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