USCIRF IN HCMC: MEETING THE SECV

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HO CHI MINH CITY 001232 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF, DRL/AWH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KIRF VM SUBJECT: USCIRF IN HCMC: MEETING THE SECV HO CHI MIN 00001232 001.2 OF 002 Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) USCIRF Commissioners Cromartie, Bansal, Argue, Gaer and Eid and staffers Dettoni and Flipse met with the Southern Evangelical Church of Vietnam (SECV) leaders Pastor Ngo Van Buu (Vice President),Pastor Phan Quang Thieu (Senior Pastor) and Pastor Nguyen Vinh Cu (Treasurer General) on October 25. Pastor Buu told USCIRF delegation that since the law on religion was passed in Vietnam, the SECV has "freedom with limitations" and noted nationwide implementation of the ordinance has been uneven in their experience. The SECV steered clear of controversy in answering the Commission's questions on political issues, and shared few specifics on reports of alleged violence against SECV pastors and followers. End summary. SECV Reports Freedom With Limits -------------- ¶2. (SBU) As with all denominations, SECV ordination and transfers of pastors requires prior GVN approval, which is not always granted. The SECV has had more success with training pastors in recent years, with several seminary courses taking place in HCMC and the provinces. However, the long training dry spell before 2004 means it will take time to train enough pastors to lead their burgeoning congregations. In the provinces, Pastor Buu said that conditions have improved for their congregations in the Central Highlands, especially in Gia Lai, where the SECV President recently attend a church opening and the ordination of a new pastor. In Dak Lak, Pastor Buu said things were "more difficult." When USCIRF asked whether the GVN requests names of believers for SECV congregations and whether those followers are then harassed by local authorities, Pastor Thieu said the GVN does conduct checks to verify whether names on SECV's lists are really SECV followers, but did not cite any specific incidents of harassment. On the issue of confiscated property, the SECV said the Prime Minister has yet to fulfill the "empty promises" he made regarding the SECV's petition to resolve the status of 265 closed churches. Politics Vs. Religion -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Commissioner Bansal said during meetings with GVN authorities in Hanoi, the delegation had been told there is a line between religious and political activities which religious groups should not cross. She asked how the SECV interpreted this distinction and whether it limited their activities. Pastor Thieu said it was often hard to separate religious from political activities in Vietnam, but that as a religious organization working here, they must follow rules. Pastor Thieu added that some of the limitations imposed by the GVN result from "misunderstandings" born of prejudice against Protestantism's "foreign origins" and an inherent suspicion regarding the work of foreign missionaries. Reports Unconfirmed -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Commissioner Gaer asked if the pastors could confirm reports about a young SECV follower who had allegedly been beaten to death in Phu Yen province. Pastor Cu said he had heard about the incident, but he did not have any details. Pastor Cu said he had heard about the beating of a pastor in Tra Vinh province in January, but as his assailants were not in uniform, they didn't know if they were GVN police or private citizens. Pastor Ngo said local authorities thought the assailants might be anti-Christian Khmer Buddhists, who are the majority ethnic group in Tra Vinh. ¶5. (SBU) Post has since met with the SECV pastor from Tra Vinh, who affirmed he and several of his followers were beaten by Khmer residents in January and again on November 15. Post has not been able to confirm local authorities' role in the incidents, but notes that stories of vigilante-style violence meted out against individuals are commonly reported in the press and are not unique to religious organizations or leaders. The SECV has asked Tra Vinh provincial authorities to investigate the incident and provide a report of their findings before they meet with the Hanoi Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) on December 12. Post will report developments septel. Comment -------------- ¶5. (SBU) USCIRF delegates repeatedly asked for specific examples of limitations, harassment and pressure facing SECV congregations, as well as several questions soliciting opinions on whether the SECV views their religious activities as being inherently political. The SECV's replies were often general and vague, perhaps reflecting their focus on spiritual issues but more likely revealing their general reluctance to discuss SECV-GVN relations in great detail. Meetings with other provincial SECV leaders reported septel. End comment. HO CHI MIN 00001232 002.2 OF 002 ¶6. (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassy Hanoi. FAIRFAX