HCMC PALTALK INTERNET ARRESTEES VISITED

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000436 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL SOCI VM SUBJECT: HCMC PALTALK INTERNET ARRESTEES VISITED REF: A) HCMC 334, B) 05 HCMC 1131 ¶1. (SBU) On April 21, ConGen spoke with Chau Van Hung, uncle of Truong Quoc Huy and Truong Quoc Tuan, two of the original "PalTalk" arrestees. (Per reftels, the two, along with another brother and Lisa Pham, a U.S. Legal Permanent Resident, were arrested on October 19, 2005 and charged with attempting to overthrow the GVN.) Hung said police had allowed him to visit Huy and Tuan on April 20 at HCMC police headquarters. This was his second visit. Hung said the brothers were healthy and showed no signs of abuse. He described Huy as "normal", but added that Tuan "was scared." A policeman was present during the entire meeting and did not permit Hung to bring food or clothes. Hung said he now would be allowed to visit Huy and Tuan twice a month. ¶2. (SBU) Hung said he did not know what his nephews had done to merit arrest, but acknowledged that the boys used the internet frequently. Hung said he was not aware of other arrests, including that of Lisa Pham, his nephew's fiancee. Police told Hung that investigation was under way, and that Huy and Tuan were awaiting prosecution. Hung said he was informed by police that the boys were suspected of having "propagandized against the government." (Comment: If true, this could indicate that police are downgrading the charges against the pair from sedition to a milder charge. End Comment.) WINNICK