Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05HOCHIMINHCITY15
2005-01-07 10:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR VISITS UBCV LEADER IN HCMC

Tags:  PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV KIRF VM HUMANR RELFREE 
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UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000015 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV KIRF VM HUMANR RELFREE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR VISITS UBCV LEADER IN HCMC

REF: A) 04 HCMC 1503; B) 04 HCMC 1481

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000015

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV KIRF VM HUMANR RELFREE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR VISITS UBCV LEADER IN HCMC

REF: A) 04 HCMC 1503; B) 04 HCMC 1481


1. (SBU) During a December 5 visit with the Ambassador and Consul
General, Thich Quang Do, Secretary General of the banned Unified
Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV),thanked the Ambassador for his
continued interest in the UBCV and welcomed international pressure
calling for greater religious freedom and human rights in Vietnam.
He praised the USG designation of Vietnam as a Country of
Particular Concern (CPC) and said it would be a "strong pressure
on Vietnam's leaders" to change their attitude toward religious
freedom, although he acknowledged that he has not seen any
improvement in the GVN's attitude toward the UBCV since the CPC
designation.


2. (SBU) Echoing his comments to DRL DAS Dugan in December (Ref
B),Thich Quang Do railed against the "dictatorship of communist
leaders in Vietnam" and vowed to continue his campaign for a multi-
party, democratic system of government. He rejected the idea of a
union with the GVN-recognized Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS),which
he said is a tool of the GVN. His goal is a UBCV that operates
freely and independently of the GVN and is able to use its
influence to promote political change in Vietnam. He admitted
that UBCV membership in Vietnam has dwindled over the past 30
years to no more than 70 monks. Nonetheless, he claimed that
"brave, courageous" monks have been selected to replace UBCV
leader Thich Huyen Quang (age 87) and himself (age 77),when
necessary.


3. (SBU) Thich Quang Do was still unclear of his exact legal
status or any charges against him, although he remains under
unofficial "pagoda arrest." After his thwarted attempt to visit
UBCV Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang in November (reftels),he
attempted to visit a colleague in another district of HCMC and was
again stopped by police. The police have summoned him for
questioning several times over the past month, but he has refused
to go or to allow the police into his pagoda to speak to him.


4. (SBU) Thich Quang Do said he will attempt to visit Thich Huyen
Quang in Binh Dinh Province during the Tet New Year in February.
He asked the Ambassador to express his support for such a visit to
the GVN, although he noted that "the government is very determined
to separate us" and that he doubts that the authorities will allow
the visit. (Note: We informed the authorities that the Ambassador
would meet with Thich Quang Do at his pagoda and met with no
interference. End Note.) Thich Quang Do predicted that the
police would come again shortly after the Ambassador's visit, as
they had after DAS Dugan met with him, but he has no intention of
cooperating.


5. (SBU) Comment: Thich Quang Do's statements reiterated his
position of pressing greater religious freedom as a mechanism for
advancing political change. He has no desire to cooperate with
the communist authorities in any way or to have the UBCV
officially recognized by the GVN, unless this can be achieved
without conditions. Given his strong anti-communist stance and
his open advocacy for rapid political change, the GVN hardline
attitude toward him is no surprise. We will continue to monitor
the GVN's treatment of Thich Quang Do and any attempts to prevent
him from visiting Thich Huyen Quang during Tet. The Ambassador
will be expressing his support for the visit to senior GVN
officials next week. End Comment.

WINNICK