UPDATE ON ALLEGED ANTI-SRV "TERRORIST" IN U.S.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 002413

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DS/DSS/ITA, DS/IP/EAP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL VM CTERR
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON ALLEGED ANTI-SRV "TERRORIST" IN U.S.

REF: 02 HANOI 1731


1. (U) MFA Americas Department Deputy Director Pham Van
Que presented to A/DCM on September 19 a non-paper on
alleged "terrorist" Nguyen Huu Chanh, who has been the
subject of an earlier diplomatic note (reftel) and other
communications. Que made no formal request and there was
no diplomatic note accompanying the information, but Que
indicated that he wished the USG to consider "additional"
information. (Note: apparently, new references to the
opening of a "Revolutionary Government of Free Vietnam" on
January 1, 2003 and founding of a "Vietnam National Party"
on August 17, 2003. end note). The document reiterates an
earlier request via Interpol for Chanh's arrest, as well as
claims of Chanh's involvement in 2001 bombing attempts of
Vietnamese embassies in Manila and Bangkok.


2. (U) Action request: Embassy would welcome an update
on any investigation into Chanh's alleged "terrorist"
activities as well as on the current status of Vo Van Duc,
who was due for extradition to Thailand for the 2001
bombing attempt.


3. (U) Begin text
Nguyen Huu Chanh (name at birth: Nguyen Hoang Dan; nick
names: Nguyen Huu Danh, Bao Long and Nguyen Anh Tuan).
Date of Birth: January 1, 1950 in Phu Cat, Binh Dinh,
Vietnam (other documents also identified year of birth as
1949 and 1951);
Nationality: Vietnamese, holder of U.S. Green Card
No. A.27344105 issued on January 19th 1992;

Addresses of his residence have been referred to as
follows:

- 16220 N. 7th Suite 2028, Phoenix, AZ 85022.
- 13282 Earle Dr., Garden Grove, CA 92644.
Tel: (914) 638-9527.
- 7400 Center Ave, Suite 108, Huntington Beach, CA

92647.
Tel: (714) 379-5250.
- 12755 Brookhurst, Suite 104, Garden Grove, CA 92840.
Tel: (714) 638-9990.

1995, Nguyen Huu Chanh set up the so-called "Revolutionary
Government of Free Vietnam" based in 12755 Brookhurst Suite
104, Garden Grove, California, U.S.A. Since then, Chanh
and his accomplices have returned to Thailand and Cambodia
many times to recruit and train people to produce, use
mines and bombs, purchase grenades and explosives for
terrorist activities against Vietnam. Particularly, since
1999, Chanh has organized, instructed, and assigned 26
gangs (of 3 to 5 persons each) from Thailand and Cambodia
to carry explosives, mines, grenades and other explosive
devices to Vietnam for terrorist purposes. These activities
can be specified as follows:

- In March 1999, Chanh asked the gang of Tran Van Duc and
Huynh Buu Tran to carry explosives to Vietnam for terrorist
acts in Can Tho and Dong Thap provinces.

- In April 1999, Chanh assigned the gangs of Tran Thi Hue,
Nguyen Van Phuong, Nguyen Van Hung, Nguyen Van Ty and 6
others, the gang of Son Tam and Danh Huong, and the gang of
Chan Khuu and To Van Hong to carry explosives, mines and
other explosive facilities to Vietnam for destructive and
terrorist acts in places such as downtown parks, flower-
gardens, post offices, statues at the Reunification Hall in
Can Tho, Dong Thap provinces and Ho Chi Minh City.

- From December 1999 to February 2000, Chanh sent his
accomplices named: Huynh Anh Tri, Huynh Anh Tu, Nguyen Ngoc
Phuong, Van Ngoc Hien, Le Ngoc Anh Tuan, Ly Ngoc Ha, Pham
Anh Tuan, Nguyen Thanh Van, Tran Kim Huong, Do Van
Thai and Tran Hoang Giang to bring 25 kg of explosives, 25
detonators, delayed action fuses and 2 remote control bomb
devices to Vietnam for acts of terrorism in Can Tho,
Dong Thap provinces and Ho Chi Minh City.

- In March 2000, Chanh instructed his accomplices to
explode gas tanks at the ceremony in memory of Huynh Phu So-
Head of Vietnam's Hoa Hao religion.

- In August 2000, Chanh asked Son Nguyen Thanh Dien to
bring 3 grenades to Vietnam for the purpose of causing
explosions at the Post and Telecommunications Center in Ho
Chi Minh City.

- In June 2001, Chanh organized and instructed Vo Van Duc
(or Nguyen Van Trang, John Nguyen Trang) and Phan Nguyen
Thanh Hien Sy to conduct a terrorist bombing at the
Vietnamese Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.

- In August 2001, Chanh organized and instructed Nguyen Tan
Vinh and Huynh Ngoc Thuan to plan a terrorist bombing at
the Chancery of the Vietnamese Embassy in Manila, the
Philippines.

- On June 29 and 30 2002, Chanh organized "Conference of
the Vietnamese National Alliance" in Anaheim, California to
continue rallying forces for terrorist activities against
Vietnam.

- Nguyen Huu Chanh organized the opening ceremony of the so-
called "Revolutionary Government of Free Vietnam" in the
USA on January 1, 2003; organized "The General Conference"
in Germany in April; "Vietnam National Party" in the USA on
August 17, 2003.

The Vietnamese Police have prevented the above-said
activities and arrested dozens of them with 40 kg of
explosives, 30 detonators, 3 grenades, 4 remote control
bomb devices, and many delayed action fuses. In May 2001,
Vietnam brought to trial 37 persons arrested on charges of
terrorist activities under the instructions and
organization of Nguyen Huu Chanh.

Based on the available documents and evidence, in
conformity with Article 84 of the Penal Code of Vietnam, on
3 May 1999, the Vietnamese police issued an All-Points
Bulletin against Nguyen Huu Chanh for terrorist activities.
On 15 June 1999, the Interpol Office announced an
international All-Points Bulletin (Control No. A-431. /6-
1999) against Nguyen Hun Chanh for weapon smuggling and
terrorism. On September 10, 2002, Interpol Vietnam sent
Notice No. 912/VPI (T2) to the U.S. Interpol informing
evidences of the committing crimes of Chanh and requested
the U.S. to arrest and hand Chanh over to Vietnam to bring
him to justice, and to abolish the so-called "Revolutionary
Government of Free Vietnam" headed by Nguyen Hun Chanh.

Until now, there has been close cooperation between Vietnam
and Thailand in preventing terrorist acts of Chanh. On
August 10, 1999, The Thai Committee for Examining
Foreigners in Danger for Security and Society decided to
rank Nguyen HuU Chanh and his gang to the list of persons
who may cause harm for society or may create dangers for
Thai national security due to their acts of establishing
revolutionary front and army forces in Trat province
(Thailand). On October 6, 1999, Thai Minister for Internal
Security had order No. 397/2542 prohibiting those people
from entry permit to Thai territory according to Section 16
of 1999 Immigration Law.
end text
BURGHARDT