Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03HOCHIMINHCITY670
2003-07-24 11:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Cable title:  

VIETNAM: THICH QUANG DO VISITS THICH HUYEN QUANG

Tags:  PGOV PREL KIRF SOCI VM RELFREE HUMANR 
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UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000670 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL


E. O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KIRF SOCI VM RELFREE HUMANR
SUBJECT: VIETNAM: THICH QUANG DO VISITS THICH HUYEN QUANG

REF: HCMC 00585

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000670

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL


E. O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KIRF SOCI VM RELFREE HUMANR
SUBJECT: VIETNAM: THICH QUANG DO VISITS THICH HUYEN QUANG

REF: HCMC 00585


1. (SBU) The Venerable Thich Quang Do, Deputy Head of the banned
Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV),met with UBCV Patriarch
Thich Huyen Quang at the Nguyen Thieu Monastery in Quy Nhon July
15-20. This was Thich Quang Do's first trip outside of HCMC since
being placed under "probationary detention" for two years in June

2001. He traveled by train accompanied by a delegation of UBCV
monks. He did not inform the GVN of his travel, had no trouble
during the trip, and there were no GVN officials at his meetings.


2. (SBU) Several other delegations of senior monks from UBCV
chapters in Hue, HCMC and the Central Provinces joined the group
in Quy Nhon for a meeting to discuss the future of the UBCV. They
reportedly reviewed UBCV personnel throughout Vietnam from Quang
Tri province southward. Among the monks who participated were
Thien Hanh, Thai Hoa, Phuoc Vien, and Nhu Dat from Hue, and Hai
Tang from Quang Tri.


3. (SBU) Thich Tue Sy spoke to ConGen after Thich Quang Do had
returned to the Thanh Minh Zen Monastery in HCMC. Thich Tue Sy
said he did not think Thich Quang Do has had any problems with the
authorities since his return. Thich Tue Sy expressed his
appreciation for the "external intervention" that had convinced
the GVN to allow the monks to travel so freely.


4. (SBU) Thich Quang Do has, however, developed some health
problems with his heart. He had a physical examination prior to
his trip to Quy Nhon and got permission from his doctors to travel
while waiting for the results. He will find out soon whether he
will need surgery. He has no future plans to travel due to his
health and had postponed his visit to Thich Huyen Quang from July
10 because of his health problems. According to Thich Tue Sy,
Thich Huyen Quang is in better health at 86 years of age than
Thich Quang Do is at 74.

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