AMBASSADOR RAISES AMCIT ARREST CASES WITH VICE MINISTER OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001994 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/AWH, CA/OCS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV CASC CMGT VM SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES AMCIT ARREST CASES WITH VICE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SECURITY REF: HANOI 1969 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On November 27, the Ambassador met with Vice Minister for Public Security Nguyen Van Huong to reiterate requests for consular access to arrested U.S. citizens Mr. Leon Truong, Ms. Le Helen, and Mr. Le Van Phan, and to inquire about the whereabouts of U.S. citizen Nguyen Quoc Quan. VM Huong stated that MPS is ready to grant access to the three arrested U.S. citizens, but could not immediately confirm when. While stating that the GVN has no knowledge of nor has it detained anyone named Nguyen Quan Quoc, VM Huong provided a Cambodian ID card of Mr. Ly Seng who entered Vietnam illegally and is in police custody. VM Huong indicated that consular access would also be granted to Ms. Le Helen and Mr. Le Van Phan, arrested for attempting to enter Vietnam with a loaded weapon in their checked baggage. VM Huong maintained that Viet Tan is a terrorist organization and that all arrested are connected with the group. The Ambassador said the U.S. does not consider Viet Tan to be a terrorist organization; reiterated that these people appear to have been peacefully expressing their political views and that the United States protested their arrest and called for their immediate release. VM Huong said he could not accede to the request for immediate release. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Vice Minister of Public Security Nguyen Van Huong called the meeting in response to the Ambassador's letter to him (reftel) regarding the arrests of U.S. citizens in HCMC. After providing a lengthy statement on the history and goals of Viet Tan organization, he concluded that, while the Viet Tan may no longer use violent means, it is still listed as a terrorist organization by the GVN and it advocates the overthrow of the GVN. The Ambassador respectfully disagreed, reiterating that the U.S. government rejects the allegation that the Viet Tan is a terrorist organization, pointing out that Viet Tan explicitly advocates only peaceful means to promote political change in Vietnam. VM Huong handed over a number of documents to make his case, which the Embassy will translate and review. VM Huong asked the Ambassador to reiterate with Washington and the Vietnamese-American community in the United States that, even though the United States and Vietnam do not see eye to eye on this issue, persons entering Vietnam to advocate for the overthrow of the current government change are breaking Vietnamese law and will be arrested. The Ambassador said we would review the documents but that our view was that Viet Tan is not a terrorist organization; that these people were peacefully expressing their political views and the United States protested their arrest and called for their immediate release. VM Huong said that he could not agree to that request. ¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador focused the conversation on the issue of consular access to Mr. Truong, reminding VM Huong of the bilateral agreement to provide such access within 48 hours. Huong stated that MPS is ready to grant access and will ask the MFA to provide Mission Vietnam with a dipnote to that affect. He confirmed that Mr. Truong is being charged with terrorism under Article 84 of the Criminal Code. When Mr. Truong was arrested, he was printing documents explaining how to organize and protest against the GVN. VM Huong provided Mr. Truong's written confession (in Vietnamese). ¶4. (SBU) The Ambassador requested any information the GVN might have on Mr. Nguyen Quan Quoc, who was reported by U.S. sources to have also been arrested on November 17. VM Huong reiterated that MPS has reviewed its records and has no knowledge of anyone by that name being held in detention. VM Huong then passed a photocopy of a Cambodian ID card with the name "Ly Seng". He stated that Mr. Seng had been arrested on the Cambodian border for entering Vietnam illegally and asked for U.S. help in determining whether Mr. Ly Seng might actually be Mr. Nguyen Quan Quoc. The Ambassador agreed to check our records and provide a response. Note: Post has compared the photo on the Cambodian ID and the U.S. passport photo for Mr. Nguyen Quan Quoc and they appear to be the same person. End Note. ¶5. (SBU) The Ambassador also requested consular access to U.S. citizens Ms. Le Helen and Mr. Le Van Phan, arrested on November 23 for attempting to enter Vietnam with a loaded weapon in their checked baggage. VM Huong agreed to facilitate access, but again noted that "the bureaucracy may take time to act." VM Huong stated that the GVN had contacted U.S. anti-terrorism authorities regarding these arrests, as the GVN believes these two persons to be affiliated with the Viet Tan, although he did not provide evidence to support this assertion. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: We are following up on Huong's assurance that consular access to three Amcits in GVN custody will be granted. We now are fairly certain that Mr. Nguyen Quan Quoc is in Vietnamese custody. We will request further information on Mr. Nguyen Quan Quoc (aka Ly Seng) as well as request consular access to Mr. Nguyen as soon as possible. While Vietnam continues to assert that Viet Tan is a "terrorist organization," and we will carefully examine all HANOI 00001994 002 OF 002 documents provided by MPS, we do not expect to find new information regarding the history, aims, or tactics of the group. Mission Vietnam will undertake a consular visit to Mr. Truong, Ms. Le Helen and Mr. Phan as soon as possible and will press for consular access to and more information on Mr. Nguyen Quan Quoc. Michalak