AMBASSADOR MICHALAK'S FIRST WEBCHAT DRAWS A MAJOR RESPONSE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 002006 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/PD, EAP/P E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL PREL PGOV PHUM VM SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MICHALAK'S FIRST WEBCHAT DRAWS A MAJOR RESPONSE AND GENERATES SOME EDITORIAL ANXIETY ¶1. (U) Summary: On November 20 - Vietnam's National Teacher's Day - Ambassador Michalak participated in his first online webchat with VietnamNet Online, Vietnam's most widely read and influential online news outlet. The almost two hour interview was carried live by video and audio stream on the site, with the Ambassador fielding dozens of questions, primarily on the day's theme of education. But the interview also included a lengthy exchange on human rights and Vietnam's expansion of civil freedoms and, as has been the case in previous online interviews with American officials, the streaming video was unedited and available on the website for several days after the interview. In addition, the unedited tape will be shown on VietnamNet's cable channel in the coming week. While frank comments by the Ambassador on limitations to freedoms here remain on the web, VietnamNet cut from the final posted transcript the Ambassador's comment that "I think there are many people who would like to see multi-party elections in Vietnam tomorrow, but I don't think that's going to happen." This reinforces the message that while press freedoms are finding room to grow, some boundaries remain. End summary. AMBASSADOR MICHALAK'S ONLINE DEBUT -------------- ¶2. (U) Ambassador Michalak participated in his first online webchat with VietnamNet on November 20 - Vietnam's National Teacher's Day. This online news outlet is Vietnam's most widely read and influential news outlet, averaging 50 million hits per day. Hundreds of questions were submitted by audience members for the Ambassador's consideration, many on the day's theme of education. The video of the full 100 minute interview was carried live on their website and announcement of the event and a photo of the Ambassador was the prominent headliner on their landing page. PAS staff members were able to review incoming questions and ensure they were unfiltered. ¶3. (U) Ambassador Michalak fielded dozens of questions on education, highlighting U.S. efforts to assist Vietnam in developing its ailing educational system, as well as encouraging Vietnamese students to consider studying in the United States, and demystifying the visa application process. In addition, there were queries on the evolution of the bilateral relationship, globalization, and economic growth. However, Editor in Chief Nguyen Anh Tuan, who was conducting the interview, seemed midway through the interview to move from asking readers' questions to pursuing his own train of inquiry and a lengthy discussion of human rights ensued. ONE LINE TOO MANY -------------- ¶4. (U) Editor in Chief Tuan, a graduate of Harvard's Kennedy School and the recipient of a grant this year from that school, posed a number of questions on Vietnam's progress on human rights. He suggested that Vietnam needed to move "step by step" on these freedoms, rather than simply making changes other countries wanted. He observed that blogs were becoming increasingly popular and that people felt they had access to information and could "discuss politics in the tea shop" and didn't care about the issue of freedoms of speech and association. "Well, if they don't care about it," responded Ambassador Michalak, "then there's no harm in making it totally free." ¶5. (U) An hour after the interview, Editor Tuan contacted PAS to say they wished to cut one line from the final transcript of the webchat to be carried on the site. The Ambassador had been asked if Vietnam shouldn't be allowed to address issues of human rights gradually rather than having to immediately comply with U.S. and other countries' criteria. The Ambassador responded, "I think there are many people who would like to see multi-party elections in Vietnam tomorrow, but I don't think that's going to happen." This line was cut. ¶6. (U) Shortly thereafter, Tuan's staff sent an email saying they'd also like to cut the two lines that followed in which the Ambassador went on to talk about the detention of several individuals for peacefully expressing political opinions. "That's why we have joined with other countries in calling for the release of Father Ly and other people who are in prison for what we believe is expression of their own political views," was the quote. When PAS protested this extensive chop, Tuan relented and left those lines in the final version, which remains available on the web site and has received over 100,000 hits since the webchat. The fully unedited version if also available on the Embassy website which receives thousands of page hits each day. ¶7. (SBU) Comment: We are very pleased by the fact that the Ambassador's straightforward exchange remains on one of Vietnam's most-visited sites. We hope for a repeat: in speaking with the Ambassador after the cameras were off after the interview, Editor Tuan said he looked forward to continuing the conversation on human HANOI 00002006 002 OF 002 rights with the Ambassador, one with which he was clearly seized. But, he also reminded the Ambassador, some limits remain. The one sentence ultimately removed, which deals with multi-party elections, crosses one of the current red lines. Still, the dialogue on issues like human rights is more vibrant on Vietnam's internet than on any other form of media. Michalak