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