GVN AVOIDS HARSH CRITICISM OF 2005 HUMAN

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TAGS: PREL PHUM KIRF ETRD EINV ECON VM
SUBJECT: GVN AVOIDS HARSH CRITICISM OF 2005 HUMAN
RIGHTS REPORT

Ref: Hanoi 670

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1. (SBU) Summary and Comment: Unlike in previous
years, the GVN has not launched an intensive media
campaign against the 2005 Human Rights Report. This
could reflect a decision to avoid possible
repercussions with the U.S. Congress that would
complicate a PNTR vote on WTO membership. It may also
be a result of a more positive approach to human rights
in the country. Two leading dailies did, however,
publish commentaries that asserted that the report was
based on "distorted and unilateral information that
failed to reflect the reality in Vietnam." The
national Voice of Vietnam Radio and Vietnam Television
merely repeated formal remarks made by the Vietnamese
Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, who said differences
between the two countries "resulted in different views
and approaches towards human rights." Unlike last
year, the Embassy has not been called in to receive a
formal protest. End Summary.


2. (SBU) An editorial entitled "Distorted and
Groundless Statements" published in Nhan Dan ("People")
Newspaper asserted that the report released on March 8
is just a rehash of old material, containing "impudent
slander that already existed in the previous reports"
and faulted the drafters for ignoring the reality in
Vietnam. The newspaper claimed that the Communist
Party and the State always respect the political rights
of its citizens and seeks to create favorable
conditions for them to express their points of view and
practice their religions. The piece also quoted former
U.S. Ambassador Pete Peterson as saying that, in
comparison with ten years ago, "Vietnam has obviously
made important progress year by year."


3. (SBU) An editorial entitled "Inept Echoes" published
in Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People's Army) Newspaper said
that the 2005 Report has "failed to overcome prejudices
in its assessment of the human rights situation in the
country." It went on to say that the 2005 report "only
reflects the viewpoint of factions that take advantage
of sensitive issues, such as democracy, human rights
and freedom of belief and religion, to interfere with
internal issues of other countries." It said that the
report represented the prejudiced views of a minority
of people unable to overcome the past and intent on
hindering the stabilization process of U.S.-Vietnam
relations.


4. (SBU) Voice of Vietnam radio and Vietnam Television
both covered a formal announcement made by Vietnamese
Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Le Dzung, in which he
claimed that differences in political systems, levels
of development, histories and cultures between nations
result in different views and approaches towards human
rights. He also said it is unacceptable "for one
country to impose its views and approaches on other
countries." Similar comments were echoed by other
leading newspapers, including Thanh Nien, Tuoi Tre and
Lao Dong, on their online webpages. Unlike last year,
the MFA has not called in the Embassy for a formal
protest. In fact, during an extensive discussion on
human rights between the Ambassador and VFM Le Van Bang
(reftel) March 21, the subject of the Human Rights
Report did not come up.


5. (SBU) Professor Ngo Van Hoa of the Vietnam's
Institute of History confirmed that this year the GVN
did not launch a major media campaign against the
report. By contrast, between 2000 and 2004, State-
controlled media ran a series of commentaries,
editorials and interviews with individual citizens and
leaders of quasi-Governmental mass organizations
condemning comments in those year's reports. He said
that overall reactions to this year's report were much
milder, and apparently made "for form's sake only." He
surmised that the GVN does not want to risk a backlash
from the U.S. Congress that may hinder Vietnam's WTO
bid or a vote on Permanent Normal Trade status for the
country.


6. (SBU) Comment: Professor Hoa is probably correct
that the GVN is concerned that too strong a reaction to
this year's report might draw attention to its human
rights record at a time when it is seeking to enter the
WTO and, at the same time, be removed from the list of
Countries of Particular Concern for religious freedom

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violations. This may also reflect the continuation of
a more positive approach to human rights issues
generally. The GVN has taken pains to address a number
of international human rights concerns in the past
year, such as by reducing the number of prisoners of
concern to just a handful, working to implement a new
framework on religion and engaging us in a bilateral
dialogue on human rights. End Comment.

MARINE