THANH HOA PROVINCE PROTESTANT DEVELOPMENTS

UNCLAS HANOI 002170 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KIRF PHUM PGOV HUMANR VM SUBJECT: THANH HOA PROVINCE PROTESTANT DEVELOPMENTS REF: A) HANOI 1520; B) HANOI 1666 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On August 24, Poloff met again with Protestants from Thanh Hoa Province who report having been involved in recent police beating and harassment incidents (reftels). Police harassment and physical abuse continue, but they now also report that provincial officials are intervening with local police officers. Some police officers may have been punished for abusing members of the church. According to the Protestant believers, provincial officials say they will consider registering some new church groups in the future. These officials reportedly cautioned, however, that those gathering to worship before receiving registration will be considered "unhelpful," a status which would obstruct prospects for registration in the future. Poloff will again travel to Thanh Hoa on August 31 to gather information on these developments. End Summary. Physical Abuse and Harassment Continue... -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In Ref A, several members of the United Gospel Church of Vietnam, a.k.a. "The Full Gospel Church," in Thieu Vien Commune, Thieu Hoa District, Thanh Hoa Province reported incidents of police beatings and harassment. On August 24, Poloff met in Hanoi with church leader Nguyen Trung Ton and worshipper Tran Van Ky to discuss developments in Thanh Hoa following Poloff's visit to the province (Ref B). The two described a number of incidents involving commune security officials that involved harassment and physical abuse from July 24 through August 15. ¶3. (SBU) Our visitors stated that on August 15, two members of the congregation, including Ky himself, were separately beaten after meeting with Ton at his residence. Ky was "caught" and severely beaten by a group of five young men while he was on his way home. The young men, "who appeared to be locally hired communal security personnel," also took Ky's cell phone. Some 15 minutes after the first incident, the same group stopped and also beat another worshipper who was on her way home. (Note: Ton and Ky provided graphic photos of Ky's injuries taken immediately after the incident, which were still visible on August 24. Ky said he has difficulty moving his left arm. This appears to be the most severe of the three beating incidents reported by members of the church over the last month. End Note.) ...But There Are Also Signs of Progress -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Ton reported that representatives of the Thanh Hoa provincial Department of Religion called him to a meeting on August ¶21. Ton was told that provincial officials will soon pay a visit to all Protestant congregations in the province to "review their operations." The province may allow "a few congregations to register in a pilot project within this year." However, groups that gather for worship before they are legally registered will be considered "unhelpful" and "will not be eligible for registration." ¶5. (SBU) During the August 21 meeting, Ton was also told that Vinh (NFI),a locally-hired public security officer, has been fined VND 400,000 (approximately USD 24) for his part in the August 15 beating and Kiem (NFI),the locally-hired Deputy Commune Police Chief, has been "reprimanded" for allowing the incident to occur. ¶6. (SBU) Poloff will visit Thanh Hoa again on August 31 and attempt to visit Thieu Vien Commune. He will seek to meet with commune officials and visit the house church. MARINE