Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05HOCHIMINHCITY896
2005-08-24 23:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR MEETS DISSIDENT BUDDHIST LEADER

Tags:  PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV KIRF VM RELFREE HUMANR 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HO CHI MINH CITY 000896 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV KIRF VM RELFREE HUMANR
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS DISSIDENT BUDDHIST LEADER
THICH THIEN HANH IN HUE

REF: A) HCMC XXXX B) HCMC 623

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HO CHI MINH CITY 000896

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV KIRF VM RELFREE HUMANR
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS DISSIDENT BUDDHIST LEADER
THICH THIEN HANH IN HUE

REF: A) HCMC XXXX B) HCMC 623


1. (SBU) Summary: At an August 13 meeting with Thich
Thien Hanh, the senior-most member of the Unified
Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) in Hue, the
Ambassador encouraged Hanh and the UBCV to seek to
regularize their legal status. Hanh said the UBCV
could envision working with the GVN, but only if it
were granted real independence. He did not indicate
that the UBCV is willing to dilute the pro-democracy
elements of its agenda. According to Hanh, he and the
Hue chapter of the UBCV remain under tight control.
While he recently was allowed to travel to attend the
funeral of a UBCV colleague in Nha Trang, his
delegation was prevented from making an impromptu stop
to visit UBCV Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang in Binh Dinh
Province. End Summary.


2. (SBU) On August 13, the Ambassador met with Thich
Thien Hanh, senior-most member of the unregistered
Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV),at his Bao
Quoc Pagoda in Hue. Hanh said he and ten other UBCV
monks have been under unofficial pagoda arrest since
October 2003, when he participated in an organizational
meeting of the UBCV in Binh Dinh Province.


3. (SBU) According to Hanh, officials continue to
prevent him from visiting UBCV Patriarch Thich Huyen
Quang in Binh Dinh Province. His latest failed attempt
came on June 21, when he led a group of nine monks from
Hue to Nha Trang to attend the funeral of a fellow UBCV
monk. He had obtained permission for that travel from
Hue officials. However, on the return trip, the group
made an unannounced stop in Binh Dinh Province. They
arrived in Binh Dinh around 1:30 p.m. and then traveled
by motorcycle to the Patriarch's pagoda. En route,
they were stopped by two plainclothes police officers,
who said it was not "safe" for them to continue. When
the police refused to produce identification, the monks
continued on foot.


4. (SBU) After they had gone about 30 meters, a police
van approached from the other direction. The police in
the van asked the monks to go back to their car and

return to Hue, but Hanh replied that they would proceed
unless the police could show they were authorized to
stop the monks. According to Hanh, when the police
began threatening to arrest the driver of their van,
they ended their attempt to visit Thich Huyen Quang and
returned to their vehicle. Once on the National
Highway, the UBCV van was escorted by two police cars.
After 12 kilometers, the police stopped them to return
the driver's papers. At that time, a verbal
confrontation with the police ensued. One monk
fainted. The police asked the monks to follow them to
the office of the District's People Committee, where
they stayed overnight, apparently unattended. The
following morning, the group was allowed to return to
Hue.


5. (SBU) Hanh said he plans to try again to visit Thich
Huyen Quang in the near future, this time informing
officials in advance. However, he is skeptical that
the result would be any different. Hanh said that of
the 25 monks living at the Bao Quoc Pagoda, he is the
only one allowed to travel. The Ambassador indicated
that he is prepared to intercede with the GVN in
support of a visit to Thich Huyen Quang. (Note:
According to our UBCV contacts, after his meeting with
the Ambassador, Thich Thien Hanh requested permission
for a 24-monk delegation from Hue to visit Thich Huyen
Quang on August 22, but was denied. The state-owned car
company in the province terminated the car rental
contract at the last minute and no private car owner
agreed to transport them to Binh Dinh.)

Status of the UBCV
--------------


6. (SBU) Turning to the status of the UBCV, the
Ambassador emphasized that the USG supports the UBCV
and has encouraged the GVN to recognize it as an
independent organization. Hanh replied that he is
aware of and appreciates USG support. He added that
the UBCV would continue to fight for democracy for all
Vietnamese, particularly for the 80 percent who "follow
some religion." The Ambassador advised Hanh that the
UCBV needs to begin a dialogue with the GVN to restore
its legal status, since the UBCV could not be an active
and effective organization in Vietnam while operating
outside the law. Noting that political change in
Vietnam will be a slow process, he recommended that the
UBCV accept the leadership roles of the Communist Party
and the Vietnamese Government. Hanh replied that were
the Party to demonstrate good leadership, the UBCV
would be willing to cooperate. However, he expressed
doubt about the Party, recounting how it had repressed
the UBCV since 1981, when it had created and recognized
the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. He added that if the
United States does not support bringing democracy and
more freedom to Vietnam, Vietnamese people would "lose
their affection for America."


7. (SBU) Comment: At least Thich Thien Hanh did not
completely rule out discussions with the GVN on
regularizing the status of the UBCV. However, at
present, neither side appears prepared to compromise.
In a separate conversation, the Chairman of the Thua
Thien Hue People's Committee told the Ambassador that
the religious freedom situation in the province is
"perfect," even as the province keeps the UBCV under
tight control. For his part, Hanh must have known that
his impromptu attempt to visit Thich Huyen Quang would
fail and would provoke a response. And by trying, he
embarrassed those officials in Hue who had sanctioned
his travel (to another UBCV event) in the first place.
Hanh also does not appear ready to yield or to ease up
on the political elements of his organization's agenda,
the sine qua non of any compromise with the GVN. End
Comment.

WINNICK