THE DILEMMA OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 HANOI 003055 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV PINS PREL SOCI VM HUMANR ETMIN RELFREE SUBJECT: THE DILEMMA OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS REF: HANOI 2975 UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HANOI 03055 01 OF 04 231019Z ¶1. (U) THIS IS A JOINT EMBASSY/CONGEN MESSAGE. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: THE REAL STORY OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS IS A LONG-TERM STRUGGLE FOR MODERNIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN A REGION DEFINED BY ETHNIC RESENTMENT, ECONOMIC IMBALANCE, POVERTY AND ISOLATION, LAND ISSUES, RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES, INTOLERANCE OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY, AND AN ALMOST XENOPHOBIC FEAR OF OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. BY THE STANDARDS OF THE GVN AND CPV, THIS DEVELOPMENT HAS NECESSITATED AND WILL CONTINUE TO INVOLVE TOP-DOWN CONTROL, FORCED ECONOMIC DECISIONS THAT ARE SOMETIMES UNWISE, AND HEAVY-HANDED ORGANIZATIONAL EFFORTS THAT LEAVE TOO LITTLE SCOPE FOR TRADITIONAL PRACTICES AND VALUES, AS WELL AS FOR RELIGIOUS WORSHIP OUTSIDE THE CONTEXT OF "LEGAL" RELIGIOUS BODIES. ¶3. (SBU) HOWEVER, WE DO NOT/NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANY SYSTEMATIC EFFORT TO PERSECUTE THE ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THESE AREAS, NOR TO WIPE OUT RELIGIOUS BELIEF, INCLUDING THE PROTESTANT FAITH. PERIODIC UNREST, ONGOING ALLEGATIONS OF POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION OF ETHNIC MINORITIES, AND NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF BAD GOVERNANCE IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS CONTINUE TO RAISE CONCERNS WITHIN THE USG AND AMONG INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS, BUT ARE NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT FROM SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. GVN OFFICIALS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE DEEP SUSPICIONS OF THE SEPARATIST GOALS OF SOME INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS, NOTABLY THE "DEGAS," AND ARE NOT ENTIRELY OFF THE MARK WHEN DESCRIBING "PLOTS" BY OUTSIDE AGITATORS. WHILE USG INFLUENCE MAY BE LIMITED, WE MUST CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR HOLDING GVN AND CPV OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR CREDIBLE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 03055 01 OF 04 231019Z INSTANCES OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND FOR GREATER INTERNATIONAL ACCESS. ACCURATE INFORMATION IS OFTEN LOGISTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO OBTAIN. THE BOTTOM LINE WILL REMAIN THAT NOT MUCH IS LIKELY TO CHANGE VERY QUICKLY IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE. END SUMMARY. ¶4. (U) THE 2001 AND 2002 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS AND INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORTS FOR VIETNAM HIGHLIGHT THE EXTENT TO WHICH PROBLEMS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS REMAIN A KEY ISSUE OF CONCERN BOTH FOR THE USG AND FOR THE GVN. SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMS INCLUDE THE FEBRUARY/MARCH 2001 DEMONSTRATIONS AND SUBSEQUENT FLIGHT OF ABOUT 1,000 MONTAGNARDS TO CAMBODIA, THE COLLAPSE OF A UNHCR- BROKERED PROGRAM OF VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION IN FEBRUARY 2002, CONTINUED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE ALLEGATIONS (PHYSICAL MISTREATMENT, DEPRIVATION OF POLITICAL RIGHTS, FORCED RENUNCIATION OF RELIGIOUS FAITH, CLOSURE OF CHURCHES, ETHNIC DISCRIMINATION),CREDIBLE REPORTS OF CORRUPTION AND BAD GOVERNANCE BY GVN OFFICIALS, AND DISPUTES OVER LAND. TO A LARGE DEGREE, HOWEVER, TODAY'S PROBLEMS ARE NOT ENTIRELY NEW, BUT RATHER REFLECT THE HISTORICAL STRAINS OF DAILY LIFE IN FOUR OF THE POOREST, MOST ISOLATED PROVINCES IN VIETNAM: DAK LAK, GIA LAI, KON TUM, AND LAM DONG. -------------- --- A COMPLEX MIX OF HISTORY, CULTURE, AND ECONOMICS -------------- --- ¶5. (SBU) CONDITIONS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DO NOT LEND THEMSELVES TO A SNAPSHOT APPROACH. THE ETHNIC MINORITIES ARE NOT MONOLITHIC, DESPITE THE MISLEADING APPELLATION OF UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HANOI 03055 01 OF 04 231019Z "MONTAGNARDS" TO THESE VARIOUS GROUPS. THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH THE GVN VARY, AS DO THEIR LEVELS OF INTEGRATION, THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SIGN ON TO THE GVN'S AND CPV'S CAMPAIGNS AND EFFORTS, THEIR DEGREE OF RELIGIOUS FAITH AND TYPE OF BELIEF, ETC. NOR ARE ACROSS-THE-BOARD CHARACTERIZATIONS OF GVN PERFORMANCE POSSIBLE. THERE ARE MANY WELL-MEANING, COMPETENT OFFICIALS WORKING TO BETTER THE LIVES OF THESE CITIZENS UNDER VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS AND WITH TOO FEW RESOURCES, JUST AS THERE ARE ILL INFORMED, PREJUDICED, AND/OR CORRUPT OFFICIALS WHO CAN ALL TOO EASILY EXERCISE ARBITRARY POWER TO MAKE THE LIVES OF THESE CITIZENS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT. ¶6. (SBU) CURRENT CONDITIONS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ARE FUELED BY LONG-STANDING RESENTMENTS BETWEEN THE ETHNIC MINORITIES AND THE MAJORITY KINH, AS WELL AS BY POVERTY, ISOLATION, INADEQUATE PUBLIC SERVICES, AND A GENERAL LACK OF OPPORTUNITY AND CHOICE. COMPLICATING THE MIX ARE RELIGIOUS FACTORS, PROPERTY ISSUES, LOCAL CORRUPTION, AND OUTSIDE INFLUENCES. THESE FOUR PROVINCES ARE AMONG THE POOREST IN VIETNAM AND HAVE NEVER IN HISTORY BEEN FULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE BODY POLITIC. ISOLATED BY DISTANCE, AND INCREASINGLY IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON EVENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS OUTSIDE THE REGION, THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS CONTINUE TO LAG BEHIND MOST OF THE REST OF VIETNAM. THE DRAMATIC DECLINE IN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1266 PAGE 01 HANOI 03055 02 OF 04 231019Z ACTION EAP-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-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 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /011W -------------- 1BB29B 231019Z /38 O 230936Z DEC 02 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8449 INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 HANOI 003055 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL WORLD COMMODITY PRICES, SUCH AS COFFEE AND PEPPER, HAS UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HANOI 03055 02 OF 04 231019Z DASHED WHAT HAD BEEN RISING EXPECTATIONS VIS--VIS LOCAL ECONOMIC PROSPECTS. TENSIONS BETWEEN THE LOWLAND VIETNAMESE KINH AND MANY ETHNIC MINORITY HIGHLANDERS ARE ANOTHER HISTORICAL FACT, PREDATING WESTERN INVOLVEMENT IN VIETNAM. ¶7. (SBU) EXACERBATING THAT VOLATILE MIX OF ISSUES ARE PERCEIVED THREATS TO CULTURAL IDENTITY AND MAJORITY STATUS BORNE OF INTERNAL MIGRATION PATTERNS, AS ECONOMIC MIGRANTS HAVE MOVED INTO THE REGION FROM PROVINCES IN THE NORTH AND ALONG THE CENTRAL COAST SINCE 1975. RIGHTLY OR NOT, CENTRAL HIGHLANDERS OFTEN VIEW THE VIETNAMESE KINH AS COMPETITORS IN A ZERO SUM GAME. TRANSFORMATION OF TRADITIONAL COMMUNAL LANDS (ALMOST NEVER WITH ANY FORMAL TITLE DEEDS) INTO DESIGNATED PLOTS FOR THE MIGRANTS FURTHER CREATED ANIMOSITIES, BOTH AGAINST THE NEW ARRIVALS AND AGAINST THE SOMETIMES CORRUPT GVN OFFICIALS IMPLEMENTING THESE PROGRAMS. MANY OF THESE CONFLICTS WERE PROBABLY UNAVOIDABLE BY- PRODUCTS OF AN OFTEN BADLY RUN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROCESS GRAPPLING WITH SOMETIMES PRE-MODERN ETHNIC GROUPS. IN THE VIEW OF SOME OF THE ETHNIC GROUPS, HOWEVER, SUCH PROCESSES ARE ILL-DISGUISED ATTEMPTS TO ELIMINATE MINORITY CULTURE. -------------- THE RELIGIOUS ANGLE -------------- ¶8. (SBU) THE MAJORITY OF GVN AND CPV OFFICIALS PROFESS NO RELIGIOUS BELIEF, WHILE PERHAPS MOST VIETNAMESE KINH ARE AT LEAST NOMINALLY BUDDHIST. MANY OF THE ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS -- PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO FLED TO CAMBODIA IN THE AFTERMATH OF LAST YEAR'S UNREST -- ARE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 03055 02 OF 04 231019Z PROTESTANT, WHILE OTHERS ARE CATHOLIC AND SOME REMAIN ANIMIST. IN RECENT DISCUSSIONS WITH EMBASSY OFFICERS, GVN OFFICIALS HAVE CONTENDED THAT THESE ANIMIST BELIEFS ARE A "TRADITIONAL CULTURE" THAT MUST BE SAFEGUARDED AGAINST "FOREIGN" INTRUSIONS OF PROTESTANTISM. ¶9. (SBU) MANY OF THE PROTESTANTS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ARE FAIRLY RECENT CONVERTS, AS EVANGELISTS -- SOME LOCAL, SOME BASED OVERSEAS -- INCREASINGLY CANVASS THE AREA. THESE PROTESTANTS USUALLY WORSHIP IN "HOUSE CHURCHES" THAT ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE OFFICIAL GVN-RECOGNIZED RELIGIOUS BODIES. AS SUCH, THEIR ACTIVITIES ARE TECHNICALLY ILLEGAL. ALTHOUGH THE GVN OFTEN TACITLY TOLERATES THEIR ACTIVITIES, OFFICIALS MAY ABRUPTLY LOWER THE BOOM IN REACTION TO SPECIFIC EVENTS OR INDIVIDUAL WHIM. THE GVN AND CPV TEND TO ASSUME THAT SUCH "ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES" MAY HAVE A COVERT POLITICAL AGENDA, SUCH AS UNDERMINING STATE AUTHORITY OR "DESTROYING NATIONAL SOLIDARITY." THE LINKS OF SOME OF THESE GROUPS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS WITH FOREIGN RELIGIOUS INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS ONLY HEIGHTEN SUCH SUSPICIONS, AS RELIGION IS OFTEN SEEN BY THE GVN AS PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. ¶10. (SBU) ONE DILEMMA GVN OFFICIALS FACE IS HOW TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE AUTONOMY/INDEPENDENCE-MINDED "DEGA" PROTESTANTS AND MORE MAINSTREAM PROTESTANTS SEEKING MERELY TO PRACTICE THEIR RELIGION AND ORGANIZE THEMSELVES FREELY INTO RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES. REPORTS OF DEGA PROTESTANTS INFILTRATING THEMSELVES INTO MAINSTREAM CONGREGATIONS COMPLICATE THE SITUATION THAT MUCH FURTHER. AGAIN, THERE APPEAR CLEARLY TO BE FOREIGN AGITATORS ENCOURAGING THE DREAM UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HANOI 03055 02 OF 04 231019Z OF A "DEGA" STATE AS WELL AS RESISTANCE TO ANYTHING SMACKING OF INTEGRATION WITH OTHER ETHNIC MINORITIES, MUCH LESS THE MAJORITY KINH. THE GVN IS NOT ENTIRELY OFF THE MARK IN MAKING THESE CLAIMS. ¶11. (SBU) WE HAVE NO CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF A SUSTAINED OR SYSTEMATIC GOVERNMENT EFFORT INTENDED TO PERSECUTE EITHER ETHNIC MINORITIES IN GENERAL OR PROTESTANTS MORE SPECIFICALLY. MOREOVER, WE BELIEVE MORE SCRUTINY MUST BE GIVEN TO VERIFY OF THE AUTHENTICITY OF DOCUMENTS IN CIRCULATION BOTH IN VIETNAM AND OVERSEAS THAT PURPORT TO DESCRIBE SUCH FORMAL GVN CAMPAIGNS. WE ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT MANY OF THE ALLEGATIONS OF PERSECUTION WE RECEIVE MAY BE EXAGGERATED, OR GENERATED BY A SMALL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS IN A CIRCULAR FASHION. -------------- WHAT DOES THE GVN WANT? -------------- ¶12. (SBU) AS ELSEWHERE IN VIETNAM, INCLUDING OTHER AREAS WITH SIGNIFICANT ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS (REFTEL),THE GVN AND CPV FIRST AND FOREMOST WANT TO ASSERT THEIR CONTROL, ENSURE THEIR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP MONOPOLY, AND CREATE CONDITIONS OF "POLITICAL STABILITY." THEY ARE -- AT LEAST UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1270 PAGE 01 HANOI 03055 03 OF 04 231020Z ACTION EAP-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-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 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /011W -------------- 1BB2AC 231020Z /38 O 230936Z DEC 02 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8450 INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 HANOI 003055 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL SINCE 1986 THROUGHOUT VIETNAM AND ESPECIALLY SINCE 2001 IN UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HANOI 03055 03 OF 04 231020Z THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS IN PARTICULAR -- ALSO COMMITTED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MODERNIZATION, AND INTEGRATION OF VIETNAM INTO THE REGION AND THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY. THEIR PROGRAMS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS REFLECT THESE GOALS, BUT EMPLOY A HEAVY COMPONENT OF REPRESENTATION FROM THE CPV, THE PUBLIC SECURITY FORCES, AND THE ARMED FORCES TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC ORDER AND COMMUNIST RULE. ¶13. (SBU) AT THE SAME TIME, NEWER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS -- INCLUDING THE OFTEN ILL-CONCEIVED EFFORTS TO CREATE LARGE PLANTATIONS FOR CASH-CROPS AS WELL AS NEW POTS OF MONEY AVAILABLE FOR MOUNTAINOUS AREAS UNDER PROGRAM 135 -- ARE WELL-INTENTIONED (IF NOT ALWAYS WELL-IMPLEMENTED) EFFORTS AIMED AT PROMOTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THESE CITIZENS. SOME WORK BETTER THAN OTHERS. INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN IMPROVED, ALTHOUGH NEW ROADS OFTEN BRING NEW MIGRANTS, NEW COMPETITION FOR LAND, AND NEW ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS. NEW SCHOOLS AND HEALTH CLINICS PROVIDE BETTER LIVING STANDARDS, BUT OFTEN WORK TOWARD ASSIMILATION, NOT THE PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE. ELECTRIFICATION AND CLEAN WATER PROGRAMS ARE PART AND PARCEL WITH SIMILAR GVN EFFORTS ELSEWHERE, BUT IN THESE REMOTE LOCATIONS ALSO SOMETIMES CREATE NEW FINANCIAL BURDENS FOR ALREADY POOR FAMILIES. THE GVN DESERVES SOME CREDIT FOR WHAT IT IS TRYING TO DO, EVEN IF RESULTS ARE UNEVEN. STILL, MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS RELY ON TRADITIONAL COMMUNIST TOP- DOWN TACTICS THAT RARELY LEAD TO SUSTAINED SUCCESS. -------------- CENTER VS. LOCAL NEXUS -------------- UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 03055 03 OF 04 231020Z ¶14. (SBU) ONE OF THE KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS IS WHETHER THE CRUCIAL DECISIONS ARE MADE AT THE NATIONAL OR LOCAL LEVEL. THE REALITY PROBABLY LIES SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN, WITH DECISIONS MADE BY EITHER OR BOTH, DEPENDING ON THE MATTER TO BE DECIDED. CLEARLY, OVERALL POLICY -- GOOD OR BAD -- IS SET IN HANOI. ALSO CLEARLY, OFFICIALS ON THE GROUND IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS FREQUENTLY IMPLEMENT POLICY BADLY. IN OTHER CASES, THEY UNDERTAKE ACTIONS THAT MAY GO AGAINST NATIONAL POLICY. WE DO NOT BELIEVE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT IT IS GVN POLICY TO BEAT PEOPLE UP (ALTHOUGH WE KNOW IT HAPPENS, AND NOT ONLY IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS) OR HARASS RELIGIOUS BELIEVERS (NOT ONLY IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS),BUT THIS HAPPENS, TOO. WE DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS GVN POLICY TO DISPOSSESS CITIZENS OF THEIR LAND, BUT IT HAPPENS (AND AGAIN, NOT ONLY IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS). IT APPEARS THAT PROVINCIAL LEADERSHIP STYLES -- AND MISSION REPORTING HAS NOTED THE SOMETIMES MARKEDLY DIFFERENT ATTITUDES AND COMPETENCE OF OFFICIALS OF THESE FOUR PROVINCES -- MAY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE CONDUCT OF LOCAL OFFICIALS AND LEVELS OF ETHNIC TENSION. THIS HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING TO BUILD CONSTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PROVINCIAL AND DISTRICT AUTHORITIES. -------------- THE U.S. ROLE: HAVING AN IMPACT -- OR NOT -------------- ¶15. (SBU) IN VIETNAM, IT IS EASY TO FALL INTO THE TRAP OF DWELLING ON THE PAST. GIVEN THE DEGREE TO WHICH SO MANY OF UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HANOI 03055 03 OF 04 231020Z THE DISTORTIONS AND SUSPICIONS ON BOTH THE AMERICAN AND VIETNAMESE SIDES ARE ROOTED IN THE WAR, THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS. THE CLOSE LINKS OF THE "MONTAGNARDS" WITH US FORCES AND THE CONTINUED STRONG SUPPORT THEY ENJOY FROM US-BASED INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS HAVE BEEN MAJOR FACTORS IN HEIGHTENING THE SUSPICIONS WITH WHICH THE GVN AND CPV VIEW THESE MINORITY GROUPS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. YET THIS IS A NEW GENERATION OF MONTAGNARDS, NOT THE GENERATION THAT, IN MANY CASES, FOUGHT SIDE BY SIDE WITH US FORCES. REPEATED ITERATIONS BY USG OFFICIALS AT SENIOR LEVELS THAT THE USG DOES NOT SUPPORT THE DEGA MOVEMENT AND THAT THE USG EXPLICITLY RECOGNIZES THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF VIETNAM DO NOT SEEM TO GET THROUGH TO MANY IN THE GVN AND CPV, UNFORTUNATELY. IT IS A MESSAGE WE NEED TO REPEAT OFTEN. ¶16. (SBU) CONTINUED INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION HAS MADE THE GVN AND CPV (AT LEAST AT THE CENTRAL LEVEL) ACUTELY AWARE OF THE NEED TO DEAL WITH THEIR IMAGE PROBLEMS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, ALTHOUGH LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE SOMETIMES SEEMINGLY OBLIVIOUS TO INTERNATIONAL OPINION. THE GVN AND CPV WILL -- NOT SURPRISINGLY -- CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT THEY KNOW BEST (ALTHOUGH THEY INCREASINGLY ADMIT PAST "MISTAKES"),THAT THEY HAVE THE WELFARE OF THESE POPULATIONS AT HEART, AND THAT "HOSTILE FOREIGN FORCES" HAVE SINISTER ULTERIOR UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1271 PAGE 01 HANOI 03055 04 OF 04 231020Z ACTION EAP-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-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 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /011W -------------- 1BB2B0 231020Z /38 O 230936Z DEC 02 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8451 INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 HANOI 003055 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL MOTIVES. WE MUST NONETHELESS CONTINUE TO HOLD THE GVN UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HANOI 03055 04 OF 04 231020Z ACCOUNTABLE FOR CREDIBLE INSTANCES OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS -- AS ELSEWHERE IN VIETNAM -- AND TO PRESS FOR GREATER ACCESS, INCLUDING ROLES FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE BY FOREIGN NGOS. WHEN WE LEARN OF SPECIFIC CASES OF ABUSE BY LOCAL OFFICIALS, WE MUST URGE THE GVN TO INVESTIGATE AND DISCIPLINE THOSE FOUND GUILTY AND TAKE STEPS TO ADDRESS THE LOCAL GRIEVANCES. ¶17. (SBU) AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER, WE MUST BE CAREFUL TO AVOID A HEAVY-HANDED APPROACH THAT SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT THE LARGER US-VIETNAM RELATIONSHIP HINGES ONLY ON WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS. THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP IS TOO IMPORTANT, IN AND OF ITSELF, TO BE HELD HOSTAGE TO ANY ONE ISSUE. ¶18. (SBU) AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS WILL REMAIN LESS WELL DEVELOPED THAN ELSEWHERE IN VIETNAM AND ETHNIC TENSIONS ARE UNLIKELY TO DISAPPEAR ENTIRELY. FURTHERMORE, NEW ALLEGATIONS -- OF VARYING DEGREES OF CREDIBILITY -- OF NEW HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES WILL CONTINUE TO SURFACE, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO WARRANT OUR BEST EFFORTS TO VERIFY OR DISPROVE THEM. WHILE WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS IN BUILDING TRUST WITH SPECIFIC LOCAL LEADERS, WE SHOULD EXPECT CONTINUING SUSPICION AND SOMETIMES EVEN OPPOSITION FROM SOME GVN OFFICIALS, WHO WILL ALWAYS REMAIN CONVINCED THAT WE ARE STIRRING UP TROUBLE OR ACTING UNDER DUBIOUS MOTIVES. BURGHARDT UNCLASSIFIED