TRIAL OF ANOTHER ACTIVIST?

UNCLAS HANOI 003034 SIPDIS UNCLASSIFIED PTO2208 SIPDIS PAGE 01 HANOI 03034 200713Z ACTION EAP-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PER-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 FMP-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /009W -------------- 1AA9F5 200714Z /38 R 200632Z DEC 02 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8427 INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI UNCLAS HANOI 003034 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PINS PGOV VM HUMANR SUBJECT: TRIAL OF ANOTHER ACTIVIST? REF: HANOI 2718 ¶1. (U) IN RESPONSE TO MEDIA REPORTS THAT ACTIVIST NGUYEN KHAC TOAN WOULD GO ON TRIAL ON DECEMBER 20, EMBASSY FORMALLY REQUESTED PERMISSION ON DECEMBER 15 FOR AN OFFICER TO ATTEND UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HANOI 03034 200713Z THE TRIAL. (TOAN HAD BEEN ARRESTED IN JANUARY 2002, AND IS REPORTEDLY CHARGED WITH "CONDUCTING PROPAGANDA" AGAINST THE SOCIALIST STATE, "SPREADING MISINFORMATION" ABOUT HE GOVERNMENT, AND "SPYING" FOR AN UNIDENTIFIED FOREIGN COUNTRY.) A DEPUTY CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE HANOI PEOPLE'S COURT INFORMED POL FSN ON DECEMBER 19, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH ATTENDANCE BY A FOREIGNER WOULD BE "UNPRECEDENTED" AND IMPOSSIBLE. ¶2. (U) AT THE HANOI COURT ON THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 20, NUMEROUS PLAINCLOTHES AND UNIFORMED POLICE WERE PRESENT, AND IT APPEARED THAT PEOPLE ENTERING THE COURT BUILDING WERE REQUIRED TO SHOW PERMISSION LETTERS. PEOPLE WITH OTHER BUSINESS WERE ASKED TO RETURN ON DECEMBER 23. EMBOFF WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT TOAN'S TRIAL WAS ONGOING OR, IF SO, WHETHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND A LAWYER WERE PRESENT. ¶3. (U) COMMENT: THE UNUSUAL SECURITY PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE MAKE IT HIGHLY POSSIBLE THAT TOAN'S TRIAL IS UNDERWAY. IF LE CHI QUANG'S TRIAL (REFTEL) IS ANY INDICATOR, SENTENCING IS APT TO BE QUICK, AND, IN THIS CASE, THE SPYING CHARGES MAY LEAD TO AN EVEN HEAVIER SENTENCE. BURGHARDT UNCLASSIFIED