Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
00HANOI2573
2000-11-27 10:19:00
SECRET
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:  

CHINESE ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN FRENCH EMBASSY IN HANOI

Tags:  PREF PREL CH FR VM CVR HUMANR 
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271019Z Nov 00

2000HANOI02573 - SECRET
 
 
 
 SECRET PTQ2760

PAGE 01 HANOI 02573 01 OF 02 271303Z 
ACTION EAP-00 

INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CA-02 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 
 EB-00 EUR-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 
 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OPIC-01 
 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 
 VO-03 PRM-02 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /014W
 ------------------A42C81 271303Z /75 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1392
AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 
USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 002573 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/10
TAGS: PREF PREL CH FR VM CVR HUMANR
SUBJECT: CHINESE ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN FRENCH EMBASSY IN HANOI

REF: BEIJING 11645

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 002573

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/10
TAGS: PREF PREL CH FR VM CVR HUMANR
SUBJECT: CHINESE ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN FRENCH EMBASSY IN HANOI

REF: BEIJING 11645


1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY DCM DOUGLAS G. HARTER, REASON
1.5(B,D) .


2. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION CABLE. SEE PARAS 8-11.


3. (S) LATE AFTERNOON NOVEMBER 24 FRENCH AMBASSADOR
SECRET

PAGE 02 HANOI 02573 01 OF 02 271303Z
INFORMED U.S. AMBASSADOR THAT TWO CHINESE NATIONALS,
SUN WEIBANG AND JIANG JINGSHI, WERE UNDER PROTECTIVE
CUSTODY AT THE FRENCH EMBASSY. ACCORDING TO THE
FRENCH, THE ULTIMATE INTENTION OF THE TWO INDIVIDUALS
IS TO SEEK POLITICAL ASYLUM IN THE U.S.. SUN TOLD THE
FRENCH HE IS A DISSIDENT WHO WAS ARRESTED DURING THE
TIANANMEN SQUARE TURMOIL IN 1989 AND WAS IMPRISONED
FOR 10 YEARS. THE OTHER MAN WAS IDENTIFIED ONLY AS
SUN'S TRAVELLING COMPANION.


4. (S) THE FRENCH EMBASSY CONDUCTED INITIAL
INTERVIEWS WITH SUN AND JIANG NOV 24 AND 25 AND PASSED
INFORMATION LOCALLY TO U.S. EMBASSY. SUN REPORTEDLY
TOLD THE FRENCH HE WAS "APPROVED" FOR ASYLUM IN THE
U.S. WITHIN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, BUT WHEN HE WENT TO
THE U.S. EMBASSY IN BEIJING TO RECEIVE THE NECESSARY
AUTHORIZATIONS AND DOCUMENTATION FOR ENTRY INTO THE
U.S., CHINESE SECURITY OFFICIALS REMOVED HIM FROM THE
WAITING LINE (PRESUMABLY THE CONSULAR WAITING LINE)
AND ESCORTED HIM AWAY. AUTHORITIES TOLD SUN HE WOULD
NOT BE ALLOWED TO EXIT CHINA TO TRAVEL TO THE U.S.. A
FEW DAYS LATER, SUN TRAVELLED BY TRAIN TO THE SINO-
VIETNAMESE BORDER AND THERE JOINEO A CHINESE TOUR
GROUP, ALLOWING HIM TO OBTAIN A BORDER PASS VALIO FOR
FOUR DAYS -- WHICH EXPIRED NOV 26. SUN SAIO THAT
JIANG IS SIMPLY AN ACQUAINTANCE WHO TRAVELLED WITH
HIM. NEITHER PERSON IS IN POSSESSION OF A PRC
PASSPORT. (NOTE: IT IS SIMPLE ANO FAIRLY COMMON FOR
CHINESE TO CROSS INTO VIETNAM ON LIMITED BOROER PASSES
FOR TOURISM OR TRAOE. WHILE SUN'S ACCOUNT IS PLAUSIBLE
ON THIS SCORE, HIS ASSOCIATION WITH JIANG -- ANO
SECRET

PAGE 03 HANOI 02573 01 OF 02 271303Z
JIANG'S OSTENSIBLE BASIS FOR AN ASYLUM REQUEST -- IS
MURKIER. END NOTE)


5. (S) SUN REQUESTEO PERMISSION FROM THE FRENCH
EMBASSY TO TRAVEL TO FRANCE TO ATTEND A LITERARY
CONFERENCE WHICH IS APPARENTLY SCHEDULED IN PARIS.

FROM THERE, SUN AND JIANG PLANNED TO APPROACH THE U.S.
EMBASSY IN PARIS WITH A REQUEST FOR POLITTCAL ASYLUM.
SUN ALSO CLAIMED THAT A COLLEAGUE, WHOSE NAME THE
FRENCH RENDERED IN WRITING AS LI YUCON (POSSIBLE
ALTERNATES LI YUCUN OR LI YUKAN),WAS CURRENTLY
RESIDING IN THE U.S. EMBASSY IN BEIJING (PRESUMABLY
WITH A SIMILAR ASYLUM REQUEST).


6. (C) INFORMATION FROM VARIOUS PRESS AND HUMAN-
RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS TENOS TO SUBSTANTIATE SUN'S CLAIM
TO DISSIDENT STATUS, IF HIS IDENTITY CAN BE
SUBSTANTIATED (OR IF NOT SUGGESTS HE AT LEAST DID HIS
HOMEWORK). SUN WEIBANG WAS EDITOR OF A DISSIDENT
DEMOCRATIC JOURNAL ENTITLED "HAILANG HUA" (SEA-WAVE
FLOWER) IN 1979 AND POSTED BIG-CHARACTER POSTERS
DURING THE 1979 DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT. HE WAS ARRESTED
AND SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR IN PRISON IN 1981 FOR THESE
ACTIVITIES. IN 1989, SUN REPORTEDLY RAN A SMALL
RESTAURANT THAT PROVIDED FREE MEALS TO STUDENT
PROTESTORS DURING THE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT CULMINATED
IN THE TIANANMEN SQUARE MASSACRE. HE WAS ARRESTED ANO
SENTENCEO TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON; HE WAS PAROLEO IN
FEBRUARY 1999. IN OCTOBER 1999, AFTER ALLEGEDLY
VISITING THE FAMILY OF DISSIDENT DEMOCRACY PARTY
FOUNDER XU WENLI, SUN WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN RE-
SECRET

PAGE 04 HANOI 02573 01 OF 02 271303Z
ARRESTED.


7. (S) ON THE OTHER HANO, INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE
FRENCH THUS FAR STOPS FAR SHORT OF ESTABLISHING SUN'S
IDENTITY POSITIVELY AND EXPLAINING THE PRESENCE/STATUS
OF JIANG JINGSHI. HANOI UNDERSTANDS U.S. EMBASSY
BEIJING DOES NOT POSSESS ANY INFORMATION TO CONFIRM OR
EXPLAIN SUN'S CLAIMS THAT HE HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH
THE EMBASSY, AND THAT THE EMBASSY HAS NOT BEEN IN
TOUCH WITH LI YUCON.


8. (S)
ACTION REQUESTS: DEPARTMENT: EMBASSY WILL
KEEP ALL ADDRESSEES FULLY UP TO DATE ON ANY FURTHER
DEVELOPMENTS. AT THIS POINT IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE
FRENCH WILL DECIDE TO ASSIST SUN ANO JIANG, OR TURN
THEM OUT IN THE STREET -- IN WHICH CASE THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY THEY MAY TURN UP HERE. IN THE LATTER
EVENTUALITY, EMBASSY WILL NEEO TO CONSIOER OPTIONS FOR
OEALING WITH AT LEAST SUN. REQUEST OEPARTMENT VIEWS
ON THIS CONTINGENCY. (NOTE: IN A MEETING WITH THE
U.S. AMBASSADOR NOV 24, FRENCH AMBASSAOOR IMPLIED HIS
CURRENT "INSTRUCTIONS" LIKELY INVOLVED TRYING TO GET
AT LEAST SUN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. AMBASSAOOR PETERSON
SUGGESTEO HE CONTACT THE UNHCR OFFICE IN BANGKOK TO
DETERMINE WHAT IT MIGHT DO TO HELP. END NOTE)


9. (S) BEIJING: REQUEST ANY FURTHER INFORMATION
EMBASSY MAY BECOME AWARE OF RELEVANT TO SUN, JIANG,
AND/OR LI.
SECRET

PAGE 02 HANOI 02573 02 OF 02 271303Z


10. (S) PARIS: INFORMATION ABOVE MAY BE SHARED WITH
APPROPRIATE FRENCH OFFICIALS AT EMBASSY'S DISCRETION.


11. (S) GENEVA: THERE IS NO LONGER A UNHCR PRESENCE
IN HANOI. WE MAY NEEO TO CONTACT UNHCR THROUGH YOU OR
BANGKOK IF THE USG HAS A MORE DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN
THIS CASE. AFTER MUCH PUSHING ANO PROODING, UNHCR AND
TAHE SWEOISH EMBASSY FACILITATEO ANOTHER SUCH CASE IN
HANOI IN 1997-98.

PETERSON

SECRET