Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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06HANOI1338 | 2006-05-31 10:55:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Hanoi |
1. (SBU) Summary: The DPV made the public announcement today of the reestablishment of the long-defunct DPV, and there was no overt reaction by the GVN. The MFA did, however, call in representatives of the Embassies who met with the DPV leadership on May 30 to protest foreign involvement in "illegal and destabilizing" activities. In a meeting at the MFA, GVN officials asked the DCM not to support "negative elements" who are trying to take advantage of the current situation in U.S.-Vietnam relations. They said they, too, are working to avert an "overreaction" to the DPV within the GVN. End Summary. 2. (SBU) Per reftel, Chinh and Khue announced on June 1 via recorded message posted on Vietnamese websites in California that the Democracy Party of Vietnam (DPV) is re-established. Vietnamese transcripts of the announcement are available on the "Voice of Democracy" website for the Vietnamese Democratic Movement (www.ptdcvn.org). 3. (SBU) Also on June 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) called in (separately) the Australian, European Commission (EC), and U.S. diplomatic missions to complain about each mission's participation in the May 30 reftel meeting with members of the DPV. Deputy DG for the Americas Nguyen Hoang Nam summoned the DCM to express Vietnam's appreciation for the recent signing of the bilateral U.S.- Vietnam WTO agreement and to warn the United States that "some dissidents and political opportunists have taken action to destabilize Vietnam's security and society and prevent the development of further momentum in Vietnam's relations with other countries, including the United States." Nam said the GVN "has evidence" that some Embassies, including the United States, met with the "opportunists" and encouraged their "illegal behavior." The U.S. Embassy should not be involved in this activity, Nam said, and should not support these dissidents. 4. (SBU) The DCM responded that U.S. Embassy personnel engage with individuals from all parts of Vietnamese society, and it is important to hear a range of opinions. The U.S. Embassy does not encourage law-breaking, but we have also said many times that Vietnam should support the expansion of legally protected political space. Discretion is important in these matters, the DCM said, but the U.S. Embassy has an obligation to listen to opinions, including and especially those that others do not agree with. 5. (SBU) Nam said the GVN appreciates the USG position, and recognizes that the Ambassador and other officials have repeatedly expressed the U.S. Embassy's respect for Vietnam's sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, the GVN cannot accept actions that destabilize the society. "If something happens," Nam said elliptically, "it may tie the MFA's hands regarding our recommendations to avoid actions that could damage relations." The DCM noted that the best way for a group of individuals agitating for political change to express their message, build credibility and gain attention is for them to be arrested. "We want to avoid overreactions by our government as well," Nam said. 6. (SBU) In a later meeting on Iran, Deputy FM Le Van Bang raised the same issue with the DCM. "We have a lot going on," VFM Bang said, "such as the WTO signing, PNTR, the visit of the Secretary of Defense, a possible visit by the Secretary of State, and the President's visit." It is SIPDIS inevitable, he continued, that some people will try to take advantage of the pace of relations and the interest of both governments in "avoiding agitation" to carry out "some actions." VFM Bang said he is "under a great deal of pressure about that." DDG Nam told Poloff after that meeting that VFM Bang has been criticized by security hardliners in the GVN who feel that they are constrained from "responding appropriately" to the "opportunists" because of the GVN's desire - personified by VFM Bang - to maintain smooth relations with pro-human rights western countries. 7. (SBU) EC and Australian poloffs report the MFA presented similar complaints to their missions. The EC ambassador replied that the GVN was not the EU's only interlocutor in Vietnam and that EC poloffs have a duty to keep track of HANOI 00001338 002.2 OF 002 domestic developments in the country, and will continue to meet with DPV representatives. The EU doesn't support the DPV, however, if the GVN infringes upon the rights of DPV members the EC will take up cases on an individual basis and from a human rights perspective. He concluded by noting that intrusive surveillance of the activities of Vietnamese citizens (and EU and other diplomats) is not civilized behavior. EC poloffs report that their MFA interlocutors concluded the meeting almost apologetically by saying that meetings like those they had called with the EC ambassador "were part of our job". Comment -------------------------- 8. (SBU) The MFA was discomfited by the message it had to deliver on this, which was clearly imposed from outside. Their biggest problem with the May 30 meeting seems to have been its public nature, and other public contacts we have had with Vietnamese dissidents (such as the invitation of several of them to the HCMC Fourth of July celebration last year) have generated similar scoldings. The MFA appears to understand that we cannot cease and desist from meeting with dissidents and democracy activists, and instead want us to understand that doing so too publicly might end up forcing the hands of those who favor a harsher response to the DPV and its members. We may be able to thread the needle of keeping contact with the DPV without letting them martyr themselves by reducing the profile of our meetings with them. It may also be out of our hands; the DPV's public relations strategy envisions "bombarding" Vietnamese and international news outlets with announcements and declarations, which alone may be enough to trigger a crack down. MARINE |