NHAN DAN ON FATHER LY'S SENTENCE

UNCLAS HANOI 002962 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL/RF E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM SOCI PINS VM HUMANR RELFREE SUBJECT: NHAN DAN ON FATHER LY'S SENTENCE REF: A. HANOI 2884 B. HANOI 2789 ¶1. (U) A SIGNED COMMENTARY UNDER THE HEADLINE OF "NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO INTERFERE" IN NHAN DAN, THE LEADING PARTY DAILY NEWSPAPER, ON NOVEMBER 13 DENOUNCED FOREIGN MEDIA COVERAGE, ESPECIALLY BY RFI AND BBC, REGARDING THE 15 YEAR UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HANOI 02962 140144Z CUMULATIVE SENTENCES GIVEN TO FATHER NGUYEN VAN LY ON OCTOBER 19. IT INCLUDED SOME QUOTES FROM INTERNATIONAL COVERAGE SUCH AS "CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM TO RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND REJECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 31/CP REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION" ¶2. (U) THE COMMENTARY DESCRIBED THE "TRUTH" AS BEING THAT FATHER LY HAD VIOLATED THE LAW BY "CAUSING DIVISIONS AMONG RELIGIOUS BELIEVERS, WITH AN AFFECT ON ORDER, SECURITY AND THE PEACEFUL LIFE OF THE PEOPLE," BY "TWISTING THE TRUTH" AND BY "DAMAGING THE POLICY OF SOLIDARITY AMONG THE ENTIRE POPULATION." IT REITERATED THE "CONSISTENT POLICY" OF THE PARTY AND STATE WAS TO RESPECT FREEDOM OF BELIEF AND NON- BELIEF, BUT WARNED THAT ANY INSTANCE OF VIOLATING THE LAW WILL BE "DEALT WITH BY THE LAW." ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: THE GVN CONTINUES TO TRY TO PORTRAY FATHER LY'S CASE AS A LAW AND ORDER ISSUE, RATHER THAN A RELIGIOUS LIBERTY ISSUE. OFFICIAL SENSITIVITY TO EXTERNAL CRITICISM IS APPARENT IN THE INCLUSION IN THIS SEMI- DEFINITIVE COMMENTARY OF DIRECTLY CRITICAL COMMENTS MADE BY OUTSIDE OBSERVERS; THEY ARE PROBABLY WELL AWARE THAT INTERNATIONAL NEWS PROGRAMS ARE POPULAR AND FELT THEY NEEDED TO REACT TO SUCH CRITICISM FACE-ON. PORTER UNCLASSIFIED