MORE INFORMATION ON TET AMNESTY

UNCLAS HANOI 000381 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/BCLTV; DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM KIRF PREF PREL VM SUBJECT: MORE INFORMATION ON TET AMNESTY REF: HANOI 00254 ¶1. (U) On February 17 Post received a diplomatic note (Para 2) from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to our inquiry about a number of individuals released in the recent Tet amnesty (reftel). Mission is not familiar with the cases of the four Montagnards or when they were first detained. According to Government and press sources, Nguyen Dinh Van Long was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1983 for "attempting to overthrow the Government." Pham Minh Canh was reportedly imprisoned for criticizing the Government, and Nguyen Long Sy was imprisoned for reasons of "State Security." ¶2. (U) Begin Note: Unofficial English translation: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Socialist Republic of Vietnam No. 044 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in Hanoi and, with reference to the Letter dated February 1, 2005 of Mr. John Boardman - Deputy Chief of Mission, has the honor to inform [that]: ¶1. The following ethnic minority cases were granted special amnesty on the occasion of the Lunar New Year of 2005: - Y NHIM BYA, committed the offense of acting against on-duty officials, sentenced to three years in prison. - Y BHE NIE, committed the offense of acting against on-duty officials, sentenced to three years in prison. - KSOR DAR, committed the offense of organizing [and] forcing other people to flee to foreign countries, sentenced to three years in prison. - Y BAH, committed the offense of acting against on- duty officials, sentenced to four years and six months in prison. ¶2. The cases of NGUYEN DINH VAN LONG, PHAM MINH CANH, [and] NGUYEN LONG SY were also granted special amnesty on this occasion. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America in Hanoi the assurances of its highest consideration. Hanoi, February 7, 2005. The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi End text. MARINE NNNN