LETTER TO AMBASSADOR HANFORD - SIX PROTESTANT CHURCHES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 001764 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KIRF PHUM PGOV HUMANR VM SUBJECT: LETTER TO AMBASSADOR HANFORD - SIX PROTESTANT CHURCHES REGISTERED IN THE NORTH Ref: Hanoi 1466 HANOI 00001764 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. (SBU) On July 12, the MFA's Americas Department forwarded a letter (full text in para. 3) from Chairman Ngo Yen Thi of the GVN's Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) to Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom John Hanford relating the CRA's concerns that we will accept a recent Committee on International Religious Freedom (CIRF) recommendation to retain Vietnam as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom violations. Accompanying the letter is an attachment (full text in para. 4) listing various religious freedom developments in the Northwest and Central Highlands regions and in Ho Chi Minh City over the last few months. ¶2. (SBU) Of particular note is the news in the attachment that six Evangelical Church of Vietnam North (ECVN) house churches in the Northwest Highlands are now registered: two in Lai Chau Province and four in Lao Cai. CRA officials state that the Lai Chau congregations were registered on June 29 and July 3. However, the Lao Cai churches are actually not yet registered, but a "decision is pending," they said. These house church registrations are consistent with the CRA's stated desire of registering eight total congregations as a pilot project by the end of July (reftel). The remaining two of the eight will be in Ha Giang Province, according to the CRA. We will confirm these registrations with the ECVN as soon as possible. End Summary and Comment ¶3. (SBU) BEGIN VERBATIM TEXT OF LETTER (GVN TRANSLATION): The Government's Committee for Religious Affairs -------------- Hanoi, 26 June, 2006 H.E. John Hanford III U.S. Ambassador at large for International Religious Freedom Dear Ambassador, On behalf of the Committee for Religious Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and for myself, I would like to send you my sincere greetings. It was brought to my attention that on 4th of May 2006, the U.S. Committee for International Religious Freedom has submitted to the U.S. State Department a report recommending keeping Vietnam in the list of "Countries of Particular Concerns" (CPC). We view this as a regrettable action and would like to share with you some of my thoughts as follows: In recent years, you and your colleagues have paid working visits to Vietnam. I believe that the exchanges and meetings that you made with Vietnam's leaders from central and local authorities, religious organizations and dignitaries have helped you understand and witness the Government and State of Vietnam's efforts in respecting and assuring the rights to religious freedom for its citizens, meeting the spiritual needs of the people while respecting the traditions and customs of the nation. At the Vietnam - U.S. Human Rights Dialogue in Hanoi last February, you acknowledged the positive improvements in the religious situation in Vietnam and expressed that you would suggest to the U.S. Secretary of State to withdraw Vietnam from the CPC list. There is an increasing number of U.S. and European delegations coming to Vietnam, including most recently the Institute of Global Engagement (IGE) mission, and the recent delegation of Vietnam's religious dignitaries that went to Washington for a dialogue on religious freedom in Washington, D.C. The objective views and exchanges at these visits from both sides showed a common recognition that that the situation of religion and belief practicing of the followers, most notably in Central Highlands, is remarkably improved. The Northwest provinces have witnessed positive changes. Many training seminars on the implementation of the recent policies and legislations on religion affairs, especially Decree 01, were organized for the local authorities officials. The registration of religious worship groups has also been quickened. Local authorities are carrying out registration of religious practice as stated in the Ordinance on Belief and Religion in order to recognize legal status for religious organizations once they meet required conditions. In this early June, delegations from European Union and Institute for Global Engagement visited Central Highlands (Dak Lac, Gia Lai) HANOI 00001764 002.2 OF 003 and Northwest provinces (Lao Cai, Lai Chau) and witnessed first hand changes in religious life of believers living in these areas. These improvements are the results of the implementation of policies on religious affairs of the Government of Vietnam, as well as efforts of central and local authorities in implementing policies by way of organizing seminars to promulgate the Ordinance on Belief and Religion and the Prime Minister's Instruction on Protestantism. I hope that during your next visit to Vietnam, you will continue to see positive and clear results of the implementation of Vietnam's religious policies. I wish that my aforementioned views would present you with a clearer picture of the religious situation in Vietnam and hope that you will show your goodwill by recommending the U.S. State Department to remove Vietnam from the CPC list. This will contribute to the betterment of Vietnam - U.S. relations, for the interest of our two countries' peoples and to the success of President Bush's visit to Vietnam at the end of this year. I look forward to receiving good news from you. I wish you health, happiness and success. Sincerely yours, Ngo Yen Thi Chairman, Committee for Religious Affairs END VERBATIM TEXT OF LETTER ¶4. (SBU) BEGIN VERBATIM TEXT OF ATTACHMENT (GVN TRANSLATION): (Title) DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS Central Highlands - As of 30-6-2006, there have been 60 chapter churches recognized (Dak Lak 8, Gia Lai 29, Lam Dong 17, Dak Nong 3),of which 12 were recognized during the first 6 months of 2006 and 700 worship places registered with 185.709 religious followers actively practicing. There were another more than 600 worship places registered for practice during the Noel Holidays. - The Church has ordained 12 pastors and restored pastorships to 7 pastors, 21 missionaries and accepted 22 students to attend the 1st and 2nd Seminar of the Biblical and Theology Institute (Gia Lai 7, Lam Dong 8, Dak Lak 7) - Local authorities have given lands and processed legal documents for the construction of churches and worshiping places for 10 chapter churches, of which 5 are newly built. The Bible has been printed in three languages: E-de, Ba-na and Gia-rai for ethnic minority worshipers. Northwest -Conferences were held to promulgate Decree 01 and Plan 05 in Lai Chau, Lao Cai for local officials from the village levels and up. -6 new worshiping places have been registered: - Lai Chau: 2 places: 1) Than Chi Ho Village, Hong Thu Commune, Sin Ho District with 37 families, 218 individuals (100 percent H'Mong Ethnics, Protestants),2) Cung Mo Phin Village, Lan Nhi Thang Commune, Tam Duong District: 44 families with 281 individuals (100% H'Mong Ethnics, Protestants) - Lao Cai: 4 places: 1) Khe Den 1 Village, Thai Nien Commune, Bao Thang District with 25 families, 98 individuals; 2) Khe Den 2 Village, Thai Nien Commune, Bao Thang District with 33 families, 107 individuals, 3) Xin Chai and Vi Ma Tren Villages, Phong Hai Commune, Bao Thang District, with 64 families; 4) Ai Nam Village, Phong Hai Commune, Bao Thang District with 90 families, 484 individuals. - Local authorities plan to step up the pace of registration during the last 6 months of the year. - Other provinces are also in the implementation process. Ho Chi Minh City - A meeting was organized for religious organizations that have not been registered - City authorities have registered the Mennonite Church of Viet Nam, Baptist Benevolence Church and Christian Gospel Church. HANOI 00001764 003.2 OF 003 Other developments - The central and local authorities continue to step up the pace of the registration process of chapter churches and solve the problem of attaining worshiping places for religious followers. - Activities during the religious holidays are more diversified and numerous. - Due to more simplified procedures, there has been an increased ease in a number of areas, including the reconstruction of worshiping places, recruitment of students for training of religious leaders, ordination and reorganization of religious organization. -Religious Publishing House published more than 130 books during the first 6 months. -Applications being reviewed for 3 others religious organizations. END TEXT OF ATTACHMENT MARINE