Identifier	Created	Classification	Origin
01HANOI3173	2001-12-03 10:23:00	UNCLASSIFIED	Embassy Hanoi

Cable title:

PEACEFUL PROTEST OUTSIDE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Show metadata

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

031023Z Dec 01

 2001HANOI03173 - UNCLASSIFIED
 
 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTO8032

PAGE 01        HANOI  03173  031036Z 
ACTION EAP-00   

INFO  LOG-00   AID-00   ACQ-00   CIAE-00  DINT-00  DODE-00  SRPP-00  
      DS-00    EB-00    ED-01    FBIE-00  UTED-00  VC-00    HHS-01   
      H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   L-00     AC-01    
      NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PC-01    
      PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    SS-00    STR-00   
      TEST-00  TRSE-00  T-00     USIE-00  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   
      DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00     /012W
                  ------------------46205A  031036Z /38    
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4928
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 
AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI

					  UNCLAS HANOI 003173 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PINS PHUM SOCI VM DPOL
SUBJECT:  PEACEFUL PROTEST OUTSIDE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

1. (U) A FEW DOZEN INDIVIDUALS TOOK TO THE STREETS OF
HANOI FOR SEVERAL HOURS ON DECEMBER 3 FOR WHAT APPEARED TO
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 HANOI 03173 031036Z
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.
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 HANOI 03173 031036Z
PORTER

UNCLASSIFIED