DAK LAK PROVINCE UPDATE ON RELIGIOUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 002090

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV, PRM, AND DRL/IRF

E.O. 12958; DECL. 08/27/2012
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREF PINS PREL KIRF SOCI VM ETMIN HUMANR RELFREE
SUBJECT: DAK LAK PROVINCE UPDATE ON RELIGIOUS
HARASSMENT

REF: HCMC 0394

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CLASSIFIED BY: CONSUL GENERAL HO CHI MINH CITY EMI
LYNN YAMAUCHI FOR REASON 1.5 (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: A PROTESTANT PASTOR FROM DAK LAK
PROVINCE RECENTLY MET WITH CONGENOFFS TO DISCUSS THE
CURRENT SITUATION THERE, WHICH HE CHARACTERIZED AS THE
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTING TO "ERADICATE"
PROTESTANTISM. HE SAID PROTESTANT FAMILIES WERE NOW
FORBIDDEN TO WORSHIP TOGETHER IN GROUPS AND HAD BEEN
TOLD - AT LEAST IN ONE VILLAGE -- THEY COULD NOT
TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE PROVINCE. HE BELIEVES IT IS
BECAUSE PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES FEAR THESE VILLAGERS
WILL TRAVEL TO HO CHI MINH CITY TO TELL THE CONSULATE
GENERAL ABOUT THEIR SITUATION. AT THE SAME TIME, HE
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO PHYSICAL VIOLENCE
- NO BEATINGS, BROKEN FINGERS, ETC., AS WE HAVE HEARD
IN OTHER CENTRAL HIGHLANDS CASES. THE PASTOR WAS
AMBIVALENT ABOUT THE VALUE OF USG TRAVEL TO THE
HIGHLANDS, NOTING "IT INCREASES PROBLEMS FOR US." AT
THE CONCLUSION OF THE 90-MINUTE MEETING, THE PASTOR
ASKED CONGEN FOR "FUNDS" TO HELP DEFRAY THE COST OF
HIS TRIP TO HO CHI MINH CITY TO IMPART THIS
INFORMATION. END SUMMARY


2. (C) PASTOR Y SIOK NIE (ALSO CALLED BY HIS
CHRISTIAN NAME, "STEVENS") WAS INTRODUCED TO
CONGENOFFS BY A HO CHI MINH CITY CONTACT, DR. SIU YA
KOP (ALSO CALLED BY HIS CHRISTIAN NAME, "DR. JAKUB"),
WHO IS FAIRLY WELL KNOWN TO POST. JAKUB SAID THE
PASTOR WAS HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW.

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3. (C) ACCORDING TO PASTOR STEVENS, RECENTLY DAK
LAK PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES AT ALL LEVELS (PROVINCIAL,
DISTRICT, COMMUNE, VILLAGE, HAMLET) HAVE CRACKED DOWN
ON PROTESTANTS WHO ARE PRACTICING OUTSIDE THE "LEGAL"
BOUNDARIES OF A RECOGNIZED RELIGION. CURRENTLY, ONLY
TWO (ONE ETHNIC MINORITY AND ONE VIETNAMESE KINH)
PROTESTANT CHURCHES OUT OF THE 400-PLUS CONGREGATIONS
WERE APPROVED. STEVENS IMPLIED, BUT DID NOT
SPECIFICALLY STATE, THAT THIS WAS BY CHOICE OF THE
CHURCH/CONGREGATION, NOT BECAUSE THE COMMITTEE FOR
RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS OR ANY GOVERNMENT ENTITY HAD
REJECTED AN APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL. PROTESTANT
FAMILIES HAVE BEEN WARNED BY AUTHORITIES NOT TO
WORSHIP TOGETHER AT HOUSE CHURCHES OR IN TRADITIONAL
"RONG" MEETING HOUSES. BUT IN FACT, STEVENS SAID THEY
CONTINUED TO DO SO WITHOUT INTERFERENCE.


4. (C) PASTOR STEVENS ALSO TURNED OVER VIETNAMESE-
LANGUAGE DOCUMENTS, WHICH WERE TESTIMONIES FROM OTHER
PROTESTANT BELIEVERS ABOUT THEIR TREATMENT BY THE
POLICE. WHILE ALL THE INDIVIDUALS ALLEGED HARASSMENT
- PHONE CALLS, VISITS TO THEIR HOMES OR WORKPLACES,
PRESSURE TO RENOUNCE THEIR FAITH OR ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
IT IS ILLOGICAL, CONFISCATION OF RELIGIOUS ITEMS -
THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS OF PHYSICAL HARM. OTHER
DOCUMENTS WERE LETTERS OF PROTEST SENT TO VARIOUS
COMMUNIST PARTY AND GVN AGENCIES, NOTABLY THE CENTRAL
PROPAGANDA COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE ON RELIGIOUS
AFFAIRS, THE DAK LAK PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE,
AND THE DAK LAK PROVINCIAL COMMITTEE ON RELIGIOUS
AFFAIRS. THE WRITERS HAD RECEIVED EITHER NO RESPONSE
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PAGE 04 HANOI 02090 01 OF 02 271016Z
OR A RESPONSE DIRECTING THEM TO MAKE A POLICE REPORT,
ACCORDING TO STEVENS.


5. (C) ONE UNSIGNED DOCUMENT, PERHAPS A PAGE TAKEN
FROM A SCHOOL NOTEBOOK, CONTAINED NOTES FROM A COURSE
CONDUCTED BY THE PROVINCIAL COMMUNIST PARTY'S
PROPAGANDA COMMITTEE. THE WRITER SAYS THAT OPPONENTS
OF THE VIETNAMESE REGIME ARE "PUPPETS OF THE AMERICAN
EMPIRE." FURTHER, THE OPPONENTS' GOAL IS TO DIVIDE
VIETNAM INTO FOUR PARTS - H'MONG, DEGA, KHMER KROM,
AND CHAMPA. THE GVN IS "AWARE THAT THE DEGA
PROTESTANTS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO TAY NGUYEN
PROTESTANTS AFTER THE FEBRUARY 2001 DISTURBANCES."
THE GVN'S OBJECTIVE IS TO ERADICATE PROTESTANTISM BY
2005, ACCORDING TO THESE NOTES.


6. (C) PASTOR STEVENS CLAIMED THAT EA KAR VILLAGERS
HAD BEEN FORBIDDEN TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE DAK LAK PROVINCE.
HE HIMSELF HAD OBTAINED PERMISSION TO TRAVEL TO HCMC
UNDER THE GUISE OF VISITING HIS SON HERE. HE SAID HE
SUSPECTED THE REAL REASON AUTHORITIES DID NOT WANT
VILLAGERS TO TRAVEL TO HCMC WAS BECAUSE THEY FEARED
THEY WOULD GO TO THE CONSULATE AND RELATE THEIR
SITUATION.

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ACTION EAP-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DINT-00
DODE-00 DOEE-00 PERC-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 ED-01
FBIE-00 VC-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00
LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01
OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00
STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02
G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /011W
-------------- DE7B02 271017Z /38
R 271003Z AUG 02
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7386
INFO AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE
NSC WASHDC
USMISSION GENEVA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HANOI 002090

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV, PRM, AND DRL/IRF



7. (C) PASTOR STEVENS ALSO ASKED CONGENOFFS WHY THEY
WERE NOT ABLE TO COME TO AN EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE AT
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HIS CHURCH JUST OUTSIDE BUON ME THUOT, THE DAK LAK
PROVINCIAL CAPITAL. HE SAID THAT CONGREGATION MEMBERS
HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE VISIT AND HAD PREPARED A
WELCOME. ON EASTER MORNING, THEY WERE TOLD THAT
CONGENOFFS WERE "DELAYED", BUT THEY WAITED UNTIL
MIDNIGHT JUST IN CASE. [CONGEN NOTE: PER REFTEL,
AMBASSADOR BURGHARDT, CG, AND CONGENOFFS TRAVELED TO
THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OVER THE EASTER WEEKEND OF MARCH
30-31. THE EXTERNAL RELATIONS OFFICE IN HCMC HAD
INFORMED CONGEN THAT KON TUM PROVINCE WOULD RECEIVE
THEM FOR AN EASTER CHURCH SERVICE, BUT TO SPLIT UP THE
GROUP BETWEEN KON TUM AND BUON ME THUOT (FIVE HOURS
APART BY CAR) WOULD BE A LOGISTICAL PROBLEM. WHETHER
THIS DECISION WAS EVER CONVEYED TO DAK LAK PROVINCE
AUTHORITIES, OR WHETHER THERE IS A MORE NEFARIOUS
REASON BEHIND THIS BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATION, WE DO
NOT KNOW. END NOTE.] CONGENOFFS APOLOGIZED FOR THE
MISUNDERSTANDING AND DISAPPOINTMENT, WHILE EXPRESSING
SURPRISE, SINCE WE HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE KON TUM
DECISION TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE TRIP TOOK PLACE.


8. (C) COMMENT: CONGEN NOTES THAT THESE ABOVE
STORIES OF HARASSMENT ARE SIMILAR, THOUGH LESS
DRAMATIC, THAN PREVIOUS ONES THAT WE HAVE REPORTED ON.
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT RELIGIOUS HARASSMENT
CONTINUES IN SOME PARTS OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS.
HOWEVER, THE PASTORS AND BELIEVERS THERE SEEM TO
CONSIDER ALL HARASSMENT - AS ABHORRENT AS IT MAY BE -
TO BE PERSECUTION. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE VALUE OF USG
VISITS TO THE TROUBLED PROVINCES, PASTOR STEVENS WAS
FORTHRIGHT: "YOUR VISITS CREATE MORE PROBLEMS FOR US,
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PAGE 03 HANOI 02090 02 OF 02 271017Z
BUT WE REALIZE IT IS PART OF YOUR DUTY TO GO
INVESTIGATE SITUATIONS." WHEN PRESSED AS TO WHETHER
HE MEANT WE SHOULD MAKE NO FURTHER VISITS, STEVENS
BECAME AMBIVALENT: "WELL, THEY WILL NEVER ALLOW YOU
TO SEE THE TRUTH, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE TO
MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION ABOUT THE VALUE OF A VISIT."


9. (C) OF FURTHER CONCERN WAS THE REQUEST FOR MONEY.
THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT ANY OF OUR FIRST OR
SECONDHAND SOURCES HAD REQUESTED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
FOR THEIR "TRAVEL COSTS." CONGEN UNDERSTANDS THAT LIFE
IS HARD FOR HOUSE CHURCH PASTORS, ESPECIALLY IF THEIR
CONGREGATION'S NUMBERS ARE DIMINISHING DUE TO
HARASSMENT. HOWEVER, THE REQUEST FOR USD$33 FOR
TRAVEL EXPENSES WAS HIGH - FOR A PROVINCE WHERE THE
AVERAGE PER CAPITA INCOME IS UNDER USD$250.
CONGENOFFS EXPLAINED THEY COULD NOT PAY FOR TRAVEL
COSTS, AND IN ANY CASE WOULD NOT WANT ANY SUGGESTION
OF AN APPEARANCE OF THE USG PAYING FOR INFORMATION.
CONGENOFFS URGED PASTOR STEVENS TO FOLLOW HIS OWN
CONSCIENCE ON PROVIDING INFORMATION TO US. CONGENOFFS
ALSO SAID THEY COULD NOT SET A PRECEDENT BY DONATING
PERSONAL MONIES TO THE PASTOR. CONGEN CONTINUES TO
BELIEVE THAT RELIABLE SECONDHAND INFORMATION AND
DOCUMENTS CARRIED DOWN FROM THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ARE
VALUABLE REPORTING MATERIALS, AND WOULD BE DISMAYED IF
THESE SOURCES DRIED UP. DR. JAKUB EXPRESSED SHOCK AT
HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW'S REQUEST, AND EMPHATICALLY TOLD
CONGENOFFS AFTER THE MEETING AND IN A FOLLOW UP PHONE
CALL THAT HE HAD HAD NO IDEA PASTOR STEVENS WOULD ASK
FOR MONEY.
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10. (C) IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, CONGENOFFS HAVE
RECEIVED A NUMBER OF E-MAIL AND FAX MESSAGES FROM
PROTESTANT PASTORS ABOUT EVERY POLICE DETENTION (SOME
LASTING AN HOUR OR LESS),"INVITATION TO APPEAR AT THE
POLICE STATION," HOUSE SEARCH (THE POLICE SOMETIMES
CARRY AWAY TELEVISION SETS, RADIOS, ETC.),OR PHONE
CALL WARNING PEOPLE "NOT TO FOLLOW DANGEROUS/ILLEGAL
RELIGIONS." MESSAGES SOMETIMES COME ANONYMOUSLY VIA
THE MESSAGING DEVICE ON CONGENOFFS MOBILE PHONES. CG
HCMC IS SYMPATHETIC TO THESE CONCERNS, BUT LACKS THE
RESOURCES TO FOLLOW UP ON EACH REPORT OR TO TRACK DOWN
THE ANONYMOUS ONES. THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALL RECORDED,
AND WILL BE REFLECTED IN OUR ANNUAL FREEDOM OF
RELIGION REPORT.

PORTER

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