Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HANOI326
2006-02-14 10:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:
CARTOON CONTROVERSY: GVN CONDEMNS VIOLENCE;
how-toVZCZCXRO6190 RR RUEHHM DE RUEHHI #0326 0451000 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 141000Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0761 INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 0497
UNCLAS HANOI 000326
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI KISL KPAO XF VM
SUBJECT: CARTOON CONTROVERSY: GVN CONDEMNS VIOLENCE;
VIETNAMESE MUSLIMS QUIESCENT
Ref: State 20587
UNCLAS HANOI 000326
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI KISL KPAO XF VM
SUBJECT: CARTOON CONTROVERSY: GVN CONDEMNS VIOLENCE;
VIETNAMESE MUSLIMS QUIESCENT
Ref: State 20587
1. (SBU) Pol/C met with MFA West Asia and Africa Department
Deputy Director General Duong Huynh Lap February 14 to
deliver reftel points. Lap relayed the GVN's regret at both
the offensive cartoons and the violence they generated.
Vietnam believes that this matter should be resolved through
dialogue in the spirit of mutual understanding and peaceful
coexistence. While most Muslims worldwide have adopted a
moderate approach to this controversy, care still needs to
be taken to ensure that radicals and extremists do not
exploit the situation to their benefit. Lap noted that
Vietnam's some 100,000 Muslims, who live mostly in the south-
central coastal area and Mekong Delta, have not had much of
a reaction to the controversy. "They are generally very
calm when it comes to things like this," Lap reported.
2. (SBU) Comment: We note that while DDG Lap expansively
addressed the issues surrounding the reaction of Muslims to
the cartoons, he studiously avoided the issues of freedom of
speech and freedom of the press. Nontheless, based on our
own observations, we agree with his assertion that the
reaction in Vietnam, both from the nation's Muslims and in
the official press, has been muted. While the local media
has reported almost daily on the Muslim reaction to the
cartoons, most stories have been translations of articles in
international media (Reuters, AFP),and do not include
editorial commentary. End Comment.
BOARDMAN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI KISL KPAO XF VM
SUBJECT: CARTOON CONTROVERSY: GVN CONDEMNS VIOLENCE;
VIETNAMESE MUSLIMS QUIESCENT
Ref: State 20587
1. (SBU) Pol/C met with MFA West Asia and Africa Department
Deputy Director General Duong Huynh Lap February 14 to
deliver reftel points. Lap relayed the GVN's regret at both
the offensive cartoons and the violence they generated.
Vietnam believes that this matter should be resolved through
dialogue in the spirit of mutual understanding and peaceful
coexistence. While most Muslims worldwide have adopted a
moderate approach to this controversy, care still needs to
be taken to ensure that radicals and extremists do not
exploit the situation to their benefit. Lap noted that
Vietnam's some 100,000 Muslims, who live mostly in the south-
central coastal area and Mekong Delta, have not had much of
a reaction to the controversy. "They are generally very
calm when it comes to things like this," Lap reported.
2. (SBU) Comment: We note that while DDG Lap expansively
addressed the issues surrounding the reaction of Muslims to
the cartoons, he studiously avoided the issues of freedom of
speech and freedom of the press. Nontheless, based on our
own observations, we agree with his assertion that the
reaction in Vietnam, both from the nation's Muslims and in
the official press, has been muted. While the local media
has reported almost daily on the Muslim reaction to the
cartoons, most stories have been translations of articles in
international media (Reuters, AFP),and do not include
editorial commentary. End Comment.
BOARDMAN