ASSISTANT SECRETARY LOWENKRON DISCUSSES HUMAN RIGHTS WITH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 002727 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL/IRF E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV OTRA ECON VM SUBJECT: ASSISTANT SECRETARY LOWENKRON DISCUSSES HUMAN RIGHTS WITH VFM LE VAN BANG HANOI 00002727 001.2 OF 002 Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On October 19, Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Barry Lowenkron told Vice Foreign Minister Le Van Bang that, while the United States recognizes there have been positive human rights developments in Vietnam, we will continue to urge the release of the two remaining imprisoned political dissidents before the President's November APEC visit. Bang stated that neither prisoner can be released because they refuse to behave "moderately" and because of concerns about the post-release political activities of other activists who were recently amnestied. The Assistant Secretary asked if Administrative Decree 31 (which authorizes officials to summarily incarcerate citizens without due process) might soon be abolished. Bang replied that the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) is preparing a report to the National Assembly (NA) on whether to abolish the decree, but he would not predict when such a decision could be expected. ¶2. (SBU) Summary continued: The Assistant Secretary noted that the GVN's relative restraint over recent activism by dissidents and the unprecedented media debate prior to the April Party Congress were both positive developments that the United States would like to see continue. He also reiterated our offer to provide technical assistance on revising Vietnam's criminal procedure code and invited the MFA to conduct another round of the Human Rights Dialogue in February or March 2007 in Washington. The Assistant Secretary and the Ambassador said the United States is prepared to lift Vietnam's Country of Particular Concern (CPC) on religious freedom if the GVN provides a clear commitment to register 100 more churches in northern Vietnam in the near future. Bang merely replied that 18 congregations in the Northwest have already been registered. End Summary. ¶3. (SBU) On October 19, Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Barry Lowenkron and the Ambassador met with Vietnamese Vice Foreign Minister Le Van Bang. The Assistant Secretary stated that the February 2006 bilateral Humans Rights SIPDIS Dialogue in Hanoi had moved to a positive direction. Since the Dialogue took place, the GVN had released prominent dissident and longtime U.S. "prisoner of concern" (POC) Dr. Pham Hong Son and had allowed poloffs to visit two prisons near Ho Chi Minh City. These developments will help contribute to a constructive visit by President Bush during the November APEC summit, the Assistant Secretary predicted. SIPDIS ¶4. (SBU) Bang stated that, since the beginning of 2006, the GVN has been working hard to prepare for the President's visit, as "we think a successful APEC summit will be very important because it will demonstrate that the United States is in Southeast Asia to stay." The GVN hopes Congress will grant Vietnam Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status in the narrow window of opportunity before the President's visit. The GVN is pleased that APEC will showcase big commercial deals with Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Intel, he added. Remaining Prisoners of Concern -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Assistant Secretary said there are a few remaining issues that, if resolved, would make the President's visit even more positive. He noted that only two prominent dissident POCs remain in prison: former policeman Phan Van Ban, a septuagenarian who has been held for more than twenty-one years, and Nguyen Vu Binh, a former journalist who has been held since 2003. The United States has called for the release of these prisoners. The Assistant Secretary also reiterated the Ambassador's standing request to visit both Ban and Binh in prison if the GVN decides not to release them soon. ¶6. (SBU) Bang responded that, in addition to Son, the GVN also released religious dissident Ma Van Bay in September. Ban however, has a life sentence and cannot be released until he cooperates with the GVN. "We have talked about his case at length" with the Ministry of Public Security (MPS),but MPS can only reduce his sentence and release him to the custody of his family in the United States "if he behaves moderately." Ban keeps telling MPS officials "I am your enemy," he said. Assistant Secretary Lowenkron pointed out that Ban was ready to be released and Vietnam should not feel threatened by the free expression of differences. Bang added that Binh's release has been made more difficult by the subsequent political activities of others that were recently amnestied like dissident Nguyen Khac Toan. "Perhaps we can discuss Binh's case in the next round of the Human Rights Dialogue," Bang added. Decree 31 (Summary Administrative Punishment) -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The Assistant Secretary continued that during the February HANOI 00002727 002.2 OF 002 Dialogue the U.S. delegation raised the importance of abolishing the GVN's Administrative Decree 31 (which authorizes government officials to summarily instigate administrative punishments against citizens without due process) to bring Vietnam in line with international standards. The decree reflects poorly on Vietnam, especially as host of APEC. It had been understood that the GVN is considering taking the step of abolishing the decree. Bang replied that the MPS is preparing a report to the National Assembly (NA) on whether to abolish the decree, but he would not predict when such a decision could be expected. Criminal Procedure Code -------------- ¶8. (SBU) During the February 2006 Dialogue, the U.S. delegation offered to provide technical assistance to the GVN to help amend Vietnam's Criminal Procedure Code, a process which began in 2004. The Assistant Secretary reiterated this offer and noted that the Embassy could coordinate with the GVN on a number of technical assistance programs. Bang replied that the two best channels for discussing technical and programmatic assistance on the Code are through 1) Embassy to National Assembly coordination and 2) direct National Assembly and Congressional discussions. Nevertheless, Bang promised to remind the National Assembly of the U.S. offer of assistance. Law on Associations -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Assistant Secretary Lowenkron raised the fact that the United States supports the GVN's efforts to build the capacity of civil society in Vietnam. Lowenkron added that the National Assembly (NA) recently debated an eleventh draft of a Law on Associations (LOA) that would pave the way for a robust civil society in Vietnam. The GVN, however, had withdrawn the draft law from the agenda of the current NA session. The United States looks forward to promulgation of the LOA. Bang had no reply. Religious Freedom -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Concerning religious freedom, the Assistant Secretary told Bang that the United States is prepared to lift Vietnam's Country of Particular Concern (CPC) status if the GVN provides a clear commitment to register more churches in northern Vietnam in the coming months. The Ambassador added that Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom John Hanford asked him to convey the message that if the GVN commits to registering one hundred Evangelical Church of Vietnam North (ECVN) congregations in the north by the end of the year, Ambassador Hanford will recommend that CPC be lifted before the President's visit in November. ¶11. (SBU) According to Bang, there has been good progress on religious freedom conditions in the Central Highlands, though some small problems remain. A number of Protestant churches have been registered across Vietnam, including 18 ECVN congregations in the Northwest. "You may not be satisfied totally, but this is enough to create a positive atmosphere during the President's visit," he added. Dissidents ("8406 Bloc"),Press Freedom -------------- ¶12. (SBU) The Assistant Secretary pointed out that the GVN's restraint over recent dissident developments, particularly the advent of the "8406 Bloc", and the unprecedented media debate about the future of the Communist Party of Vietnam's (CPV) role in society prior to the CPV Congress in April are both positive developments that the United States would like to see continue. Bang replied cryptically that "we will have to try harder to lift the spirits of public opinion" in advance of the President's visit, or "Vietnam will not be very hospitable." Next Round of the Human Rights Dialogue -------------- ¶13. (SBU) In conclusion, the Assistant Secretary invited the VFM and his staff to attend another round of the bilateral Human Rights Dialogue in either February or March 2007 in Washington, D.C. Bang thanked the Assistant Secretary for the invitation but did not commit to a date but it was agreed that Embassy Hanoi and Ambassador Marine would follow up with government officials after the APEC meeting to discuss a suitable date. ¶14. (SBU) Assistant Secretary Lowenkron has cleared this message. MARINE