HCMC REFUSES TO DISCUSS OR TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ACTIVIST

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 001483 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV KIRF PREF VM SUBJECT: HCMC REFUSES TO DISCUSS OR TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ACTIVIST INVOLUNTARILY COMMITTED TO MENTAL HOSPITAL REF: HCMC 1270; B) 05 HCMC 994 ¶1. (U) This is an action request: Please see Paragraph 6. ¶2. (SBU) On December 5, PolOff met with working-level HCMC External Relations officials to discuss the case of Bui Kim Thanh, a HCMC-based land rights activist involuntarily committed to the national mental hospital in neighboring Dong Nai Province. Per ref A, HCMC police reportedly took the lead in the committal of Thanh to the mental institution, first charging Thanh for "illegal activities" related to her land-dispute organizing activities, and then committing her to the mental hospital. ¶3. (SBU) In our meeting we stressed that, although it is possible that Bui Kim Thanh suffers from some form of mental illness, the circumstances surrounding her involuntary committal are troubling. From what we knew of Thanh and her activities, she did not appear to be a threat to herself, her family, or others in the community. We noted the similarity between this case and that of Baptist Pastor Thanh Van Truong (ref B),who was involuntarily committed for nearly a year in the same mental institution by police after he had publicly criticized the Communist Party. We noted that the case of Pastor Truong had drawn negative international attention to Vietnam and criticism from members of Congress. However, we emphasized that we did not know all the facts in Thanh's case, and wanted to meet with HCMC and mental hospital officials to hear their perspective. ¶4. (SBU) Following up on that conversation, ConGen submitted two diplomatic notes requesting a meeting with HCMC police and hospital officials as well as access to Bui Kim Thanh (dipnotes emailed to EAP/MLS and Embassy Hanoi). We noted that PolOff planned to travel to Dong Nai Province to follow up on other issues on December 20 and hoped to be able to deal with the Bui Kim Thanh case at that time. ¶5. (SBU) ERO officials did not provide formal responses to our dipnotes, but told us orally that neither the police nor hospital officials would agree to meet with us, and that we would not be able to meet with Thanh. Our ERO contacts informally told us on December 21 that this case must be "raised at higher levels" if the USG is interested in pursing the matter. ¶6. (SBU) Action Request: In light of these developments, post recommends that we raise Bui Kim Thanh with GVN officials at higher levels. CHERN