Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02HANOI2079
2002-08-23 09:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:
BITTER AFTERLIFE OF GENERAL TRAN DO'S FUNERAL
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 230915Z Aug 02 2002HANOI02079 - CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ7624 PAGE 01 HANOI 02079 230926Z ACTION EAP-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 CPR-02 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 ED-01 FBIE-00 VC-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSC-01 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /013W ------------------DD0445 230927Z /38 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7375 INFO AMEMBASSY BEIJING AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L HANOI 002079
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL 08/22/2012
TAGS: PHUM PINS PGOV SOCI VM DPOL
SUBJECT: BITTER AFTERLIFE OF GENERAL TRAN DO'S FUNERAL
REF: HANOI 1787
C O N F I D E N T I A L HANOI 002079
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL 08/22/2012
TAGS: PHUM PINS PGOV SOCI VM DPOL
SUBJECT: BITTER AFTERLIFE OF GENERAL TRAN DO'S FUNERAL
REF: HANOI 1787
1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY POL/C SCOTT BELLARD; REASON 1.5(D)
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HANOI 02079 230926Z
2. (C) IN TWO SEPARATE CONVERSATIONS ON AUGUST 20 AND 21,
THREE OF HANOI'S LEADING DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS TOLD POLOFF
THAT THEY VIEW GENERAL TRAN DO'S AUGUST 14 FUNERAL AS AN
"HISTORIC POLITICAL EVENT" HIGHLIGHTING THE NATIONAL
LEADERSHIP'S DISTANCE FROM THE PEOPLE. DESPITE A NEAR-
TOTAL LACK OF ADVANCE PUBLICITY, BETWEEN ONE AND TWO
THOUSAND PEOPLE ATTENDED THE FUNERAL, ACCORDING TO DR.
NGUYEN THANH GIANG. THEY INCLUDED MANY "REGULAR PEOPLE AND
VETERANS" AND "OLD PARTY MEMBERS," SAID ACTIVIST AND AUTHOR
HOANG TIEN ON AUGUST 20.
3. (C) PHAM QUE DUONG, DR. GIANG, AND TIEN (PLEASE
PROTECT) WERE ALL DISMISSIVE OF THE HIGHEST-RANKING
OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE AT THE FUNERAL, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND CPV CENTRAL
COMMITTEE MEMBER VU MAO. THEY COMPLAINED THAT IT WAS
"INSULTING" THAT A POLITBURO MEMBER HAD NOT BEEN PRESENT.
TIEN NOTED THAT SENTIMENT IN THE CROWD AGAINST THE GVN'S
AND CPV'S HANDLING OF THE FUNERAL WAS REMARKABLY
WIDESPREAD. DR. GIANG DESCRIBED HOW EVEN SOME OF "THE OLD
PARTY MEMBERS" AT THE FUNERAL HAD BEGUN BEHAVING AS IF THEY
WERE AT A DEMONSTRATION, PUMPING THEIR FISTS IN THE AIR IN
APPARENT ANGER AT THE CPV'S AND GVN'S "SHABBY TREATMENT" OF
GENERAL DO. IT SHOWED A LACK OF RESPECT TOWARD A MAN MANY
REGARDED AS A NATIONAL HERO, GOING AGAINST VIETNAMESE
CULTURE AND TRADITION, GIANG AND TIEN SEPARATELY NOTED.
4. (C) TIEN HAS WRITTEN A SHARPLY CRITICAL TRACT ABOUT
THE FUNERAL ENTITLED "THE SOUND OF CLAPPING AT A FUNERAL"
(SEPTEL WILL PROVIDE TRANSLATION). HE AND FELLOW ACTIVISTS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HANOI 02079 230926Z
PHAM QUE DUONG AND VAN KHAC KHIN ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
DISTRIBUTING COPIES TO TOP GVN AND CPV OFFICIALS AS WELL AS
TO OTHER ACTIVISTS.
5. (C) ACCORDING TO DUONG, THERE WERE POLICE BARRICADES
AROUND THE FUNERAL HALL. HE EXPRESSED DOUBT THAT ANY
FOREIGNERS, MUCH LESS A US EMBASSY OFFICIAL, WOULD HAVE
BEEN ALLOWED TO ATTEND, ALTHOUGH HE SAID THAT HE SAW A FEW
FOREIGN JOURNALISTS OUTSIDE THE BARRICADES.
6. (C) DR. GIANG DISCUSSED THE FUNERAL WITH POLOFF IN
THE PRESENCE OF ANOTHER MAN WHOM HE SIMPLY CALLED "ONG" (A
PRONOUN OF RESPECT) KHANH. KHANH CLAIMED TO BE A
"REVOLUTIONARY" AND CPV MEMBER BEGINNING IN 1944 AS WELL AS
AN ASSISTANT TO THEN-POLITBURO MEMBER TRAN XUAN BACH.
(NOTE: BACH WAS ELECTED TO THE POLITBURO AT THE SIXTH
PARTY CONGRESS IN 1986. END NOTE.) DR. GIANG SAID THAT
THE POLICE "DID NOT DARE" TO DO ANYTHING TO ELDERLY CPV
MEMBERS SUCH AS KHANH BECAUSE OF THEIR STATURE, AND CLAIMED
THAT KHANH REPRESENTED AN OLDER GENERATION OF CPV MEMBERS
THAT QUIETLY AGREES WITH THE DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS. DR.
GIANG REMARKED THAT VIETNAMESE YOUTH DO NOT PAY MUCH
ATTENTION EITHER TO THE CPV OR TO DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS, BUT
OPINED THAT THEY "LIKED" THE DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS MORE.
7. (U) THERE WAS LIMITED BUT RESPECTFUL COVERAGE IN MAJOR
VIETNAMESE NEWSPAPERS ABOUT TRAN DO'S DEATH (BUT NOT ABOUT
HIS FUNERAL, AS FAR AS WE CAN ASCERTAIN),WHILE OMITTING
ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT HIS FALL-OUT WITH AND EVENTUAL
EXPULSION FROM THE PARTY IN HIS LATER YEARS.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HANOI 02079 230926Z
8. (C) COMMENT: EMBASSY AGREES WITH THE ASSESSMENT OF
THESE ACTIVISTS THAT THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO BE ALONE WITHIN
ELITE CIRCLES IN RESENTING THE TREATMENT OF GENERAL TRAN DO
BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER HIS DEATH. WE NONETHELESS DO NOT
EXPECT ANY STRONG GVN RESPONSE -- APART FROM A POSSIBLE NEW
ROUND OF QUESTIONING AND/OR HEIGHTENED PETTY HARASSMENT --
AGAINST THEM EVEN AFTER THE DISTRIBUTION OF TIEN'S TRACT.
CPV AND GVN SENSITIVITIES ABOUT TRAN DO'S UNIQUE STATURE
AND HISTORY, AS WELL AS SOME POSSIBLE TACIT SYMPATHIES
WITHIN THE CPV TOWARD DO'S CRITICISMS, LIKELY WILL MAKE IT
DIFFICULT TO ARRIVE AT A SENIOR-LEVEL CONSENSUS ON ANY
LARGER CAMPAIGN OF RETALIATION OR ANY NEW CRACKDOWN AGAINST
DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS.
PORTER
CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL 08/22/2012
TAGS: PHUM PINS PGOV SOCI VM DPOL
SUBJECT: BITTER AFTERLIFE OF GENERAL TRAN DO'S FUNERAL
REF: HANOI 1787
1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY POL/C SCOTT BELLARD; REASON 1.5(D)
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HANOI 02079 230926Z
2. (C) IN TWO SEPARATE CONVERSATIONS ON AUGUST 20 AND 21,
THREE OF HANOI'S LEADING DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS TOLD POLOFF
THAT THEY VIEW GENERAL TRAN DO'S AUGUST 14 FUNERAL AS AN
"HISTORIC POLITICAL EVENT" HIGHLIGHTING THE NATIONAL
LEADERSHIP'S DISTANCE FROM THE PEOPLE. DESPITE A NEAR-
TOTAL LACK OF ADVANCE PUBLICITY, BETWEEN ONE AND TWO
THOUSAND PEOPLE ATTENDED THE FUNERAL, ACCORDING TO DR.
NGUYEN THANH GIANG. THEY INCLUDED MANY "REGULAR PEOPLE AND
VETERANS" AND "OLD PARTY MEMBERS," SAID ACTIVIST AND AUTHOR
HOANG TIEN ON AUGUST 20.
3. (C) PHAM QUE DUONG, DR. GIANG, AND TIEN (PLEASE
PROTECT) WERE ALL DISMISSIVE OF THE HIGHEST-RANKING
OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE AT THE FUNERAL, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND CPV CENTRAL
COMMITTEE MEMBER VU MAO. THEY COMPLAINED THAT IT WAS
"INSULTING" THAT A POLITBURO MEMBER HAD NOT BEEN PRESENT.
TIEN NOTED THAT SENTIMENT IN THE CROWD AGAINST THE GVN'S
AND CPV'S HANDLING OF THE FUNERAL WAS REMARKABLY
WIDESPREAD. DR. GIANG DESCRIBED HOW EVEN SOME OF "THE OLD
PARTY MEMBERS" AT THE FUNERAL HAD BEGUN BEHAVING AS IF THEY
WERE AT A DEMONSTRATION, PUMPING THEIR FISTS IN THE AIR IN
APPARENT ANGER AT THE CPV'S AND GVN'S "SHABBY TREATMENT" OF
GENERAL DO. IT SHOWED A LACK OF RESPECT TOWARD A MAN MANY
REGARDED AS A NATIONAL HERO, GOING AGAINST VIETNAMESE
CULTURE AND TRADITION, GIANG AND TIEN SEPARATELY NOTED.
4. (C) TIEN HAS WRITTEN A SHARPLY CRITICAL TRACT ABOUT
THE FUNERAL ENTITLED "THE SOUND OF CLAPPING AT A FUNERAL"
(SEPTEL WILL PROVIDE TRANSLATION). HE AND FELLOW ACTIVISTS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HANOI 02079 230926Z
PHAM QUE DUONG AND VAN KHAC KHIN ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
DISTRIBUTING COPIES TO TOP GVN AND CPV OFFICIALS AS WELL AS
TO OTHER ACTIVISTS.
5. (C) ACCORDING TO DUONG, THERE WERE POLICE BARRICADES
AROUND THE FUNERAL HALL. HE EXPRESSED DOUBT THAT ANY
FOREIGNERS, MUCH LESS A US EMBASSY OFFICIAL, WOULD HAVE
BEEN ALLOWED TO ATTEND, ALTHOUGH HE SAID THAT HE SAW A FEW
FOREIGN JOURNALISTS OUTSIDE THE BARRICADES.
6. (C) DR. GIANG DISCUSSED THE FUNERAL WITH POLOFF IN
THE PRESENCE OF ANOTHER MAN WHOM HE SIMPLY CALLED "ONG" (A
PRONOUN OF RESPECT) KHANH. KHANH CLAIMED TO BE A
"REVOLUTIONARY" AND CPV MEMBER BEGINNING IN 1944 AS WELL AS
AN ASSISTANT TO THEN-POLITBURO MEMBER TRAN XUAN BACH.
(NOTE: BACH WAS ELECTED TO THE POLITBURO AT THE SIXTH
PARTY CONGRESS IN 1986. END NOTE.) DR. GIANG SAID THAT
THE POLICE "DID NOT DARE" TO DO ANYTHING TO ELDERLY CPV
MEMBERS SUCH AS KHANH BECAUSE OF THEIR STATURE, AND CLAIMED
THAT KHANH REPRESENTED AN OLDER GENERATION OF CPV MEMBERS
THAT QUIETLY AGREES WITH THE DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS. DR.
GIANG REMARKED THAT VIETNAMESE YOUTH DO NOT PAY MUCH
ATTENTION EITHER TO THE CPV OR TO DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS, BUT
OPINED THAT THEY "LIKED" THE DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS MORE.
7. (U) THERE WAS LIMITED BUT RESPECTFUL COVERAGE IN MAJOR
VIETNAMESE NEWSPAPERS ABOUT TRAN DO'S DEATH (BUT NOT ABOUT
HIS FUNERAL, AS FAR AS WE CAN ASCERTAIN),WHILE OMITTING
ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT HIS FALL-OUT WITH AND EVENTUAL
EXPULSION FROM THE PARTY IN HIS LATER YEARS.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HANOI 02079 230926Z
8. (C) COMMENT: EMBASSY AGREES WITH THE ASSESSMENT OF
THESE ACTIVISTS THAT THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO BE ALONE WITHIN
ELITE CIRCLES IN RESENTING THE TREATMENT OF GENERAL TRAN DO
BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER HIS DEATH. WE NONETHELESS DO NOT
EXPECT ANY STRONG GVN RESPONSE -- APART FROM A POSSIBLE NEW
ROUND OF QUESTIONING AND/OR HEIGHTENED PETTY HARASSMENT --
AGAINST THEM EVEN AFTER THE DISTRIBUTION OF TIEN'S TRACT.
CPV AND GVN SENSITIVITIES ABOUT TRAN DO'S UNIQUE STATURE
AND HISTORY, AS WELL AS SOME POSSIBLE TACIT SYMPATHIES
WITHIN THE CPV TOWARD DO'S CRITICISMS, LIKELY WILL MAKE IT
DIFFICULT TO ARRIVE AT A SENIOR-LEVEL CONSENSUS ON ANY
LARGER CAMPAIGN OF RETALIATION OR ANY NEW CRACKDOWN AGAINST
DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS.
PORTER
CONFIDENTIAL