ARRESTED AMCIT CONG THANH DO: MFA WORKING ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L HANOI 002296 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV CASC VM SUBJECT: ARRESTED AMCIT CONG THANH DO: MFA WORKING ON RESOLVING "RIDICULOUS" CASE THROUGH DEPORTATION REF: A. HCMC 1003 ¶B. HCMC 998 ¶C. HCMC 905 Classified By: Ambassador Michael W. Marine per 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) On September 7, Pol/C discussed the arrest of Amcit Cong Thanh Do with MFA Americas Department Deputy Director Le Chi Dzung and underscored the seriousness with which the USG is viewing this case. Pol/C stressed that keeping Do in custody without any charges -- particularly now that it seems clear that he was never involved in a plot to bomb ConGen HCMC -- will continue to attract the attention and concern of the USG, Members of Congress and the American public. This is all the more so considering that Do was expressing support for important American values such as democracy and representative government. ¶2. (C) An exasperated Dzung described the affair as "ridiculous" and the result of earnest (but nonetheless overzealous) HCMC district-level security officials who thought they might have a terrorist case on their hands. "They even used the hotline to reach out to your Consulate General's security officials," he added. Continuing to hold Do will complicate Vietnam's near-term WTO, APEC and Presidential visit aspirations, Dzung agreed. For its part, the MFA's Americas Department is working on "inviting Do to leave the country." The MFA is also in touch with the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) on this matter and asked the Embassy to "hold off contacting MPS for now." ¶3. (C) Comment: Although the MFA seems well aware of the widespread attention that this case is receiving in the United States and elsewhere -- and undoubtedly will do its best to make the matter go away -- less is clear is the ministry's ability to hold sway over its public security counterpart. End Comment. MARINE