1. (U) A FEW DOZEN INDIVIDUALS TOOK TO THE STREETS OF
HANOI FOR SEVERAL HOURS ON DECEMBER 3 FOR WHAT APPEARED TO
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BE A PEACEFUL PROTEST AIMED AT MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY DURING ITS CURRENT SESSION. BECAUSE THE STREETS
LEADING TO THE NA BUILDING HAVE BEEN BLOCKED SINCE THE NA
OPENING, THE PROTESTERS CONGREGATED AS CLOSE AS THEY COULD,
DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY AND NEAR THE HO
CHI MINH MAUSOLEUM.



2. (U) PROTESTERS CAME AT LEAST FROM KHANH HOA, KIEN
GIANG, VINH LONG, AND DONG THAP PROVINCES, JUDGING FROM
SIGNS AND BANNERS THEY HELD AS THEY SAT QUIETLY. SEVERAL
SIGNS READ "SOS TO THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY." OTHER SIGNS VARIOUSLY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE
PLIGHT OF FARMERS AND LAND SEIZURES, INSUFFICIENT DEMOCRACY
IN VIETNAM, AND ILLEGAL SALES OF PUBLIC PROPERTY BY
OFFICIALS.



3. (U) AT LEAST FORTY UNIFORMED POLICE OBSERVED THE
PROTESTERS FROM NEARBY. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THAT
POLICE MADE ANY ARRESTS OR TOOK PROTESTERS INTO DETENTION.
THE PROTESTERS APPARENTLY DISPERSED ONCE THE DAILY NA
SESSION CONCLUDED. IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE PROTESTERS
HAD OBTAINED PRIOR PERMISSION FOR THE RALLY.



4. (U) COMMENT: THIS INCIDENT IS SIMILAR TO EVEN LARGER
PEACEFUL PROTESTS, ALSO MOSTLY BY SOUTHERNERS, THAT TOOK
PLACE DURING THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SESSION IN JUNE. IT IS
NOTABLE THAT THE GVN HAS PERMITTED THESE EXPRESSIONS OF
DISSATISFACTION AND HAS NOT RESPONDED WITH FORCE. IT IS
UNLIKELY THAT THE LOCAL MEDIA WILL COVER THESE EVENTS, OR
THAT THE PROTESTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO GROW TOO LARGE OR TOO
VOCAL.
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PORTER

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