DISSIDENTS. GIANG ADDED THAT HIS MAIL CONTINUES TO
BE INTERCEPTED. THAT WHICH ARRIVES USUALLY SHOWS BLATANT
SIGNS OF HAVING BEEN OPENED.


3. (C) GIANG NOTED SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON HIM HAVE
LESSENED IN THE PAST MONTHS. HE HAS NOT BEEN CALLED IN FOR
FORMAL QUESTIONING SINCE MARCH (A FULL YEAR AFTER POLICE
ARRESTED HIM AND LAUNCHED A FORMAL INVESTIGATION). GIANG
GLEEFULLY DESCRIBED TO POLOFFS HOW HE QUARRELED WITH HIS
INTERROGATORS, AND SOMETIMES REFUSED TO RESPOND TO
SUMMONSES. HE SAID THE POLICE HAVE TOLD HIM THEY HAVE
HALTED THEIR INVESTIGATION. IRONICALLY, GIANG SAID,
ACCORDING TO VIETNAMESE LAW, AFTER ONE YEAR, THE POLICE
MUST CEASE AN INVESTIGATION ON A SUSPECT IF THEY TURN UP
INADEQUATE EVIDENCE WITH WHICH TO PRESS FORMAL CHARGES.
(COMMENT: HE STATED THIS MATTER-OF-FACTLY, CLEARLY
ACCEPTING AS BINDING LEGAL LIMITATIONS ON POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE PRACTICES. AS NOTED IN REF B ON THE CRIMINAL
CODE, THIS IS AN ENCOURAGING SIGN OF A SLOW DEVELOPMENT OF
RULE OF LAW FOLLOWING ON THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY'S RECENT
PASSING OF NEW REVISIONS TO THIS CODE. END COMMENT.)


4. (C) GIANG SAID HE HAS FACED NO REPRISALS SINCE SIGNING
A LETTER IN MAY CRITICIZING THE GVN'S ARREST AND SUBSEQUENT
HOUSE DETENTION OF DISSIDENT SCIENTIST HA SY PHU IN DALAT
(REF A). HE ADDED THAT THE OTHER FIVE CO-SIGNERS, THUS
FAR, HAVE ALSO NOT EXPERIENCED REPRISALS. AMONG THEM, HE
MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY HOANG MINH CHINH, A HERO OF DIEN
BIEN PHU AND FORMER CPV OFFICIAL, WHOM HE VISITS
OCCASIONALLY IN HANOI.


5. (C) GIANG SAID SECURITY FORCES DO NOT "ACT CLEARLY"
AGAINST HIM. RATHER, THEY SEEK TO ISOLATE AND ALIENATE HIM
AND OTHER DISSIDENTS THROUGH INTIMIDATION AND IMPOSITION OF
A CLOUD OF ONGOING INVESTIGATION OVER THEM. IN HIS CASE,
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HIS FAMILY CAME UNDER PRESSURE. SHORTLY AFTER GIANG'S
ARREST, HIS SON WAS FIRED FROM HIS JOB WITH THE STATE
PETROLEUM INSTITUTE AND HIS DAUGHTER DISMISSED FROM HER
POSITION IN THE MINISTRY OF LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS. HIS
SON HAS SINCE FOUND WORK WITH A TECHNOLOGY COMPANY RUN BY A
VIETNAMESE-AMERICAN, AND HIS DAUGHTER WITH A FOREIGN NGO.
GIANG ADDED TO HIS LITANY OF COMPLAINTS FREQUENT POLICE
PATROLS NEAR HIS HOUSE, WHICH DISCOURAGE FRIENDS AND
ACQUAINTANCES FROM VISITING. (NOTE: THE WARD'S POLICE
STATION IS TWO BLOCKS FROM GIANG'S HOUSE. END NOTE.)


6. (C) GIANG CONTINUES WRITING CRITICAL ESSAYS. HE
PRESENTED US VIETNAMESE TEXTS OF SEVERAL ARTICLES HE HAS
WRITTEN THIS YEAR, INCLUDING ON GLOBALIZATION AND
DEMOCRATICIZATION, AND REFORM OF THE STATE ECONOMIC SECTOR.
HE SAID HE IS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF VIETNAM'S SHIFTING TO A
KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY. HE SAID HE WANTS TO CONVINCE THE
COMMUNIST PARTY TO LET THIS PROCESS PROCEED. AS IN THE
PAST, HE ADDRESSES HIS LETTERS TO SENIOR LEADERS, FROM
GENERAL SECRETARY LE KHA PHIEU ON DOWN.

THE DISSIDENT NETWORK
--------------


7. (C) GIANG DESCRIBED AN ACTIVE DISSIDENT NETWORK, WHOSE
MEMBERS FIND VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH TO KEEP IN TOUCH IN THE
FACE OF GOVERNMENT HARASSMENT. INTERMEDIARIES, CELL PHONES
AND THE INTERNET ARE THE CHIEF MEANS OF MAINTAINING
COMMUNICATIONS. THEY ARE ABLE TO VISIT EACH OTHER
RELATIVELY EASILY, FAVORED CAFES BEING THE USUAL VENUE FOR
MEETINGS. POLICE NONETHELESS SEEK TO BLOCK THESE LINES OF
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COMMUNICATIONS BY CUTTING PHONE LINES, INTERCEPTING MAIL
AND CONDUCTING OPEN SURVEILLANCE.


8. (C) GIANG VISITS LEADING DISSIDENT, GEN. TRAN DO, A 76-
YEAR OLD WAR HERO AND FORMER SENIOR CPV OFFICIAL WHO WAS
EXPELLED FROM THE PARTY IN 1999, AT THE LATTER'S HOME
RELATIVELY FREQUENTLY. TRAN DO COMPLETED HIS LATEST ESSAY
IN LATE JULY, REVIEWING A "FAMOUS VIETNAMESE NOVEL" ABOUT
THE LIFE OF A PRISONER. GIANG SAID TRAN DO RECEIVES "MANY
VISITORS," MOSTLY "ORDINARY VIETNAMESE," AT HIS HOME IN
DOWNTOWN HANOI. (NOTE: TRAN DO, THUS FAR, HAS BEEN KEPT
STRICTLY OFF-LIMITS TO FOREIGNERS. AT SOME POINT, WE MAY
BE ABLE TO VISIT HIM AS WELL. END NOTE.) GIANG SAID GEN.
DO ALSO IS NO LONGER THE SUBJECT OF REGULAR POLICE
INTERROGATIONS, AGAIN DUE TO THE TWELVE-MONTH LIMITATION ON
POLICE INVESTIGATIONS. HE SAID HE OCCASIONALLY CONTACTS
FELLOW DISSIDENT, NOVELIST DUONG THU HUONG (SEE PARA. 19).
WHEN HE CALLS HER ON HIS CELL PHONE, HOWEVER, A RUSH OF
STATIC INTERFERES, WHICH HE BLAMES ON GVN SECURITY
MONITORS. GIANG SAID HE HAS SOME "COURAGEOUS" FRIENDS WHO
VISIT HIM AT HOME, THOUGH OTHERS WILL NOT. GENERALLY,
THOSE WHO VISIT ARE OLDER RETIREES, INCLUDING VETERANS AND
OTHER FORMER PRISONERS. FRIENDS WHO CURRENTLY WORK FOR THE
GOVERNMENT OR RELATED INSTITUTIONS DO NOT VISIT FOR FEAR OF
OFFICIAL REPRISALS, HE SAID.

GIANG ON HUMAN RIGHTS TODAY AND TOMORROW
--------------


9. (C) WHEN ASKED HIS VIEWS ON HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS IN
VIETNAM TODAY, GIANG BRISTLED. THE AUTHORITIES CAN AND DO
TRAMPLE ON CITIZENS' RIGHTS WITH IMPUNITY, HE SAID. HE
CITED HIS OWN CASE. "WHERE DO THEY GET OFF CUTTING MY
PHONELINE? I'M A FREE MAN," HE SAID. GIANG NOTED THIS WAS
PART OF THE ONGOING OFFICIAL EFFORTS TO ISOLATE AND
INTIMIDATE THOSE WHO CRITICIZE THE COMMUNIST PARTY.


10. (C) WE ASKED GIANG FOR HIS VIEWS OF VIETNAM'S FUTURE.
HE REPLIED HE IS OPTIMISTIC IN THE LONG TERM. COMPARING
VIETNAM'S DEVELOPMENT TO THAT OF CHINA'S, HE SAID THAT AS
IN THAT COUNTRY, MOMENTUM WILL BUILD BEHIND A DEMOCRATIC
MOVEMENT. WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PRC WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON
VIETNAM. HE CITED SPECIFICALLY CALLS AMONG MANY CHINESE
FOR A MULTIPARTY SYSTEM. VIETNAMESE WATCH SUCH
DEVELOPMENTS CLOSELY, GIANG SAID. HE APPLAUDED THE SIGNING
OF THE U.S.-VIETNAM TRADE AGREEMENT AS AN EXTREMELY POSTIVE
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STEP WHICH WILL BRING IN ITS WAKE CATALYSTS FOR POSITIVE
CHANGE, POLITICALLY AS WELL AS ECONOMICALLY. HE SAID HE
FORESEES ACCELERATED STRUGGLE WITHIN THE CPV LEADERSHIP,
ALREADY RACKED WITH STASIS AND DIVISION.

THICH QUANG DO: DISSIDENT BUDDHIST FACES ONGOING HARASSMENT
-------------- --------------


11. (C) IN A PHONE CONVERSATION WITH POLOFF ON JULY 28,
THICH QUANG DO, A 71-YEAR OLD LEADER OF THE BANNED UNIFIED
BUDDHIST CHURCH OF VIETNAM (UBCV) AND THRICE-NOMINATED
NOBEL PRIZE CANDIDATE, REPORTED THAT HE CONTINUES TO FACE
HARASSMENT BY THE POLICE. DO TOLD ASIAWEEK IN JUNE THAT
"THEY (THE AUTHORITIES) WANT TO ISOLATE ME AS IF I WERE A
CONTAGIOUS DISEASE." HE RARELY VENTURES OUTSIDE HIS PAGODA
IN HCMC; WHEN HE DOES, IT IS MAINLY FOR PERIODIC MEDICAL
CHECK-UPS. HE TOLD US HE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM THE
HOSPITAL FOR A ROUTINE CHECK-UP FOR HIS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
AND DIABETES.


12. (SBU) AMONG MEMBERS OF VIETNAM'S SMALL OUTSPOKEN
DISSIDENT COMMUNITY, THICH QUANG DO IS PERHAPS THE MOST
UNABASHEDLY CANDID OVER THE PHONE. HE TOLD US HE CONTINUES
TO RECEIVE FREQUENT VISITORS AT HIS PAGODA, AND MAINTAINS
ACTIVE CORRESPONDENCE WITH FELLOW MONKS OF THE UBCV. DO
CONTINUES TO PRESS FOR LEGAL RECOGNITION OF HIS CHURCH AND
SEEKS PERMISSION FOR FELLOW SENIOR MONK, THICH HUYEN QUANG,
CURRENTLY RESTRICTED TO AN ISOLATED LOCALE IN QUANG NGAI
PROVINCE, TO MOVE TO HCMC. HE CONTINUES TO WRITE LETTERS
TO THE SRV LEADERSHIP CALLING FOR FREEDOM OF RELIGION.
THESE ARE CIRCULATED GLOBALLY THROUGH THE UBCV'S OFFICE IN
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PARIS. SOME FIND THEIR WAY BACK TO VIETNAM VIA PRESS
REPORTS, FOREIGN RADIO BROADCASTS AND THE INTERNET.

HEAVY HARASSMENT OF DR. QUE
--------------


13. (C) EMBASSY POLOFF CALLED ON DR. NGUYEN DAN QUE AT HIS
HOME IN HCMC ON JULY 17. CG HCMC POLOFF MADE A FOLLOW-UP
VISIT AUG. 28. QUE WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON IN 1998 AFTER
SERVING EIGHT YEARS. HE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF JAIL SINCE
1978 FOR TAKING OPENLY CRITICAL POSITIONS OF THE COMMUNIST
SYSTEM. HE REFUSED TO DEPART VIETNAM FOR THE U.S., ON
WHICH THE GVN HAD INSISTED AS A CONDITION OF HIS LAST
RELEASE.


14. (C) THE 58-YEAR OLD PHYSICIAN SAID HIS HEALTH HAS
IMPROVED SINCE HE WAS TREATED EARLY IN THE YEAR FOR
BLEEDING ULCERS. HE HAD A CHECK-UP AT A FOREIGN-RUN CLINIC
IN HCMC JUST AFTER TET; AN AUSTRALIAN DOCTOR THERE
PRESCRIBED A TWO-WEEK TREATMENT. HIS AMCIT BROTHER, ALSO A
PHYSICIAN, SENDS HIM MEDICINES FROM THE U.S. HE HAS NOT
EXPERIENCED BLEEDING FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS, THOUGH HE
SAYS IT IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM AND SOME PAIN LINGERS.
(COMMENT: THE PRESSURES OF OFFICIAL HARASSMENT AND
ISOLATION, AFTER A LONG PRISON TERM, HAVE TAKEN THEIR TOLL
ON QUE. HE SEEMED VISIBLY MORE STRESSED AND NERVOUS
(INCLUDING A FACIAL TIC) COMPARED WITH THE LAST TIME WE SAW
HIM MONTHS AGO. END COMMENT.) HE TOLD POLOFF HE FACES A
LOT OF "MENTAL PRESSURE" FROM POLICE. A COUPLE OF
UNIFORMED POLICE PASS BY HIS HOUSE SEVERAL TIMES EACH DAY.
HE SAID THEY ENTER HIS HOUSE TO QUESTION HIM AND INSPECT
HIS COMPUTER AND PAPERS AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH. SOMETIMES
THEY BANG ON THE DOOR. EMBOFF VISITED IN THE EVENING. QUE
SAID THIS IS THE BEST TIME TO DO SO, SINCE THE POLICE ARE
OFF DUTY THEN. HE SAID FRIENDS VISIT HIM IN THE EVENINGS.


15. (C) QUE SAID HIS MEDICAL COLLEAGUES ARE AFRAID TO
TREAT HIM; POLICE INTIMIDATE HIS FRIENDS THROUGH
QUESTIONING, WHICH DISCOURAGES MANY OF THEM FROM CONTACTING
HIM. HIS WIFE IS QUESTIONED BY POLICE, AND SOMETIMES
INTIMIDATED BY PHONE. THE OFFICIAL HARASSMENT HAS MADE HER
LIFE EQUALLY AS DIFFICULT, HE SAID.


16. (C) QUE'S HOME PHONE AND INTERNET ACCESS WERE CUT OFF
IN MAY AFTER HE FAXED A 100-PAGE DOCUMENT TO THE U.S. AND
FRANCE. LIKE GIANG, HE DOES HIS WRITINGS ON HIS HOME PC
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AND COMMUNICATES BY CELL PHONE (HIS AMCIT BROTHER CALLED
DURING POLOFF'S VISIT.) HE SAID HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN
AN INTERNET ACCOUNT ON THREE OCCASIONS BRIEFLY THROUGH THE
ASSISTANCE OF FRIENDS. SECURITY CADRE CUT THESE SERVICES,
HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER START-UP. SIMILARLY, SECURITY
OFFICIALS TERMINATED THE FIRST CELL PHONE ACCOUNT,
WHEREUPON HE SIMPLY BOUGHT ANOTHER. IRONICALLY, HE
SOMETIMES RECEIVES "WARNING CALLS" BY PHONE FROM POLICE,
DEMANDING TO KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING, OR TELLING HIM TO "BE
CAREFUL," AFTER WHICH THEY ABRUPTLY HANG UP.


17. (C) QUE SAID HE WANTS TO CONTINUE HIS READING AND
WRITING, BUT HIS ACTIVITIES ARE LIMITED BY THE RESTRICTIONS
PLACED ON HIM. HE TURNED OVER TO POLOFF ESSAYS CONTAINING
HIS VIEWS ON THE U.S.-VIETNAM BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENT AS
WELL AS DETAILED INFORMATION ON POLITICAL PRISONERS (TO BE
REPORTED SEPTEL).


18. (C) QUE MEETS SINGLY WITH SEVERAL YOUNG STUDENTS TO
DISCUSS PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY AND OTHER ISSUES. HE SAID,
THROUGH THIS MEANS, HE WANTS TO TRAIN YOUNGER PEOPLE TO
CARRY FORTH THE IDEAS THAT WILL ONE DAY BRING CHANGE TO
VIETNAM. UNDER THEIR URGING, HE HAS BEGUN AN UNDERGROUND
NEWSPAPER CALLED "TUONG LAI" ("THE FUTURE"). THE FIRST
EDITION, ELEVEN PAGES LONG, ADDRESSES HUMAN RIGHTS, CPV
POLICIES, YOUTH AND DEMOCRACY. AS OF OUR MEETING, HE HAD
NOT YET DISTRIBUTED THE NEWSPAPER, NOR DID HE ELABORATE HOW
HE MIGHT DO SO. QUE ADDED HE WOULD LIKE TO FORM A CHAPTER
OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. HE LAMENTED, HOWEVER, THAT
WITHOUT REGULAR INTERNET ACCESS, HE IS GREATLY HAMPERED IN
HIS EFFORTS.
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THE UNSINKABLE DUONG THU HUONG: SOCIALIST ANTI-HERO
-------------- --------------


19. (C) DUONG THU HUONG, LIKE GEN. TRAN DO, WAS A TRUSTED,
DECORATED CADRE WHO SUBSEQUENTLY BECAME DISILLUSIONED AND
CRITICAL OF THE REGIME. THE 53-YEAR OLD NOVELIST SERVED
WITH DISTINCTION IN THE "AMERICAN" WAR AS A SUPPORT CADRE
FROM 1968 UNTIL THE CONFLICT'S END. SHE WAS ALSO A CPV
MEMER. IN THE YEARS AFTER THE WAR, HUONG BECAME REPELED
BY WHAT SHE SAW AS CYNICISM, CORRUPTION AND YPOCRISY IN
THE REGIME AND BEGAN TO WRITE ABOUT T. HER NOVELS,
PARTICULARLY "PARADISE OF THE BLIND" AND "BEYOND
ILLUSIONS," BECAME BEST-SELLERS INSIDE VIETNAM BEFORE BEING
BANNED, AND ATTRACTED A SIZABLE FOLLOWING OUTSIDE THE
COUNTRY. (NOTE: DESPITE THE OFFICIAL BAN ON HER WORKS,
PHOTOCOPIES CIRCULATE WIDELY INSIDE VIETNAM TODAY. END
NOTE.) HER OUTSPOKEN CRITICISM, HOWEVER, INCURRED REPEATED
WARNINGS FROM THE PARTY. SHE WAS EXPELLED IN THE LATE
1980'S (SHE CAST THE TIEBREAKER VOTE IN HER PARTY CELL FOR
HER OWN EXPULSION). IN 1991, SHE WAS ARRESTED AND SERVED
UNDER A YEAR IN PRISON WITH NO FORMAL CHARGES LODGED. AN
INCREASINGLY VOCAL CRITIC WITH A GROWING FOREIGN AUDIENCE,
HUONG WAS PRESSURED TO EXILE HERSELF TO FRANCE, BUT
REFUSED, SAYING, "I WANT TO STAY HERE TO INSULT THOSE IN
POWER." SHE IS A RECIPIENT OF FRANCE'S HIGHEST LITERARY
AWARD AND IS REGULARLY DEFENDED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
AND INTERNATIONAL PEN.


20. (C) CPV HEROES-TURNED CRITICS, SUCH AS HUONG AND GEN.
DO, ARE SEEN BY THE PARTY AS APOSTATES AND, AS A RESULT,
INCUR ESPECIALLY STRONG REPRISALS. IN 1998, POLICE ENTERED
HUONG'S HOME AND ABRUPTLY TERMINATED AN INTERVIEW SHE WAS
CONDUCTING WITH A READER'S DIGEST REPORTER, WHO WAS THEN
DEPORTED. READER'S DIGEST PUBLISHED THE INTERVIEW THAT
YEAR. SECURITY AUTHORITIES THEN PUT HUONG UNDER INTENSE
SURVEILLANCE. EMBOFFS HAD TO ABORT EFFORTS TO SEEK A
MEETING WITH HER THAT YEAR VIA INTERMEDIARIES AFTER THE
LATTER WERE THREATENED BY POLICE. SECURITY PERSONNEL
EFFECTIVELY PUT HUONG UNDER HOUSE ARREST. THIS ENDED ABOUT
A YEAR AGO.


21. (C) HUONG GAVE A LENGTHY TELEPHONE INTERVIEW IN JULY
TO RADIO FREE ASIA. SHE PREDICTED IN THAT INTERVIEW THAT
THE SRV'S COMMUNIST LEADERSHIP "WILL BE SWEPT AWAY BY THE
RIVER OF TIME." SHE SAID SHE HAS |HUONG SAID, "MY CONTACT WITH THE
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OUTSIDE WORLD IS VERY INTERMITTENT. SOME MAIL ARRIVES AND
OTHER MAIL DOESN'T . . . I RECEIVED AN INVITATION (AFTER
THE EVENT) FROM THE U.S. EMBASSY TO THEIR NATIONAL DAY
EVENT. ENVELOPES ARE CUT OPEN AND RESEALED SLOPPILY." SHE
SAID HER PHONE HAD BEEN RECONNECTED AFTER AN INTERVENTION
BY THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT. HUONG SAID SHE REMAINS UNDAUNTED
IN THE FACE OF SUCH MEASURES -- "I NO LONGER CARE FOR I
HAVE KNOWN THEM SO WELL."


22. (C) POLCOUNS MET TWICE WITH DUONG THU HUONG RECENTLY.
SHE REITERATED HER FIRM COMMITMENT TO FIGHT FOR A
DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM THROUGH HER WRITINGS. SHE SAID THE
AUTHORITIES ARE NO LONGER SURVEILLING HER CONSTANTLY, BUT
SHE REPEATED THE PETTY HARASSMENT AND MONITORING MEASURES
REPORTED IN THE RFA INTERVIEW. WHEN POLCOUNS ASKED IF SHE
WERE CONCERNED ABOUT MEASURES THE AUTHORITIES MIGHT TAKE IN
THE FUTURE, HUONG REPLIED SIMPLY, "I DON'T CARE. THEY'LL
NEVER SHUT ME UP. I'VE TOLD THEM I'LL SPEAK OUT UNTIL THIS
EVIL SYSTEM IS GONE OR I AM DEAD." TO UNDERSCORE HER
DEFIANCE, SHE INVITED POLCOUNS TO VISIT HER AT HER HOME,
SURE TO DRAW THE ATTENTION OF T HER. (NOTE: A FEW, ELDERLY, VIETNAMESE
WRITERS AT A RECENT EMBASSY-SPONSORED SYMPOSIUM OPENLY
ASSOCIATED WITH HUONG, WHILE MOST OF THE REST STEERED CLEAR
OF HER. HUONG IS AN EFFERVESCENT WOMAN WITH AN INFECTIOUS
SENSE OF HUMOR, PROBING MIND AND A DEEP WELL OF ENERGY.)

COMMENT: PROSPECTS FOR CHANGE. WHAT ABOUT THE YOUTH?
-------------- --------------


23. (C) OUR CONTACTS WITH DISSIDENTS REVEAL A GVN POLICY
OF SEEKING TO ALIENATE AND ISOLATE VOCAL CRITICS, FIRST BY
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PAGE 04 HANOI 02084 05 OF 06 190914Z
HEAVY MEASURES, FOLLOWED BY INTERMITTENT HARASSMENT --
EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF DR. QUE. THE LATTER'S UNCEASING
INTIMIDATION MAY BE DUE, PARTLY, TO HIS REFUSAL TO LEAVE
THE COUNTRY UPON RELEASE FROM PRISON; THE AUTHORITIES MAY
BE KEEPING THE PRESSURE ON IN AN EFFORT TO GET HIM TO
CHANGE HIS MIND. THE CASES OF GEOPHYSICIST GIANG AND CPV
APOSTATES TRAN DO AND DUONG THU HUONG ARE IRONIC IN THAT
THE AUTHORITIES APPEAR TO BE MORE OR LESS HONORING A
PROVISION OF LAW THAT REQUIRES TERMINATION OF INVESTIGATION
AND ACCOMPANYING MONITORING/HOUSE ARREST IF CHARGES ARE NOT
BROUGHT WITHIN TWELVE MONTHS OF INITIAL DETENTION. REF B
PROVIDES AN ANALYSIS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION
DECREE, WHICH IS MOST OFTEN USED AGAINST POLITICAL AND
RELIGIOUS DISSIDENTS. IT IS TOO EARLY TO CONCLUDE THAT
THERE MAY BE A CRACK OF LIGHT IN THE DARK CLOUDS THAT BEAR
ON OPEN CRITICS OF THE SRV. THE CASE OF HA SY PHU (REF A)
CERTAINLY BODES ILL. FUTURE TREATMENT OF DISSIDENTS AND
THE OUTCOME OF THIS YEAR'S PRISONER AMNESTIES MAY GIVE US
CLUES. IT MUST BE NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT HANOI'S TREATMENT
OF DISSIDENTS TODAY STANDS IN SHARP CONTRAST WITH THAT OF A
FEW YEARS AGO, WHEN A LONG JAIL SENTENCE WAS A VIRTUAL
CERTAINTY. THE SRV'S TREATMENT ALSO COMPARES FAVORABLY
WITH OTHER COUNTRIES, SUCH AS CHINA.


24. (C) FINALLY, IN THIS POLITICALLY THWARTED SOCIETY IT
IS EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO GAUGE THE SUPPORT OR EVEN
AWARENESS THESE DISSIDENTS HAVE AMONG THE GENERAL
POPULATION, PARTICULARLY AMONG THE INTELLIGENTSIA AND
EDUCATED YOUTH. ON OCCASION, WRITERS DO EXPRESS PRIVATELY
DEEP FRUSTRATIONS WITH GVN RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR WORK AND
AN IMPATIENCE FOR CHANGE. IT IS NOTEWORTHY, HOWEVER, THAT
THERE ARE FEW, IF ANY, DISSIDENTS WHO ARE IN THEIR 30'S OR
YOUNGER. (THE AVERAGE AGE OF THOSE ADDRESSED IN THIS
REPORT IS 64.) THIS CAN BE EXPLAINED, IN LARGE PART, TO A
FEAR OF LOSING ONE'S LIVELIHOOD. RETIREES HAVE LESS AT
STAKE. THE AGING VOCAL DISSIDENTS WITH WHOM WE ARE IN TOUCH
UNIVERSALLY ATTRIBUTE YOUNGER PEOPLE'S SILENCE ON POLITICAL
MATTERS TO THESE FACTORS. TODAY'S VIETNAM ALSO OFFERS
GREATER ECONOMIC AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TOWARD
WHICH TO DEVOTE ONE'S TALENTS. AS SOCIAL CHANGES FOLLOW
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THE RAPID ECONOMIC GROWTH WHICH IS TRANSFORMING VIETNAMESE
SOCIETY, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER VIETNAM'S
YOUTH WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THEIR HEADS DOWN OR ONE DAY
WILL BEGIN TO RAISE THEIR VOICES ALSO FOR POLITICAL CHANGE.
PETERSON

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