Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01HANOI2152
2001-08-31 07:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:  

STAFFDEL MEETING WITH ETHNIC MINORITY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Tags:  PHUM PINS PGOV KIRF VM CB ETMIN HUMANR RELFREE 
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310754Z Aug 01

2001HANOI02152 - CONFIDENTIAL
 
 
 
 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8908

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ACTION H-01 

INFO LOG-00 DS-00 EAP-00 TEDE-00 SS-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 
 DRL-02 SAS-00 /004W
 ------------------19412D 310909Z /38 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3831
INFO AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMCONSUL HONG KONG 
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
ASEAN COLLECTIVE
NSC WASHDC
SECDEF WASHDC
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
DIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HANOI 002152 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV
STATE ALSO FOR DRL AND PRM
SECDEF FOR ISA/LSTERN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/11
TAGS: PHUM PINS PGOV KIRF VM CB ETMIN HUMANR RELFREE
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL MEETING WITH ETHNIC MINORITY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS


CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HANOI 02152 01 OF 04 310909Z
REF: HCMC 0874

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HANOI 002152

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV
STATE ALSO FOR DRL AND PRM
SECDEF FOR ISA/LSTERN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/11
TAGS: PHUM PINS PGOV KIRF VM CB ETMIN HUMANR RELFREE
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL MEETING WITH ETHNIC MINORITY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS


CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HANOI 02152 01 OF 04 310909Z
REF: HCMC 0874


1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE DQAFFAIRES ROBERT PORTER.
REASON: 1.5 (B) AND (D).


2. (C) SUMMARY: ETHNIC MINORITY STUDENTS DESCRIBED TO
STAFFDEL REES THE FEBRUARY/MARCH UNREST IN THE CENTRAL
HIGHLANDS, EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE PEOPLE SEEKING
REFUGE IN CAMBODIA, NOTED GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO SOLVE
ETHNIC PROBLEMS, AND DISMISSED REPORTS OF COERCIVE
FAMILY PLANNING METHODS AND FORCED STERILIZATIONS. END
SUMMARY.

CAUSES OF THE UNREST
--------------


3. (C) JOSEPH REES (COUNSEL TO THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) AND BRIAN GUNDERSON (CHIEF OF
STAFF TO HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER),ALONG WITH CONGENOFFS,
MET AUGUST 13 AT CONGEN WITH SEVEN ETHNIC MINORITY
STUDENTS FROM THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS CURRENTLY ENROLLED
AT VARIOUS UNIVERSITIES IN HCMC. THE STUDENTS
COMPRISED THREE MEMBERS OF THE KQHO ETHNIC GROUP FROM
LAM DONG PROVINCE, TWO MEMBERS OF THE LACH ETHNIC GROUP
FROM LAM DONG PROVINCE, ONE MEMBER OF THE EDE ETHNIC
GROUP FROM DAK LAK PROVINCE, AND ONE MEMBER OF THE GIA
RAI ETHNIC GROUP FROM GIA LAI PROVINCE. ALTHOUGH THE
TWO STUDENTS FROM DAK LAK AND GIA LAI PROVINCES DID
MOST OF THE TALKING, ALL THE STUDENTS CONTRIBUTED
SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE CONVERSATION. (NOTE: THE STUDENT
FROM DAK LAK SAID HE HAD ARRIVED IN HCMC FROM BUON ME
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PAGE 03 HANOI 02152 01 OF 04 310909Z
THUOT ONLY THE DAY BEFORE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE STAFFDEL MEETING. ANOTHER STUDENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES MENTIONED
THAT A PROGRAM OF THE FORD FOUNDATION WAS FUNDING HIS
EDUCATION. END NOTE)


4. (C) REES BEGAN THE MEETING BY INQUIRING INTO THE
CAUSES OF THE FEBRUARY/MARCH UNREST THAT TOOK PLACE IN
DAK LAK AND GIA LAI PROVINCES. THE STUDENTS ALL AGREED

THAT THE MAIN REASON FOR THE UNREST WERE THE ISSUES OF
MIGRATION AND CLAIMS TO LAND. THEY CLAIMED THAT ETHNIC
VIETNAMESE KINH MIGRANTS TO THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OVER
THE PAST DECADE HAD QAPPROPRIATEDQ THOUSANDS OF
HECTARES OF LAND THAT QBELONGEDQ TO THE ETHNIC
MINORITIES WHO HAVE LIVED IN THE AREA FOR GENERATIONS.
ONE STUDENT EXPLAINED THAT ETHNIC MINORITY PEOPLE
PRACTICE SHIFTING AGRICULTURE, CULTIVATING LAND IN ONE
SECTION OF FOREST WHILE LEAVING OTHER SECTIONS FALLOW
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS TO REJUVENATE THE SOIL. MIGRANTS
TAKE LAND THAT THEY THINK IS ABANDONED OR UNOCCUPIED
WHEN IN REALITY IT IS CULTIVATED LAND CURRENTLY FALLOW,
HE CLAIMED.


5. (C) ONE STUDENT COMMENTED THAT WHEN THE CHILDREN OF
ETHNIC MINORITY PEOPLE GET MARRIED, THEIR APPLICATION
TO BUILD A HOME OR TO CULTIVATE LAND IS A COMPLEX
PROCEDURE. IN CONTRAST, BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT
ENCOURAGES MIGRATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE
PROCEDURE FOR MIGRANTS TO BUILD AND CULTIVATE IS
SIMPLIFIED, HE CLAIMED. ANOTHER STUDENT SAID THAT AS
MORE MIGRANTS SETTLE IN THE AREA, THERE IS MORE CONTACT
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PAGE 04 HANOI 02152 01 OF 04 310909Z
BETWEEN THEM AND THE MINORITIES, AND ETHNIC TENSION IS
INEVITABLE. THE STUDENT SAID THE ETHNIC VIETNAMESE
KINH MIGRANTS SOMETIMES DUMP THEIR GARBAGE IN MINORITY
AREAS, AND THIS LEADS TO MANY QUARRELS.


6. (C) TWO OF THE STUDENTS STATED THAT JUST PRIOR TO
THE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 2, A NUMBER
OF FIGHTS OCCURRED BETWEEN MIGRANTS AND ETHNIC MINORITY
PEOPLE. ONE STUDENT SAID THAT IN PHU BO DISTRICT OF
GIA LAI PROVINCE, A QUARREL BETWEEN A MIGRANT HOUSEHOLD
AND A MINORITY FAMILY OVER LAND QUICKLY DEVELOPED INTO
A NEIGHBORHOOD BRAWL IN WHICH SEVERAL PEOPLE USED
KNIVES AND CLUBS. THE POLICE INTERVENED, ACCORDING TO
THE STUDENT, BUT USED ELECTRIC PRODS AGAINST THE
MINORITY PEOPLE AND APPEARED TO BE PROTECTING THE
VIETNAMESE KINH. ANOTHER STUDENT SAID THAT IN CHU SE
DISTRICT OF GIA LAI PROVINCE JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE
FEBRUARY 2, A FIGHT HAD BROKEN OUT BETWEEN DOZENS OF
VIETNAMESE KINH MIGRANTS AND ETHNIC MINORITY PEOPLE
THAT RESULTED IN MANY INJURIES SUCH AS BROKEN RIBS.
(NOTE: CHU SE DISTRICT APPARENTLY REMAINS VERY TENSE.
IT IS THE DISTRICT TO WHICH PROVINCIAL OFFICIALS
ATTEMPTED TO KEEP AMBASSADOR PETERSON FROM TRAVELING IN
JULY. SEE REFTEL.)

BUON ME THUOT DEMONSTRATIONS AND GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
-------------- --------------


7. (C) ACCORDING TO A STUDENT FROM BUON ME THUOT, UP TO
1000 ETHNIC MINORITY PEOPLE DEMONSTRATED IN THAT TOWN
IN DAK LAK PROVINCE ON FEBRUARY 3. HE SAID THE LEADERS
OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS USED LOUDSPEAKERS TO VOICE THEIR
DEMANDS, WHICH INCLUDED THE RETURN OF ALL CENTRAL
HIGHLANDS LAND TO THE ETHNIC MINORITIES, BETTER
EDUCATION FOR MINORITY PEOPLE, AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
THE STUDENT ALSO NOTED THAT MANY DEMONSTRATORS CALLED
FOR RECOGNITION OF AN INDEPENDENT DEGA STATE WITH KOK
KQSOR AS ITS PRESIDENT. (NOTE: SOME MONTHS BEFORE THE
DEMONSTRATIONS, KOK KQSOR, WHO LIVES IN SOUTH CAROLINA,
PROCLAIMED HIMSELF PRESIDENT-IN-EXILE OF AN INDEPENDENT
DEGA STATE, ENCOMPASSING ALL OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS.
HE AND HIS CABINET-IN-EXILE REPORTEDLY PLAYED AN
INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN PLANNING THE DEMONSTRATIONS ALONG
WITH ORGANIZERS RESIDENT IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS.
DEGA IS A TERM USED TO DENOTE THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
AREA AND THE MINORITY PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE. SEE
REFTEL.)


8. (C) THE SAME STUDENT SAID THE DEMONSTRATORS HAD
CONGREGATED IN THE CENTER OF TOWN, BUT ARMORED MILITARY
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PAGE 03 HANOI 02152 02 OF 04 310910Z
VEHICLES PREVENTED THEM FROM REACHING THE PEOPLEQS
COMMITTEE BUILDING (TOWN HALL). HE ADDED THAT OTHER
ARMORED MILITARY VEHICLES ENCIRCLED THE DEMONSTRATORS
AND THAT SOLDIERS PREVENTED ADDITIONAL PEOPLE FROM
JOINING THE CROWD. AT ONE POINT, A FIRE ENGINE BLASTED
WATER CANONS AT THE DEMONSTRATORS. IN RESPONSE, HE
ADMITTED THAT THE DEMONSTRATORS THREW STONES AT THE
FIRE ENGINE AND AT THE MILITARY VEHICLES, WHILE SOME
DEMONSTRATORS FOUGHT WITH POLICE. HE CLAIMED THAT THE
OPERATORS OF THE FIRE ENGINE FLED UNDER A VOLLEY OF
STONES. AFTER THE SITUATION CALMED, A REPRESENTATIVE
FROM THE PEOPLEQS COMMITTEE CAME OUT AND MET WITH THE
LEADERS OF THE DEMONSTRATORS. THE PEOPLEQS COMMITTEE
REPRESENTATIVES PROMISED TO CONSIDER THE DEMONSTRATORSQ
DEMANDS. BY THE AFTERNOON, THE DEMONSTRATORS AGREED TO
GO HOME, AND THE PEOPLEQS COMMITTEE AGREED TO PROVIDE
VEHICLES TO TAKE THEM HOME, ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT
WHO WAS NOT AN EYEWITNESS.


9. (C) SEVERAL STUDENTS SAID THAT AFTER THE
DEMONSTRATIONS OF FEBRUARY 2 IN PLEI KU IN GIA LAI
PROVINCE AND FEBRUARY 3 IN BUON ME THUOT, OTHER
DEMONSTRATIONS OCCURRED IN SMALLER TOWNS OF THE TWO
PROVINCES IN THE SUCCEEDING WEEKS. THE CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT SENT IN LARGE NUMBERS OF MILITARY TROOPS TO
GIA LAI PROVINCE, ACCORDING TO THESE STUDENTS. IN DAK
LAK PROVINCE, TROOPS WENT ONLY TO EA SUP AND BUON DON
DISTRICTS, THEY CLAIMED. TWO STUDENTS STATED THAT THEY
HAD SEEN A HELICOPTER ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT DID
NOT KNOW IF IT WAS THE SAME HELICOPTER. THEY ALSO SAID
THEY SAW TANKS IN THE AREA IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH.
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PAGE 04 HANOI 02152 02 OF 04 310910Z
THESE STUDENTS ALL STATED THAT MOST OF THE UNIFORMED
SECURITY FORCES HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR BASES, BUT A FEW
REMAIN. A STUDENT FROM GIA LAI PROVINCE SAID A SMALL
CONTINGENT OF ABOUT 30 SOLDIERS STILL PATROLLED HIS
HOME DISTRICT.

CONCERN FOR PERSONS WHO FLED TO CAMBODIA
--------------


10. (C) ONE STUDENT SAID MOST OF THE ORGANIZERS OF THE
DEMONSTRATIONS HAD FLED TO CAMBODIA, BUT SOME HAD BEEN
QARRESTEDQ IN VIETNAM. HE SAID HE HEARD AN UNKNOWN
NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WERE DETAINED IN CAMBODIA AND TURNED
OVER BY CAMBODIAN POLICE TO VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES.
ALL THE STUDENTS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO
HAD FLED TO CAMBODIA AND ASKED ABOUT THEIR CURRENT
SITUATION. REES TOLD THEM THAT 38 PERSONS HAD BEEN
RESETTLED TO THE U.S., AND THAT ANOTHER 360 WERE UNDER
UNHCR PROTECTION IN CAMBODIA. HE ADDED THAT ABOUT 70
PERSONS WHO HAD GONE TO CAMBODIA REPORTEDLY HAD
RETURNED TO VIETNAM. HE SAID THAT MOST OF THE 360
STILL IN CAMBODIA HAVE STATED THEY DO NOT WANT TO GO TO
THE U.S. INSTEAD, THEY WISH TO RETURN TO VIETNAM, BUT
ONLY AFTER THE LAND AND MIGRATION PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED.
THE STUDENTS WERE DISMAYED THAT SOME PERSONS MAY HAVE
BEEN RETURNED TO VIETNAM. WHEN ASKED WHAT THEY THOUGHT
BEST FOR THOSE REFUGEES STILL IN CAMBODIA, THE STUDENTS
TALKED AMONG THEMSELVES AND THEN SAID THEY THOUGHT IT
BEST FOR THEM TO STAY IN CAMBODIA UNDER UNHCR
PROTECTION UNTIL CONDITIONS WERE SUCH THAT THEY COULD
RETURN TO THEIR HOMES WITHOUT FEAR OF REPRISAL.

PROTESTANT PROBLEMS
--------------


11. (C) ALL THE STUDENTS AGREED THAT LAND AND MIGRATION
WERE THE MAIN CAUSES OF THE ETHNIC UNREST. SOME OF
THEM NOTED FURTHER, HOWEVER, THAT MANY ETHNIC MINORITY
PEOPLE BELONG TO PROTESTANT CONGREGATIONS, AND THAT THE
DEMONSTRATIONS ALSO RESULTED FROM THE VENTING OF PENT-
UP FRUSTRATIONS OVER HARASSMENT OF ETHNIC MINORITY
PROTESTANTS BY LOCAL OFFICIALS OVER THE YEARS.


12. (C) ONE STUDENT SAID FRIENDS HAD TOLD HIM THAT IN
KRONG PA DISTRICT OF GIA LAI PROVINCE, AUTHORITIES
RECENTLY DEMANDED SEVERAL ETHNIC MINORITY PROTESTANT
BELIEVERS RENOUNCE THEIR FAITH. WHEN THEY REFUSED,
THEY WERE MADE TO PAY FINES (WHICH COULD BE IN THE FORM
OF MONEY OR LIVESTOCK). ONE OF THE STUDENTS SAID HE
HAD BEEN DENIED A JOB IN PLEI KU BECAUSE HE REFUSED TO
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PAGE 03 HANOI 02152 03 OF 04 310910Z
CROSS OUT QTIN LANHQ (PROTESTANT) ON HIS JOB
APPLICATION FORM. SEVERAL STUDENTS SAID THEY HAD HEARD
THAT IN APRIL, A COFFEE SHOP OWNER IN DAM RONG VILLAGE,
LAC DUONG DISTRICT IN LAM DONG PROVINCE WAS PLAYING A
VIDEO OF THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST IN HER SHOP WHEN
POLICE CAME AND TOLD HER TO TURN IT OFF. TEN OR TWELVE
CUSTOMERS WHO WERE IN THE SHOP ARGUED WITH THE
POLICEMAN WHO THEN WENT AWAY. BUT 30 MINUTES LATER,
THE SHOP CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE
STUDENTS CLAIMED THAT WHEN REPORTERS FROM THE DALAT
CITY NEWSPAPER CAME TO THE VILLAGE INQUIRING ABOUT THE
INCIDENT, THE POLICE TOLD THEM THAT THE COFFEE SHOP
OWNER HAD BEEN SHOWING A PORNOGRAPHIC FILM.


13. (C) THE STUDENTS ALL AGREED THAT ETHNIC MINORITY
CATHOLICS GENERALLY FARED BETTER THAN ETHNIC MINORITY
PROTESTANTS IN THE HIGHLAND PROVINCES, BUT IN CERTAIN
LOCALITIES CATHOLICS, TOO, FACED REPRESSION IN VARYING
DEGREES. ONE STUDENT SAID HE WAS AWARE THAT IN LAC
DUONG DISTRICT IN LAM DONG PROVINCE, THE PRIEST AT THE
SINGLE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS BEEN REQUESTING PERMISSION
TO RENOVATE HIS BADLY DILAPIDATED CHURCH SINCE 1989,
BUT HAS RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM THE AUTHORITIES.
CATHOLICS IN THIS AREA ARE ALLOWED TO PERFORM BAPTISMS
ONLY ON CHRISTMAS AND EASTER, HE SAID, BUT THIS YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE ETHNIC UNREST, EASTER BAPTISMS WERE NOT
ALLOWED.


14. (C) THE STUDENTS FROM LAM DONG PROVINCE SAID IT WAS
WIDELY BELIEVED THAT THE PRESTIGIOUS HIGH SCHOOL
BOARDING SCHOOL FOR ETHNIC MINORITY STUDENTS IN THE
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PAGE 04 HANOI 02152 03 OF 04 310910Z
PROVINCIAL CAPITAL DALAT DOES NOT APPROVE REGISTRATION
FOR PROTESTANT STUDENTS. SOME OF THE STUDENTS ADDED
THAT THEY KNEW OF A 16-YEAR-OLD STUDENT AT THIS
BOARDING SCHOOL WHO WAS EXPELLED IN MAY WHEN IT BECAME
KNOWN THAT HIS FATHER HAD ONCE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH
FULRO. (NOTE: FULRO WAS POLITICAL/MILITARY
ORGANIZATION THAT ESPOUSED AUTONOMY FOR THE INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS UNTIL ITS FINAL DEMISE
IN THE EARLY 1990QS. END NOTE.) SOME OF THE STUDENTS
CLAIMED THE REASON PROTESTANTS FACE REPRESSION IN THE
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS IS BECAUSE THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES
ASSOCIATE PROTESTANTISM WITH FULRO. THE STUDENTS
UNANIMOUSLY DISAGREED WITH THIS VIEW. THEY AGREED
THERE HAD BEEN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PROTESTANT PASTORS
AND FULRO IN THE PAST, BUT THAT NOWADAYS PROTESTANT
PASTORS PREACH ONLY RELIGION. (COMMENT: SEVERAL
RELIABLE PROTESTANT SOURCES HAVE PAINTED A SOMEWHAT
DIFFERENT PICTURE ABOUT PROTESTANTISM AND POLITICS IN
THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS. THEY SAY THERE IS A SPLIT
BETWEEN THE MAJORITY OF PASTORS WHO WANT ONLY TO PREACH
RELIGION AND A VOCAL MINORITY WHO WERE ACTIVE
SUPPORTERS OF THE FORMER FULRO AND ARE NOW SUPPORTERS
OF THE DEGA STATE. END COMMENT.)

GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTS TO FIND SOLUTIONS
--------------


15. (C) MOST OF THE STUDENTS SAID THEY WERE ENCOURAGED
THAT THE CENTRAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS APPEAR TO
BE SEARCHING FOR WAYS TO ADDRESS THE VARIOUS PROBLEMS
OF THE ETHNIC MINORITIES. AT THE SAME TIME, A FEW OF
THEM WERE DISCOURAGED THAT SOME OF THE GOVERNMENTQS
EFFORTS APPEARED INSINCERE. ONE STUDENT RECOUNTED THAT
IN GIA LAI PROVINCE, LOCAL TELEVISION CREWS FILMED
PROVINCIAL OFFICIALS DISTRIBUTING MOSQUITO NETS, BAGS
OF SALT AND OTHER PROVISIONS IN A MINORITY VILLAGE, BUT
WHEN THE CAMERAS WERE TURNED OFF, THE OFFICIALS
REQUESTED PAYMENT FOR THE ITEMS.


16. (C) THE SEVEN STUDENTS CONCURRED THAT THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE STEP THE CENTRAL AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS HAVE TAKEN IS TO STEP UP EFFORTS TO CONDUCT
PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION IN MINORITY LANGUAGES. THE
STUDENTS ALL AGREED THAT ETHNIC MINORITY STUDENTS HAVE
LAGGED BEHIND EDUCATIONALLY OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE
CLASSES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED IN VIETNAMESE Q A NON-
NATIVE LANGUAGE TO THEM. (NOTE: THEIR CONVERSATION
WITH STAFFDEL WAS NONETHELESS IN VIETNAMESE WITH
ENGLISH INTERPRETATION. END NOTE.) THEY APPLAUDED THE
GOVERNMENTQS EFFORTS TO CONDUCT PRIMARY EDUCATION IN
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PAGE 03 HANOI 02152 04 OF 04 310910Z
LOCAL LANGUAGES WHILE TEACHING VIETNAMESE AS A SEPARATE
SUBJECT. SEVERAL STUDENTS ALSO SAID THERE HAS BEEN A
CAMPAIGN SINCE FEBRUARY THAT ALL LOCAL OFFICIALS (WHO
GENERALLY ARE ETHNIC VIETNAMESE KINH SENT TO ETHNIC
MINORITY AREAS) SHOULD LEARN THE LANGUAGES OF THE
COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY WORK. THIS HAS LED TO SOME
JOB CREATION FOR MINORITY PEOPLE BEING HIRED AS
LANGUAGE TEACHERS. IN APRIL, LAM DONG PROVINCE HIRED
SEVERAL MINORITY PEOPLE TO TEACH MINORITY LANGUAGES TO
THE PROVINCIAL POLICE, ACCORDING TO ONE OF THE
STUDENTS.


17. (C) SEVERAL STUDENTS ADDED THAT, IN ADDITION TO
LANGUAGE PROGRAMS, THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT HAS SENT
REPRESENTATIVES INTO MINORITY COMMUNITIES TO LISTEN TO
GRIEVANCES AND CALM PEOPLE DOWN. THESE STUDENTS ALSO
SAID THEY NOTICED A REAL EFFORT ON THE PART OF
PROVINCIAL OFFICIALS TO IDENTIFY AND FIND EMPLOYMENT
FOR ETHNIC MINORITY UNIVERSITY GRADUATES. (TWO OF THE
STUDENTS REMARKED THAT THEY HAD ALREADY COMPLETED THEIR
OWN UNIVERSITY COURSES BUT CONTINUED TO TAKE CLASSES
BECAUSE OF A LACK OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES,
HOWEVER.)

THE STUDENTS SAY NO FORCED STERILIZATIONS
--------------


18. (C) REESQS FINAL QUESTION WAS ABOUT CONTINUING
ALLEGATIONS THAT ETHNIC MINORITY WOMEN IN THE CENTRAL
HIGHLANDS ARE MADE TO UNDERGO ABORTIONS OR
STERILIZATIONS AGAINST THEIR WILL. THE STUDENTS
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PAGE 04 HANOI 02152 04 OF 04 310910Z
(INCLUDING ONE FEMALE STUDENT) REPLIED UNANIMOUSLY THAT
THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE BEING SUBJECTED TO
FORCED ABORTION OR STERILIZATION. THE CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT HAD A FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM THAT
ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO USE IUDQS OR OTHER METHODS OF
BIRTH CONTROL, BUT THE STUDENTS DID NOT BELIEVE ANY
COERCION WAS INVOLVED. IN A DISCUSSION AMONG
THEMSELVES, ONE STUDENT SAID THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN
ISOLATED INCIDENTS IN THE PAST, BUT THE OTHERS
DISAGREED.


19. (U) THE STAFFDEL DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
CLEAR THIS MESSAGE BEFORE DEPARTURE.

PORTER

CONFIDENTIAL