AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH AFM HUNG: AMNESTY FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000249

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT PASS TO EAP/BCLTV; EAP/RSP; DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM OVIP VM HUMANR CTERR
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH AFM HUNG: AMNESTY FOR
SOME POLITICAL PRISONERS, CONCERN ABOUT VIETNAMESE-AMERICAN
GROUP IN WASHINGTON

REF: Hanoi 00004


1. (SBU) Summary: The GVN's 2005 Tet amnesty will include
five prisoners from the USG's list of persons of concern,
including the high profile cases of Father Nguyen Dan Ly,
Nguyen Dan Que, and Thich Thanh Tu, confirmed Assistant
Foreign Minister Nguyen Duc Hung January 28. Hung also
conveyed the GVN's serious concern over reports that
Vietnamese-American Nguyen Huu Chanh plans to open a
Washington, D.C., office of his "Government of Free
Vietnam." End Summary.


2. (SBU) The Ambassador met Assistant Foreign Minister
Nguyen Duc Hung January 28 at the latter's "urgent request."
Poloff also attended. AFM Hung delivered a letter from Vice
Foreign Minister Le Van Bang (para 8) confirming that,
included among the "thousands" of prisoners to be released
as part of the Tet amnesty in 2005, will be the high-profile
prisoners of concern Nguyen Van Ly (aka Father Ly),Nguyen
Dan Que (Dr. Que),Huynh Van Ba (aka Thich Thanh Tu or Thich
Thien Minh),Mr. Truong Van Duc and Mr. Nguyen Dinh Huy.
The GVN had no record of some of the other names on the
USG's list of prisoners of concern, Hung said.


3. (SBU) The Ambassador commended the GVN's decision to
release these prisoners and asked AFM Hung to share with the
Embassy the list of names of which the GVN had no record so
that we could either update our records or clarify the
situation. AFM Hung agreed.


4. (SBU) AFM Hung also passed on a letter from Foreign
Minister Nguyen Dy Nien to Secretary Rice congratulating her
on her confirmation. We have forwarded that letter to the
Department separately, by cable and by pouch.


5. (SBU) Then turning to what he called "a not very
fortunate subject," AFM said that he had seen a report from
the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington saying that, following
the "so-called nationwide Congress" in Anaheim, CA, of the
"Government of Free Vietnam" (reftel),Nguyen Huu Chanh
planned to open a representative office in Washington, with
an opening ceremony scheduled for February 12. The office,
AFM Hung said, would be located at 1050 17th street, NW.
"You must prevent this," AFM Hung stressed. "If not, it
will be extremely harmful to our relations. You must
prosecute him for his crimes." AFM went on to say that
Nguyen Huu Chanh is the subject of Interpol warrant 912/VN
from Vietnam to Interpol United States and dated September
10, 2002. That warrant charges Nguyen Huu Chanh with arms
smuggling and terrorism, AFM Hung said.


6. (SBU) The Ambassador told AFM Hung that the United States
Government understands the seriousness with which the GVN
takes the Nguyen Huu Chanh case and the importance the GVN
attaches to it. The Department of State, he added, is
looking into the matter, but the Ambassador can make no
promises about its resolution. It would be useful if the
GVN could provide a copy of the warrant in question, the
Ambassador continued, because the United States could not
take action against anyone without clear evidence that they
had violated U.S. law.


7. (SBU) "Please take action," AFM Hung implored. "If this
[the opening of Chanh's Washington office] occurs,
everything we have achieved to this point will be lost."


8. (SBU) Letter from Vice Foreign Minister Le Van Bang to
Ambassador Marine:

BEGIN TEXT

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Hanoi, January 28, 2005

Ambassador Michael W. Marine
Embassy of the United States of America
Hanoi

Dear Ambassador,

I am writing to respond to your letter dated January 26,
2005, regarding the United States Government's stated
request.

While respectful of your Government's expressed view
relating to these cases, I would like to assure you that
these individuals, some of the names are not found in our
records, are prosecuted because of their violations of our
laws, not of any other reason (sic).

However, I would also like to inform you that in keeping
with the humanitarian policy of our Government and due to
the good conduct while carrying out their sentences,
thousands (of) detainees will be set free in the upcoming
Second Amnesty Round to be held at the end of this month.
These include, among others, Mr. Nguyen Van Ly, Mr. Nguyen
Dan Que, Mr. Huynh Van Ba (Thich Thien Minh),Mr. Truong Van
Duc, and Mr. Nguyen Dinh Huy.

The candid dialogue between our two countries has continued
to serve our mutual understanding. In this regard I would
like to reiterate the Viet Nam Government's standing request
that the name of Viet Nam should be removed from the List of
Countries of Particular Concern, which could contribute to
creating a constructive atmosphere conducive to the 10th
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations
between our two countries.

Thank you for your cooperation and I look forward to
discussing with you measures to further the relationship
between Viet Nam and the United States.

Respectfully,

Le Van Bang
Vice Minister

END TEXT OF LETTER

MARINE