Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01HANOI496
2001-03-02 11:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:
DISSIDENT FATHER NGUYEN VAN LY AT HIS CHURCH UNDER VIRTUAL HOUSE ARREST
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 2001HANOI00496 - CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ2156 PAGE 01 HANOI 00496 01 OF 02 081113Z ACTION EAP-00 INFO LOG-00 COR-01 NP-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DS-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00 NSAE-00 SS-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /003W ------------------CF1C34 081114Z /38 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2132 INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY ASEAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//J5/FPA// PRIORITY DIA WASHDC PRIORITY JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000496
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY (PARA 5)
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, DRL/IRF, DRL/BA, AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/1/11
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PREL VM HUMANR RELFREE
SUBJECT: DISSIDENT FATHER NGUYEN VAN LY AT HIS CHURCH UNDER VIRTUAL HOUSE ARREST
(U) CLASSIFIED BY POLCOUNS JAMES BRUNO,
REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND (D).
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HANOI 00496 01 OF 02 081113Z
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000496
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY (PARA 5)
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, DRL/IRF, DRL/BA, AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/1/11
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PREL VM HUMANR RELFREE
SUBJECT: DISSIDENT FATHER NGUYEN VAN LY AT HIS CHURCH UNDER VIRTUAL HOUSE ARREST
(U) CLASSIFIED BY POLCOUNS JAMES BRUNO,
REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND (D).
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HANOI 00496 01 OF 02 081113Z
1. (C) SUMMARY: DISSIDENT CATHOLIC PRIEST NGUYEN VAN
LY IS UNABLE TO LEAVE HIS CHURCH COMPOUND IN HUE UNDER
CONDITIONS RESEMBLING HOUSE ARREST. A PARISH PRIEST
IN HO CHI MINH CITY TOLD VISITING REP. SENSENBRENNER
FEBRUARY 24 THAT FATHER LY HAS BEEN HELD UNDER "HOUSE
ARREST" SINCE HE SUBMITTED WRITTEN TESTIMONY HIGHLY
CRITICAL OF THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT TO THE U.S.
COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN EARLY
FEBRUARY. SEPARATELY, VICE FOREIGN MINISTER BIN SAID
LOCAL OFFICIALS REPORT LY HAD "VIOLATED THE LAW" AND
SHOULD BE PROSECUTED ACCORDING TO VIETNAM'S CRIMINAL
CODE. HOWEVER, BIN SAID OFFICIALS ARE INSTEAD
APPLYING "ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES" TO RESTRICT HIS
MOVEMENTS, AND HE CLAIMED LY IS STILL ABLE TO FUNCTION
AS A PRIEST. EMBASSY AND CONSULATE CONTINUE TO URGE
THAT LY BE ALLOWED TO CARRY OUT HIS DUTIES PEACEFULLY
WITHOUT GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE. END SUMMARY.
HOUSE ARREST IN HUE
--------------
2. (C) REPRESENTATIVE F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER,
ACCOMPANIED BY HCMC CONGEN POLOFF AND CONGEN
INTERPRETER, MET FATHER FRANCIS XAVIER LE VAN NHAC AT
CHO QUAN CATHOLIC CHURCH ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, IN
HCMC'S DISTRICT 5. FATHER NHAC IS THE SENIOR OF TWO
PRIESTS AT THE CHURCH, WHICH IS THE OLDEST CATHOLIC
CHURCH IN HCMC AND THE LARGEST PARISH IN CHOLON.
POLICE AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM MFA, MPS, AND THE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ESCORTED THE CONGRESSMAN INTO THE
CHURCH COMPOUND, BUT THE ESCORTS DID NOT ENTER THE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HANOI 00496 01 OF 02 081113Z
MEETING ROOM.
3. (C) REPRESENTATIVE SENSENBRENNER'S FIRST QUESTION
WAS TO ASK WHETHER FATHER NHAC HAD ANY INFORMATION
PERTAINING TO THE SAFETY AND CONDITION OF FATHER
NGUYEN VAN LY IN HUE AFTER LY'S WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO
THE COMMISSION ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION WAS MADE PUBLIC,
NOTING THAT THE U.S. MISSION HAD TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY
TO REACH FATHER LY BY PHONE.
4. (C) IN A LOWERED VOICE, FATHER NHAC SAID THAT FOR
THE PAST TWO DAYS, THE HCMC POLICE HAD SURROUNDED THE
CHO QUAN CHURCH. TWICE THEY ENTERED THE COMPOUND TO
WARN HIM NOT TO TALK WITH THE CONGRESSMAN ABOUT FATHER
LY'S PROBLEMS IN HUE. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO SAY THAT
FATHER LY IS UNDER HOUSE ARREST AT HIS HOME CHURCH IN
HUE. THE CHURCH IN HUE IS SURROUNDED BY POLICE, AND
FATHER LY IS NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE COMPOUND.
POLICE ALSO CUT FATHER LY'S PHONE COMMUNICATIONS.
FATHER NHAC SAID THAT AS FAR AS HE KNEW, FATHER LY
COULD PERFORM HIS PRIESTLY DUTIES, BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW
HOW MANY, IF ANY, OF HIS PARISHIONERS ARE COMING TO
MASS.
POLICE PRESENCE AT CHO QUAN
--------------
5. (C) FATHER NHAC AND REPRESENTATIVE SENSENBRENNER WENT
ON TO DISCUSS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND CATHOLICISM IN
MORE GENERAL TERMS, INCLUDING PROBLEMS WITH
APPOINTMENT OF BISHOPS AND GOVERNMENT LIMITATIONS ON
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HANOI 00496 01 OF 02 081113Z
NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS ALLOWED TO ENTER THE SEMINARY.
ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, FATHER NHAC SAID FOR THE PAST 5-
6 YEARS, HCMC GOVERNMENT HAS ALLOWED THE CHURCH TO
OPEN AND OPERATE KINDERGARTENS IN THE CITY. ALSO,
THERE ARE NO LONGER ANY RESTRICTIONS IN HCMC ON
PROVIDING SUNDAY SCHOOL AND RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION TO
YOUNG PEOPLE. FATHER NHAC SHOWED THE CONGRESSMAN A
NEWLY CONSTRUCTED BUILDING ON HIS CHURCH GROUNDS THAT
SERVES AS CLASSROOMS TO ABOUT 500 SUNDAY SCHOOL
STUDENTS.
6. (C) FATHER NHAC SAID THAT AT CHO QUAN, PEOPLE WERE
STILL COMING TO CHURCH DESPITE THE HEAVY POLICE
PRESENCE OUTSIDE. (HE POINTED TO ABOUT 30 PERSONS
LINED UP AT THE BACK OF THE CHURCH TO GO TO
CONFESSION.) BUT HE WAS VISIBLY NERVOUS AND SAID HE
WAS CERTAIN TO BE CALLED IN FOR POLICE QUESTIONING
LATER THAT DAY OR THE NEXT.
7. (C) POLOFF CALLED FATHER NHAC ON FEBRUARY 28 TO ASK
IF HE HAD EXPERIENCED ANY MORE DIFFICULTIES WITH THE
CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY (PARA 5)
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, DRL/IRF, DRL/BA, AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/1/11
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PREL VM HUMANR RELFREE
SUBJECT: DISSIDENT FATHER NGUYEN VAN LY AT HIS CHURCH UNDER VIRTUAL HOUSE ARREST
(U) CLASSIFIED BY POLCOUNS JAMES BRUNO,
REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND (D).
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HANOI 00496 01 OF 02 081113Z
1. (C) SUMMARY: DISSIDENT CATHOLIC PRIEST NGUYEN VAN
LY IS UNABLE TO LEAVE HIS CHURCH COMPOUND IN HUE UNDER
CONDITIONS RESEMBLING HOUSE ARREST. A PARISH PRIEST
IN HO CHI MINH CITY TOLD VISITING REP. SENSENBRENNER
FEBRUARY 24 THAT FATHER LY HAS BEEN HELD UNDER "HOUSE
ARREST" SINCE HE SUBMITTED WRITTEN TESTIMONY HIGHLY
CRITICAL OF THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT TO THE U.S.
COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN EARLY
FEBRUARY. SEPARATELY, VICE FOREIGN MINISTER BIN SAID
LOCAL OFFICIALS REPORT LY HAD "VIOLATED THE LAW" AND
SHOULD BE PROSECUTED ACCORDING TO VIETNAM'S CRIMINAL
CODE. HOWEVER, BIN SAID OFFICIALS ARE INSTEAD
APPLYING "ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES" TO RESTRICT HIS
MOVEMENTS, AND HE CLAIMED LY IS STILL ABLE TO FUNCTION
AS A PRIEST. EMBASSY AND CONSULATE CONTINUE TO URGE
THAT LY BE ALLOWED TO CARRY OUT HIS DUTIES PEACEFULLY
WITHOUT GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE. END SUMMARY.
HOUSE ARREST IN HUE
--------------
2. (C) REPRESENTATIVE F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER,
ACCOMPANIED BY HCMC CONGEN POLOFF AND CONGEN
INTERPRETER, MET FATHER FRANCIS XAVIER LE VAN NHAC AT
CHO QUAN CATHOLIC CHURCH ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, IN
HCMC'S DISTRICT 5. FATHER NHAC IS THE SENIOR OF TWO
PRIESTS AT THE CHURCH, WHICH IS THE OLDEST CATHOLIC
CHURCH IN HCMC AND THE LARGEST PARISH IN CHOLON.
POLICE AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM MFA, MPS, AND THE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ESCORTED THE CONGRESSMAN INTO THE
CHURCH COMPOUND, BUT THE ESCORTS DID NOT ENTER THE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HANOI 00496 01 OF 02 081113Z
MEETING ROOM.
3. (C) REPRESENTATIVE SENSENBRENNER'S FIRST QUESTION
WAS TO ASK WHETHER FATHER NHAC HAD ANY INFORMATION
PERTAINING TO THE SAFETY AND CONDITION OF FATHER
NGUYEN VAN LY IN HUE AFTER LY'S WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO
THE COMMISSION ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION WAS MADE PUBLIC,
NOTING THAT THE U.S. MISSION HAD TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY
TO REACH FATHER LY BY PHONE.
4. (C) IN A LOWERED VOICE, FATHER NHAC SAID THAT FOR
THE PAST TWO DAYS, THE HCMC POLICE HAD SURROUNDED THE
CHO QUAN CHURCH. TWICE THEY ENTERED THE COMPOUND TO
WARN HIM NOT TO TALK WITH THE CONGRESSMAN ABOUT FATHER
LY'S PROBLEMS IN HUE. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO SAY THAT
FATHER LY IS UNDER HOUSE ARREST AT HIS HOME CHURCH IN
HUE. THE CHURCH IN HUE IS SURROUNDED BY POLICE, AND
FATHER LY IS NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE COMPOUND.
POLICE ALSO CUT FATHER LY'S PHONE COMMUNICATIONS.
FATHER NHAC SAID THAT AS FAR AS HE KNEW, FATHER LY
COULD PERFORM HIS PRIESTLY DUTIES, BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW
HOW MANY, IF ANY, OF HIS PARISHIONERS ARE COMING TO
MASS.
POLICE PRESENCE AT CHO QUAN
--------------
5. (C) FATHER NHAC AND REPRESENTATIVE SENSENBRENNER WENT
ON TO DISCUSS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND CATHOLICISM IN
MORE GENERAL TERMS, INCLUDING PROBLEMS WITH
APPOINTMENT OF BISHOPS AND GOVERNMENT LIMITATIONS ON
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HANOI 00496 01 OF 02 081113Z
NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS ALLOWED TO ENTER THE SEMINARY.
ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, FATHER NHAC SAID FOR THE PAST 5-
6 YEARS, HCMC GOVERNMENT HAS ALLOWED THE CHURCH TO
OPEN AND OPERATE KINDERGARTENS IN THE CITY. ALSO,
THERE ARE NO LONGER ANY RESTRICTIONS IN HCMC ON
PROVIDING SUNDAY SCHOOL AND RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION TO
YOUNG PEOPLE. FATHER NHAC SHOWED THE CONGRESSMAN A
NEWLY CONSTRUCTED BUILDING ON HIS CHURCH GROUNDS THAT
SERVES AS CLASSROOMS TO ABOUT 500 SUNDAY SCHOOL
STUDENTS.
6. (C) FATHER NHAC SAID THAT AT CHO QUAN, PEOPLE WERE
STILL COMING TO CHURCH DESPITE THE HEAVY POLICE
PRESENCE OUTSIDE. (HE POINTED TO ABOUT 30 PERSONS
LINED UP AT THE BACK OF THE CHURCH TO GO TO
CONFESSION.) BUT HE WAS VISIBLY NERVOUS AND SAID HE
WAS CERTAIN TO BE CALLED IN FOR POLICE QUESTIONING
LATER THAT DAY OR THE NEXT.
7. (C) POLOFF CALLED FATHER NHAC ON FEBRUARY 28 TO ASK
IF HE HAD EXPERIENCED ANY MORE DIFFICULTIES WITH THE
CONFIDENTIAL