CENTRAL HIGHLANDS: NO PUNISHMENT FOR MOST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 000652 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/PD/MSPEER DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR PRM DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR DRL/IRF E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2012 TAGS: PHUM PREF PGOV PINS SOCI PREL KIRF VM CB ETMIN HUMANR RELFREE SUBJECT: CENTRAL HIGHLANDS: NO PUNISHMENT FOR MOST RETURNEES, BUT SOME QINSTIGATORSQ ARRESTED CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HANOI 00652 01 OF 03 201147Z REF: HO CHI MINH CITY 263 ¶1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY CONSUL GENERAL EMI LYNN YAMAUCHI, HO CHI MINH CITY, FOR REASONS 1.5 (D). ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: A RELATIVELY MODERATE PASTOR FROM THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS SAID THE GVN IS WORKING TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION FOR ETHNIC MINORITIES, ALTHOUGH PROBLEMS REMAIN. HE BELIEVES THE OVERWHELMING CAUSE OF WIDESPREAD TENSIONS IS THE ECONOMIC DISPARITY BETWEEN ETHNIC MINORITIES AND THE KINH VIETNAMESE MAJORITY. HE CRITICIZED U.S. MONTAGNARD GROUPS WHO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LEAVE VIETNAM. RETURNEES FROM THE REFUGEE CAMPS IN CAMBODIA HAVE GENERALLY NOT BEEN PUNISHED, EXCEPT FOR A FEW QINSTIGATORSQ WHO CONVINCED OTHERS TO LEAVE. HE STRESSED THE MEETING AND HIS IDENTITY SHOULD BE KEPT SECRET. SEPTEL REPORTS ON A BRIEF SEPARATE DISCUSSION WITH HIS BROTHER. END SUMMARY. ECONOMIC DISPARITIES CAUSE TENSIONS -------------- ¶3. (C) DPO AND CONOFF DISCUSSED CONDITIONS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS MARCH 19 WITH A PROTESTANT PASTOR FROM GIA LAI PROVINCE. HE BELIEVES THE GVN'S CURRENT POLICIES TOWARD ETHNIC MINORITIES ARE GENERALLY BENIGN AND WELL INTENTIONED. THE POLICIES DEMONSTRATE THAT THE GVN IS FINALLY INTERESTED IN PAYING ATTENTION TO MINORITIES. SOME LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE NOT ABIDED BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES, BUT THE OVERWHELMING CAUSE OF WIDESPREAD TENSIONS IS THE ECONOMIC DISPARITY BETWEEN ETHNIC MINORITIES AND THE CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HANOI 00652 01 OF 03 201147Z KINH (VIETNAMESE) MAJORITY. ¶4. (C) THE GVN'S BASIC RELIGIOUS POLICIES ARE QUITE GOOD. INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS CAN PRACTICE THEIR RELIGION FREELY. SOME PROBLEMS, HOWEVER, PERSIST. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS NO CHURCH IN THE PASTORQS VILLAGE, ALTHOUGH THE BOARD HOPES TO BUILD A CHURCH IN GIA LAI SOON. BELIEVERS ALSO FACE PROHIBITIONS ON GATHERING TO DISCUSS THEIR FAITH OR TO PRAY TOGETHER. THE REALITY OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, THEREFORE, IS THAT ACTIVITIES ARE LIMITED TO THEIR HOMES. BUT THE PASTOR BELIEVES SUCH PROBLEMS ARE NOT SO EGREGIOUS THAT ETHNIC MINORITY PROTESTANTS MUST LEAVE VIETNAM. 
 ¶5. (C) THE REAL COMPLAINT OF ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS IS ECONOMIC, NOT RELIGIOUS, ACCORDING TO OUR SOURCE. SPECIFICALLY, ETHNIC MINORITIES ARE UPSET THAT THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS ARE MUCH WORSE THAN THE KINH MAJORITY. FREQUENTLY THERE ARE LAND DISPUTES BETWEEN MINORITIES AND KINH, AND THE REALITY IS THAT THE MINORITIES, BECAUSE THEY ARE POOR AND NOT WELL CONNECTED, ALMOST ALWAYS LOSE IN LAND DISPUTES WITH KINH. THOSE MINORITIES WHO CAN STAND SUCH SUFFERING REMAIN IN VIETNAM, WHILE OTHERS SEEK A BETTER LIFE ELSEWHERE. THIS LATTER GROUP IS EASY TO EXPLOIT WITH PROMISES OF RESETTLEMENT TO THE U.S. OR A FIGHT TO REGAIN THEIR LANDS. ¶6. (C) ETHNIC MINORITIES WHO LEFT VIETNAM FOR CAMBODIAN CAMPS FALL INTO FOUR CATEGORIES: (1) POLITICAL ACTIVISTS; (2) RELIGIOUS ACTIVISTS; (3) CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HANOI 00652 01 OF 03 201147Z OPPORTUNISTS WHO HOPE TO RESETTLE IN THE U.S.; AND (4) THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DUPED BY INDIVIDUALS BELONGING TO CATEGORIES ONE AND TWO. THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO LEFT VIETNAM BELONG IN CATEGORY FOUR, AS DO ALMOST EVERYONE WHO HAS RETURNED TO VIETNAM THUS FAR. ¶7. (C) THE REASON MANY PEOPLE LEFT VIETNAM IS THAT THEY HEARD PROMISES FROM ETHNIC MINORITIES LIVING IN THE U.S.--SPECIFICALLY SUPPORTERS OF KOK KQSOR, KQSOR TAR AND KQSOR BLIK--OR THEIR ASSOCIATES IN VIETNAM. THE PASTOR SAID IT IS DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE PROMISES MADE ARE TRUTHFUL. HE BELIEVES THE U.S. GROUPS QHAVE CAUSED DISORDER FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS.Q ONE OF THE VIETNAMESE "MALEFACTORS" LINKED TO THE U.S.-BASED GROUP, A MR. NGOL, TRIED TO CONVINCE OUR SOURCE TO LEAVE HIS VILLAGE. NGOL CLAIMED THAT IF MANY VILLAGERS FLED TO CAMBODIA, THE U.S. AND UNHCR WOULD QHELP THE FIGHT TO REGAIN LANDS TAKEN OVER BY THE KINH AND ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT STATE.Q (NOTE: WE CLARIFIED THAT QFIGHTQ IN THIS CONTEXT MEANS AN ARMED UPRISING.) HE ALSO PROMISED MONEY AND A BETTER LIFE IN THE U.S. ¶8. (C) LIFE IS NORMAL FOR MOST OF THOSE WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM CAMBODIA. IF THEY WERE DUPED, THEY ARE CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8559 PAGE 01 HANOI 00652 02 OF 03 201147Z 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 VC-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 ECA-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /011W -------------- 77E77F 201147Z /38 O 201116Z MAR 02 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5888 INFO USMISSION GENEVA AMEMBASSY BANGKOK AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH NSC WASHDC C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HANOI 000652 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/PD/MSPEER DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR PRM DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR DRL/IRF CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HANOI 00652 02 OF 03 201147Z NOT PUNISHED OR DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. A FEW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, BUT QTHEY DESERVE TO BE IN DETENTION BECAUSE THEY LURED MANY PEOPLE TO LEAVE THEIR VILLAGES. THEIR DECEPTIONS CAUSED SOCIAL DISHARMONY FOR THOSE WHO REMAINED BEHIND.Q AT LEAST ONE SUCH DECEIVER IS STILL IN CAMBODIA. ¶9. (C) OUR SOURCE CONSIDERS IT NORMAL TO HAVE DISPUTES WHEN DIFFERENT GROUPS LIVE TOGETHER. THE SITUATION BECAME MUCH MORE SERIOUS WHEN FULRO CALLED FOR AN UPRISING TO TAKE BACK THE LAND. THE RECENT SHIFT TO A MARKET ECONOMY HAS MADE THINGS WORSE. IN THE PAST EVERYTHING WAS SUBSIDIZED. NOW, THE MINORITIES ARE BEING LEFT FARTHER BEHIND AND FEEL THEY CANQT CATCH UP. THE GVN HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE, BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH YET. IMPROVEMENTS FOR PROTESTANTS, BUT PROBLEMS REMAIN -------------- -------------- ¶10. (C) OUR SOURCE THINKS QNON-BELIEVERSQ (NON- CHRISTIANS) GET MORE HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAN BELIEVERS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR EDUCATION. HE ASKED THE HEAD OF THE GIA LAI PEOPLEQS COMMITTEE WHY THERE WERE NO PROTESTANT STUDENTS IN ETHNIC MINORITY BOARDING SCHOOLS. HE WAS TOLD THE SCHOOLS WERE DESIGNED TO TRAIN FUTURE OFFICIALS FOR THE ETHNIC MINORITY COMMUNITY. OTHER LOCAL OFFICIALS TOLD HIM THAT AS LONG AS RESOURCES WERE SO SCARCE, THE SCHOOLS WOULD FAVOR THE CHILDREN OF LOCAL MINORITY OFFICIALS. ¶11. (C) CONDITIONS FOR PROTESTANTS HAVE IMPROVED SINCE CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HANOI 00652 02 OF 03 201147Z THE PROTESTANT CHURCH OF VIETNAM (SOUTH) (PCVS) WAS RECOGNIZED. BEFORE PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED FOR PRAYING (INCLUDING OUR SOURCE IN 1992). AS RECENTLY AS 1999, THEY WERE OFTEN QINVITEDQ TO SPEAK WITH THE LOCAL POLICE. OUR SOURCE KNEW OF NO SUCH HARASSMENT IN 2001 OR THIS YEAR. ALTHOUGH THE LOCAL COMMUNIST PARTY AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT HAVE SHOWN MORE UNDERSTANDING LATELY, THEY HAVE ONLY ALLOWED A SMALL NUMBER OF OFFICIAL PASTORS AND PARISHES/DIOCESES TO BE ESTABLISHED SINCE THE PCVS WAS RECOGNIZED. QWE EXPECTED A LOT BUT HAVE ONLY BEEN ALLOWED A LITTLE.Q THE SITUATION VARIES BY PROVINCE: GIA LAI IS A QLITTLE BITQ BETTER THAN DAK LAK. KON TUM IS THE MOST DIFFICULT. LAM DONG, THE FOURTH CENTRAL HIGHLAND PROVINCE, IS QTOTALLY DIFFERENT,Q WITH OVER 100 PASTORS. IS IT SAFE TO RETURN? -------------- ¶12. (C) DURING THE MEETING, OUR SOURCE RECEIVED A PHONE REPORT REGARDING TWO PASTORS AND THE WIFE OF A PASTOR WHO WERE PART OF A DELEGATION THAT ACCOMPANIED A GROUP OF RETURNEES FROM THE MONDOLKIRI CAMP TO DAK LAK PROVINCE. THEY SAID LIFE WAS VERY DIFFICULT IN THE CAMP AND THAT MANY MORE PEOPLE THERE WANTED TO RETURN. OUR SOURCE SAID HE HAD PERSONALLY SPOKEN WITH MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD ALREADY RETURNED. THOSE WHO CAME BACK IN AN QORDERLYQ FASHION HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS. SOME WHO RETURNED ON THEIR OWN -- BEFORE THE TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED -- HAD BEEN ARRESTED BY CAMBODIAN SOLDIERS AND TURNED OVER TO VIETNAMESE CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HANOI 00652 02 OF 03 201147Z SOLDIERS. THEY WERE BEATEN BY THE SOLDIERS ON BOTH SIDES, BUT WERE NOT BEATEN AGAIN ONCE THEY RETURNED HOME. ¶13. (C) OUR SOURCE HAD BEEN ASKED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO GO TO THE CAMPS TO URGE PEOPLE TO RETURN, BUT HE REFUSED BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DECISION TO RETURN. HAD HE GONE, HE WOULD HAVE TOLD THE REFUGEES TO FOLLOW THE BIBLE BUT ALSO BE GOOD CITIZENS AND FOLLOW THE GOVERNMENT'S LAWS. HE MIGHT TELL THEM ABOUT THE TRUE SITUATION AT HOME -- THAT EVERYTHING IS BASICALLY NORMAL -- BUT HE WOULD NOT TELL THEM WHAT TO DO. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT'S SAFE TO RETURN AND HE WOULD NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT BEING UNSAFE. ¶14. (C) ASKED HOW IT MIGHT BE UNSAFE, HE REPLIED THAT THOSE WHO CROSSED THE BORDER CAUSED INSTABILITY. WHEN THEY RETURN, HE THINKS THAT THEY WILL BE WATCHED CLOSELY. AS FOR THOSE WHO CONVINCED OTHERS TO LEAVE, HE BELIEVES THE AUTHORITIES WILL DEAL WITH THEM QAPPROPRIATELY.Q HE IS ALSO CONCERNED THAT OTHER VILLAGERS WILL BE PREJUDICED AGAINST THOSE WHO LEFT, COMPARING THIS TO A WOUND THAT LEAVES A SCAR BUT HEALS AFTER A SHORT TIME. IT WOULD BE WORSE IF PEOPLE CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8561 PAGE 01 HANOI 00652 03 OF 03 201147Z 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 VC-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 ECA-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /011W -------------- 77E788 201147Z /38 O 201116Z MAR 02 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5889 INFO USMISSION GENEVA AMEMBASSY BANGKOK AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH NSC WASHDC C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HANOI 000652 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/PD/MSPEER DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR PRM DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR DRL/IRF CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HANOI 00652 03 OF 03 201147Z SETTLED IN THIRD COUNTRIES, SINCE THIS WOULD CAUSE MORE PEOPLE TO LEAVE AND CREATE FURTHER INSTABILITY. IN HIS OPINION, IT WOULD BE BEST FOR PEOPLE TO COME HOME. GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT RHETORIC OUTPACES REFORM -------------- ¶15. (C) OUR SOURCE SAID HE HAD CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS WITHOUT INCIDENT. ABOUT 150 BELIEVERS CAME TO HIS HOUSE TO PRAY. SOME LOCAL POLICE ARRIVED, BUT THEY STAYED OUTSIDE AND DID NOT INTERFERE. WHEN HE HAD A CHRISTMAS PARTY, HE MADE A POINT OF INVITING SOME OF THE LOCAL OFFICIALS INSIDE. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. THE SITUATION VARIED ACCORDING TO LOCALITY. HE KNEW OF ONE VILLAGE WHERE PEOPLE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GATHER AT CHRISTMAS. IT WAS IN AN AREA WHERE THERE HAD BEEN DEMONSTRATIONS IN FEBRUARY OF 2001, AFTER WHICH SOME RESIDENTS HAD GONE TO CAMBODIA. HE HAS HEARD STORIES OF PROTESTANTS WHO WERE FORCED TO DRINK PIG'S BLOOD WITH WINE, BUT HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THE SOURCES AND NEVER WITNESSED SUCH TREATMENT HIMSELF. HE THINKS THE PEOPLE THAT SPREAD THESE RUMORS HAVE ULTERIOR MOTIVES. ¶16. (C) OUR SOURCE CONCLUDED THAT, IN HIS VIEW, THE GVN IS TRYING TO IMPROVE ITS POLICIES TOWARDS ETHNIC MINORITIES AND PROTESTANTS. BUT RHETORIC OUTPACES ACTUAL REFORMS. HE THINKS RELIGIOUS LEADERS, WHEN CONFRONTED WITH PROBLEMS, SHOULD SIT DOWN WITH OFFICIALS TO WORK THINGS OUT. THERE ARE TOO MANY POLITICIANS, AND NOT ENOUGH FARMERS AND BUSINESSMEN, CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HANOI 00652 03 OF 03 201147Z IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THE MINORITIES IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS HAVE BEEN IGNORED SINCE BEFORE 1975. EVEN NOW THERE IS ALMOST NO WORK FOR THEM IN FACTORIES OR ON THE COFFEE AND RUBBER PLANTATIONS. THEY ARE LESS EFFICIENT THAN ETHNIC KINH AND USUALLY GET FIRED FOR THIS. INSTEAD, THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN TRAINING. AS FOR EDUCATION, UNTIL THINGS CHANGE, PROTESTANTS SHOULD QFAKE ITQ AND CHECK QNONBELIEVERQ ON THE ENTRANCE FORMS. ¶17. (C) HE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE U.S.-BASED ETHNIC MINORITIES BE MORE HELPFUL. THEY SHOULD NOT TELL ETHNIC MINORITIES THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WILL HELP THEM FIGHT TO REGAIN LAND FOR A DEGA STATE, WHICH CANNOT BE ACHIEVED. INSTEAD, THE U.S.-BASED GROUPS SHOULD PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP THE ECONOMY AND IMPROVE LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE ETHNIC MINORITIES STILL IN VIETNAM. COMMENT -------------- ¶18. (C) IT IS DIFFICULT TO ASSESS INFORMATION ON THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS. IT IS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT TO GENERALIZE FROM ANY SINGLE SOURCE SINCE LOCAL CONDITIONS VARY WIDELY. EVEN NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES OFTEN DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT EACH OTHER. THIS SOURCE IS PART OF THE RECENTLY RECOGNIZED PCVS AND CLEARLY FAVORS WORKING WITH THE GVN. HE IS NOT UNCRITICAL, HOWEVER, AND HE IS WELL PLACED TO PROVIDE FIRST-HAND REPORTING. HIS BASIC POINTS SEEM TO BE IN LINE WITH OTHER CREDIBLE SOURCES. ETHNIC MINORITIES CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HANOI 00652 03 OF 03 201147Z IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS, MOST OF THEM ECONOMIC. THE GVN IS SUSPICIOUS OF ANY ORGANIZED RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY, PARTICULARLY IF IT IS TIED TO A FULRO PAST AND A DEGA STATE PRESENT. YET THERE IS CONSIDERABLE PERSONAL FREEDOM TO WORSHIP. THERE ARE CASES OF INDIVIDUAL ABUSES, BUT SO FAR WE HAVE NOT SEEN EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD FEAR OR SYSTEMIC WHOLESALE REPRESSION. BURGHARDT CONFIDENTIAL