Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HANOI872
2006-04-18 05:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: HANOI AUTHORITIES FACILITATING
how-toVZCZCXRO5905 RR RUEHHM DE RUEHHI #0872 1080554 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 180554Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1506 INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 0960
UNCLAS HANOI 000872
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KIRF PHUM VM
SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: HANOI AUTHORITIES FACILITATING
REGISTRATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES?
UNCLAS HANOI 000872
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KIRF PHUM VM
SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: HANOI AUTHORITIES FACILITATING
REGISTRATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES?
1. (SBU) An expatriate Amcit who is a Jehovah's Witness
informed POLOFF on April 14 that representatives of the
small congregation of witnesses in Hanoi recently were
called in by local Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA)
officials and given two application forms for official
registration as a Protestant group. (Note: The
congregation has for over a year been trying to acquire the
proper forms to apply for official recognition from the GVN.
End Note.)
2. (SBU) Although, these application forms (serial
identification DXDKSHTG, registration of a Protestant
congregation, and GCNDKSHTG, certification of a Protestant
place of worship) do not technically apply to Jehovah's
Witnesses as they actually do not consider themselves
Protestant, the group is encouraged by this unexpected
development. They hope that they will be able to use these
forms to begin the process of achieving outright recognition
of their church.
3. (SBU) Comment: This development may be another
indication that the CRA is pushing to recognize more
religions in order to satisfy our religious freedom concerns
under the Country of Particular Concern designation. End
comment.
MARINE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KIRF PHUM VM
SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: HANOI AUTHORITIES FACILITATING
REGISTRATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES?
1. (SBU) An expatriate Amcit who is a Jehovah's Witness
informed POLOFF on April 14 that representatives of the
small congregation of witnesses in Hanoi recently were
called in by local Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA)
officials and given two application forms for official
registration as a Protestant group. (Note: The
congregation has for over a year been trying to acquire the
proper forms to apply for official recognition from the GVN.
End Note.)
2. (SBU) Although, these application forms (serial
identification DXDKSHTG, registration of a Protestant
congregation, and GCNDKSHTG, certification of a Protestant
place of worship) do not technically apply to Jehovah's
Witnesses as they actually do not consider themselves
Protestant, the group is encouraged by this unexpected
development. They hope that they will be able to use these
forms to begin the process of achieving outright recognition
of their church.
3. (SBU) Comment: This development may be another
indication that the CRA is pushing to recognize more
religions in order to satisfy our religious freedom concerns
under the Country of Particular Concern designation. End
comment.
MARINE