HOA HAO ACTIVISTS JAILED IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000438 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV KIRF VM HUMANR RELFREE SUBJECT: HOA HAO ACTIVISTS JAILED IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM REF: HCMC 325 ¶1. (SBU) On April 27, a district court in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang sentenced two Hoa Hao activists, brothers Tran Van Hoang and Tran Van Thang, to nine and six months prison respectively, for producing and distributing "illegal" recordings of the Hoa Hao faith. They also were fined 26 million Dong (USD 1,640). The two brothers were affiliated with Le Quang Liem, leader of the unrecognized Hoa Hao Central Buddhist Church (HHCBC). (Per reftel, the two brothers were arrested on February 25, after a search of the house revealed approximately 900 DVDs containing the teachings of Huynh Phu So, the founder of Hoa Hao Buddhism, as well as the interpretations of Le Quang Liem.) Under Vietnamese law, the copying and distribution of audio-visual products is classified as a "business activity," and must be licensed by GVN authorities. The brothers had no such license. With time already served, the two brothers will be eligible for release in August and November, respectively. ¶2. (SBU) Late on April 27, we spoke with Nguyen Thi Hoanh Em, wife of Tran Van Thang (strictly protect),who told us that her family was notified of the trial 4 days in advance. She and other family members attended the four-hour trial. The family did not have a lawyer. Twelve witnesses testified they had bought recordings from the brothers. The two brothers did not make any comments other than to appeal for clemency in the spirit of the upcoming 30th anniversary of the reunification of Vietnam. The family will not appeal the ruling. ¶3. (SBU) According to Em, a number of Hoa Hao supporters stood outside the courtroom, listening to the trial through the court's PA system. Em said police set up checkpoints around the courthouse to block a group of Hoa Hao believers from neighboring Dong Thap province from attending the trial. ¶4. (SBU) On April 28, we spoke with Huynh Nhu Chau, Head of the An Giang Committee for Religious Affairs. While DVD piracy is rampant in An Giang, Chau said that, to his knowledge, there were no other cases in 2005 of individuals prosecuted in the province for illegal distribution of recorded material. We expressed our concern to him that it appeared that the brothers were being singled out. Chau did not answer directly, but said that the District People's Committee and Ministry of Public Security had decided to prosecute the two brothers and that he had no influence over the process. We also contacted representatives of the GVN- recognized Executive Committee of Hoahaoism who refused to discuss the case. WINNICK NNNN