THICH QUANG DO UNDER "ADMINISTRATIVE

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000475 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL/IRF E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: KIRF PGOV PHUM VM HUMANR RELFREE SUBJECT: THICH QUANG DO UNDER "ADMINISTRATIVE SURVEILLANCE" UNTIL SEPTEMBER 3, 2003 REF: A) 01 HANOI 1340 B) FBIS SEP 20010608000100 ¶1. (U) The Most Venerable Thich Quang Do remains under "administrative surveillance," based on a decree, which although dated June 1, 2001, in fact has an effective time period of September 3, 1998 until September 3, 2003. Post has seen at least one press release denouncing Thich Quang Do's continued "pagoda arrest" past June 1, but wishes to clarify that according to the refs and recent confirmation from Thich Tue Sy, September 3, 2003 has always been the correct expiration date. ¶2. (SBU) A junior monk whose duties have included looking after Thich Quang Do, related to Thich Tue Sy that Thich Quang Do is in good health and looks forward to being freed from administrative surveillance on September 3. Thich Tue Sy attributed any confusion over the expiration date to overlapping decisions that were issued upon Thich Quang Do's release from prison in September 1998 under a special amnesty, and subsequently on May 31 and June 1, 2001. ¶3. (U) Thich Quang Do was originally sentenced to five years' imprisonment and five years' administrative surveillance in 1995. Upon his release in September 1998, he was still subject to the five- year administrative surveillance requirement until September 3, 2003. ¶4. (U) After Thich Quang Do's failed attempt to "rescue" The Most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang from his pagoda in Quy Nhon and return with him to HCMC in May 2001, two other decisions were issued on May 31 and June 1, 2001. These decisions reaffirmed that the original five-year administrative surveillance period was still in effect until September 3, 2003. ¶5. (U) Post will continue to keep in contact with those close to Thich Quang Do and monitor the situation. YAMAUCHI