BUDDHIST LEADERS CONFIRM REPORT OF MISTREATED MONKS IN BAC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001864 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KIRF PHUM PGOV HUMANR VM SUBJECT: BUDDHIST LEADERS CONFIRM REPORT OF MISTREATED MONKS IN BAC GIANG REF: A) HCMC 993; B) HCMC 1000; C) HCMC 978; D) HCMC 1220 HANOI 00001864 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The unrecognized Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) recently reported that a number of monks staged a demonstration in Hanoi to protest the wrongful arrest and torture of Buddhists in Bac Giang Province. While the State-sanctioned Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) refutes the demonstration claim, VBS leaders confirm that they received complaints about the mistreatment of imprisoned monks and are waiting for the results of the GVN's official investigation. End Summary. Report of Tortured Buddhist Monks -------------- ¶2. (U) On July 10, the Paris-based International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB),the mouthpiece of the unrecognized Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV),issued a press release reporting that 50 monks of the State-sponsored Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) demonstrated on July 6 in front of the GVN's Supreme People's Procuracy in Hanoi to protest the mistreatment and wrongful imprisonment of VBS monks in Bac Giang Province (Bac Giang is located some 35 miles northeast of Hanoi). According to the IBIB, nine members of the Bac Giang Buddhist clergy were falsely accused of stealing precious statues from a local temple in 2004 and "brutally tortured" during their 18-month detention. The senior monk (Thich Duc Chinh) allegedly died as a result of his mistreatment. After a court sentenced the abused monks to lengthy prison terms in June 2005, followers of the congregation staged "non-stop protests" and petitioned provincial authorities for their release to no avail. On June 28, the Bac Giang Provincial People's Court reportedly suspended the appeal case due to a "lack of evidence" and ordered the "temporary release of the eight Buddhists." "No demonstrations occurred" -------------- ¶3. (SBU) On July 18, Pol intern met with Thich Thanh Tu, Permanent Vice Chairman of the VBS' Executive Council, and Thich Minh Tien, VBS Secretary. He opened by conveying the concerns of the USG over the allegations contained in the IBIB report. Tu interjected that "there was no demonstration of any sort" and challenged the truthfulness of statements issued by the UBCV (which had not been mentioned before this point). "The UBCV has no credibility and does not have the best interests of Vietnam and Vietnamese Buddhists at heart," he complained. Tien further argued that no demonstrations could have taken place, since there are only 50 clergy members in Bac Giang and "not all could have participated to the so-called protest in Hanoi." Two Separate Incidents -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Tu differentiated the monk's death from the Buddhists' mistreatment in Bac Giang and explained that a congregation from Thai Nguyen Province tasked a monk (NFI) from Ha Tay Province to supervise the renovation of a local temple. After the restoration was completed, "lay-followers did not want the monk to reap the benefits of the new temple, because it is very attractive." Despite requests for a clarification, Tu did not elaborate but simply added that "ill-willed individuals claimed that he was not a genuine monk" and turned him in to the police. While the monk was awaiting his trial, "he got a cold and passed away very quickly," Tu stated, without any explanations. ¶5. (SBU) Regarding the theft of the statues in Bac Giang, Tu confirmed that eight monks, also from Ha Tay Province, had been charged with stealing some statues. The local police had contacted the VBS and requested the dismissal of the alleged instigator from the executive board of Bac Giang Buddhist clergy. Citing lack of evidence, the VBS refused to comply and local authorities arrested the eight monks. Tu admitted that the police deliberately held them longer to obtain confessions. Addressing the protests in Bac Giang after the initial court ruling, Tu dismissed the claim and reiterated that it was simply a "gathering of monks and sisters attending the trials." VBS is waiting for the official inquiry -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Asked about the treatment of monks during their detention, Tien maintained that the VBS was not aware of any reports of mistreatment before lay-followers submitted complaints and the accused monks raised the issue during their first trial. "Nobody informed us of anything prior to that," he asserted. Tien further noted that, as a delegate of the National Assembly, Tu filed an official request for inquiry to the Ministry of Public Security (MPS),the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, HANOI 00001864 002.2 OF 002 Bac Giang People's Provincial Committee and provincial police. The MPS Investigation Office responded that the Supreme People's Procuracy will conduct an official investigation; therefore, the VBS is "waiting for a formal response." Comment -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Despite the rather unclear and incomplete explanations of VBS officials, their account supports the allegation that several members of Bac Giang Buddhist clergy were mistreated during their detention. We will follow up with the VBS to learn the results of the official investigation. End Comment. Background -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Since 1975, the GVN requires all Buddhist monks to work under the officially recognized VBS. Non-compliant members of the UBCV, Vietnam's legacy Buddhist organization, have since been persecuted and harassed for refusing to join the State-sponsored umbrella structure. Many UBCV leading figures, including Thich Quang Do, have been detained or have lived under State surveillance (Refs A and B) since the GVN officially outlawed the organization in ¶1981. Despite signs indicating that the GVN might relax its policy -- in 2003, the GVN ended Thich Quang Do's detention and several high-profile UBCV leaders organized public gatherings after then-Prime Minister Phan Van Khai suggested that the UBCV may reorganize again -- the authorities resumed their interference in UBCV-sponsored activities and have isolated senior monks, including Thich Quang Do (Refs C and D). MARINE