Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05HOCHIMINHCITY438
2005-04-28 10:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Cable title:
HOA HAO ACTIVISTS JAILED IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 281041Z Apr 05 ACTION EAP-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 EB-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-00 OIG-00 OMB-00 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SS-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 T-00 IIP-00 PMB-00 PRM-00 DRL-00 G-00 SAS-00 /000W ------------------E64BE5 281414Z /80 FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1394 INFO AMEMBASSY HANOI PRIORITY ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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
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
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