POLITICAL PRISONER PHAN VAN BAN CONFIRMS DESIRE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000451

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/MLS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL VM
SUBJECT: POLITICAL PRISONER PHAN VAN BAN CONFIRMS DESIRE
FOR RELEASE TO THE UNITED STATES

REF: A. SECSTATE 27567


B. HANOI 407

HANOI 00000451 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador Michael W. Marine, under E.O. 12958, Reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) In a March 8 meeting with the Ambassador at Nam Ha
Prison in Ha Nam Province, south of Hanoi, prisoner of
conscience Phan Van Ban expressed his desire to reunite with
his family in the United States if released from prison. The
Ambassador passed on a letter to Ban from his son and
discussed his health with him. Ban has several medical
conditions, but these do not appear to affect his ability to
travel. Ban was lucid and alert throughout his meeting with
the Ambassador and did not appear under duress. Cooperation
from the Prison Commander and his deputies was good. The
Ambassador told Ban that, given his desire to go to the
United States, Embassy staff would now proceed with formal
steps with the relevant GVN authorities to bring about his
release and be back in touch with him soon. End Summary.

Ambassador Meets Ban in Nam Ha Prison
--------------


2. (C) On March 8, the Ambassador, accompanied by POLOFF and
FSN interpreter, traveled to Nam Ha Prison in Ba Sao
Township, Ha Nam Province (approximately 85 kilometers
directly south of Hanoi) to visit long-standing political
prisoner Phan Van Ban. The Ambassador held a 30-minute
discussion with Ban, in a large conference room with several
prison officials in attendance, and handed him a one-page
letter from his son in the United States, Phan Van Vinh (aka
"Vinh Phan"). The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) Prison
Commander (Warden) Dzuong Duc Thang and several subordinates
were cordial in receiving the Ambassador and cooperative at
all times in facilitating the meeting. (Surprisingly, prison
officials did not request to preview the letter Ban received
from his son.) The Commander expressed their honor in
hosting the Ambassador. After asking permission from the
Ambassador, several prison officials videotaped and
photographed the entire proceeding. Ban did not appear under
duress in speaking and answering questions. (Note: This
meeting was arranged pursuant to a request of Secretary Rice
to Vietnamese leaders that the Ambassador be permitted to
visit Ban to check on his health condition. The GVN allowed
the visit after deciding that it was ready to release Ban on
the condition that he leave Vietnam for the United States.
The main objective of the Ambassador's call thus became to
determine whether Ban was willing to leave. End Note.)

Introductory Discussion with MPS Prison Commander
-------------- --------------


3. (C) Before Ban was brought into the room, Prison Commander
Thang told the Ambassador that Nam Ha prison was a large
facility with a total of 500 staff. (Note. Accompanying FSN
Interpreter had been to this prison two years prior with U.S.
Senator Brownback visiting Catholic priest and political
dissident Nguyen Van Ly and also in 1995 visiting an AmCit
prisoner. On both occasions, the atmosphere was tense. End
note.) Upon question, Thang told the Ambassador that he was
"not sure" if prisoner Ban was aware of discussions with the
USG about this potential release and travel to the United
States. He also could not tell us what he thought Ban's
"aspirations" were. According to Thang, Ban is 70 years old
and has been incarcerated for 22 years, during which he has
been "frequently visited" by relatives. Thang said that Ban
"had not been a good prisoner" in the past but that "in
recent years" he had come to an understanding of his
violations of the law and had "become a good prisoner."
Thang told us that Ban had "old age-related" health problems
and some "digestive problems."

Discussion between Ambassador and Phan Van Ban
-------------- -


4. (C) The Ambassador told Ban that he was at the prison on
behalf of his son, Phan Van Vinh, who had been working for
several years with the USG to obtain his release. According
to Ban, he has not had any contact with his son. The
Ambassador presented to Ban his son's letter, which Ban read
intently. The Ambassador asked Ban if he were willing to go
to the United States to live with his son if the USG could
arrange it. Ban hesitated a minute and then responded that
to reunite with his wife, Huynh Thi Lanh, and his son in the

HANOI 00000451 002.2 OF 002


United States would be the "most sacred and happiest thing"
he could think about. He told the Ambassador that he is
ready to go to the United States and thanked the USG, the
U.S. Embassy and the Ambassador for the concerted effort and
attention to his case.


5. (C) The Ambassador explained that further formal steps
would now need to be taken, involving cooperation from the
GVN and prison authorities, but that he hoped these steps
could be taken quickly. The Ambassador also expressed hope
that the prison staff would keep Ban appraised of
developments and told Ban that Embassy staff would be in
touch with him again soon, hopefully next week. The
Ambassador asked Ban if he had any message for his wife and
son. Ban said "of course, please tell them I am very happy
to be sponsored by them. This is great. I look forward to
seeing them and send my best regards and wishes." Ban went
on to state that he was "very moved" by the attention of the
Embassy and Ambassador Marine to his case and the possibility
of reuniting with his family in the United States.


6. (SBU) In response to the Ambassador's question, Ban said
he shares a cell with another prisoner. He has no
possessions at the prison to take to the United States. He
has few clothes and needs clothes and shoes.


7. (C) After the meeting concluded, Prison Commander Thang
thanked the Ambassador for his visit and told the Ambassador
"well, now you see with your own eyes prisoner Ban's
aspirations." He told the Ambassador that he would have to
work with national-level authorities in order for him to get
his orders toward any possible release. The Ambassador told
Thang that he fully understood the need for formalities and
that he would be meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Khiem
during his previously scheduled March 9 meeting.

Ban's Medical Condition
--------------


8. (C) Ban told the Ambassador that due to his age he has "a
lot of" health problems and some "bad conditions." He
specified to us: heart disease, kidney problems, asthma,
rheumatism and some difficulties with urination. He also
told us that he is slightly hard of hearing so we spoke in an
elevated voice to him, which was sufficient for his
comprehension. According to Ban, he receives "injections"
from the prison doctor every two weeks; however, last week
they started giving him "daily injections." It was not made
clear to us what kind of medication these injections are.
The Prison Commander pledged to provide documentation from
the prison doctor on Ban's full health condition and
medications upon release.
MARINE