USG INTEREST TO ADMIT PHAN VAN BAN UNDER SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC

UNCLAS HANOI 001143 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV VM SUBJECT: USG INTEREST TO ADMIT PHAN VAN BAN UNDER SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC BENEFIT PAROLE ¶1. (SBU) I, Jonathan M. Aloisi, Charge d'Affaires, attest to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services that Mr. Phan Van Ban, designated a "prisoner of concern" by the U.S. Department of State, should be admitted to the United States under Significant Public Benefit Parole as quickly as possible. There is a clear U.S. Government interest and a need to admit Mr. Ban to the United States. ¶2. (SBU) After more than two years of effort by the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and the Department of State, the Government of Vietnam agreed to release Phan Van Ban after serving 22 years in prison for peaceful political activism. The condition of Mr. Ban's release set by the GVN was that he would immediately depart Vietnam in order to be processed in Bangkok for eventual travel to the United States. Mr. Ban is in Thailand on a temporary visa that expires on July 6, ¶2007. Should the United States refuse to admit him, it could result in his deportation back to Vietnam, which would not accept him. ¶3. (SBU) Failure to resolve Mr. Phan's predicament could pose a serious blow to U.S. Government efforts to improve the human rights situation in Vietnam and could be a blow to our bilateral relationship. ¶4. (SBU) Providing for entry into the United States through Significant Public Benefit Parole will allow the United States Government to bring to a close this important human rights case, while allowing Mr. Phan to reunite with his family. ALOISI