VIETNAM REACTION TO IRF REPORT: INACCURATE BUT POSITIVE

UNCLAS HANOI 001693 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF AND DRL/SEA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KIRF OPRC KPAO VM SUBJECT: VIETNAM REACTION TO IRF REPORT: INACCURATE BUT POSITIVE REF: STATE 128772 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Vietnamese media coverage on the release of the 2007 International Religious Freedom (IRF) report was widespread, accurate and uniformly more positive than in previous years. Following a Mission press release alerting journalists to the report's release, initial stories were straightforward, selectively highlighting positive areas of the report as well as Ambassador Hanford's press briefing on the report's release saying that he was pleased that cooperation with the GVN "led to clear results." In a September 17 press briefing at the GVN Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),following publication of a number of positive stories on the report, MFA spokesman Le Dung summarized the GVN's less positive official reaction. While some media outlets ran follow-on stories about the GVN's "objections" to the report's findings, the coverage illustrated unusual independence on the part of the Vietnamese media in reaching their own conclusions. End Summary MFA: "INACCURATE" REPORT RECOGNIZES "POSITIVE" DEVELOPMENTS -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) In a September 17 briefing to the media, MFA spokesman Le Dung responded to a foreign correspondent's question by characterizing the DOS' Annual IRF Report as lacking in some objectivity and accuracy. He stressed that the GVN maintained an "unswerving policy to respect and ensure citizens' rights to freedom of worship, religion and non-religion." However, he went on to summarize positively the GVN's findings: "Although the annual report prepared by the U.S. Department of State contained some unobjective findings and inaccurate assessments, it has recognized the real and positive developments on religion in Vietnam." ¶3. (U) The MFA official spokesman's remarks were covered on national television. Interestingly, the report was preceded by coverage of a meeting involving a major Protestant organization, the General Confederation of Vietnam United World Mission, which was convening its first general conference in Vietnam and preparing for national recognition of its denomination after its official registration by the GVN. ¶4. (SBU) Overall, Vietnamese media coverage of the 2007 IRF report was extensive, accurate and far more positive than it has been in previous years. The Public Affairs Section sent out a press release on September 14 to alert media outlets to the report's release, and then followed up with transcripts of Ambassador Hanford's remarks and the report itself. Major dailies, as well as online news outlets and the major television channels carried straightforward and accurate stories which frequently included excerpts from the IRF report and quotes from Ambassador Hanford. In particular, a number of prominent outlets carried stories citing Ambassador Hanford's comments that he had visited Vietnam five times and was pleased that cooperation with the GVN "led to clear results." ¶5. (SBU) Several major outlets carried stories which included MFA spokesman Le Dung's quotes on the report, but the coverage remained straightforward, reporting on the MFA response without editorial comment. None of the news organizations ran the harsh, critical commentaries that appeared in reaction to previous years' reports. COMMENT: UNPRECEDENTED POSITIVE REACTION -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The MFA comments on "inaccuracy" and lack of objectivity match comments earlier in the year regarding the annual Trafficking-In-Persons Report. More interesting is the fact that Vietnamese media outlets in general got a jump on the official coverage with more positive stories, and did not allow those subsequent less positive comments change the upbeat tone of coverage. Indeed, the decision of editors throughout the country to run accurate and positive stories on the IRF report without awaiting official government reaction is unprecedented, and their assertions of the GVN's commitment to supporting religious freedom are likely to encourage individuals to assert their rights of faith. MICHALAK