DO NAM HAI: LAST OF THE 8406 BLOC DISSIDENTS?

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HO CHI MINH CITY 000224

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV KIRF PREF VM
SUBJECT: DO NAM HAI: LAST OF THE 8406 BLOC DISSIDENTS?

REF: HCMC 206; B) HCMC 1361 AND PREVIOUS

HO CHI MIN 00000224 001.2 OF 003



1. Summary: Do Nam Hai, co-founder of the dissident 8406
Bloc (which calls for peaceful political change in
Vietnam),told us that he has been under de facto house
arrest since about the time police intensified their
actions against 8406 co-leader Father Nguyen Van Ly in Hue.
Hai has no intention of leaving Vietnam despite police
hints that he should do so or face arrest. Separately,
Nguyen Chinh Ket, an 8406 member now visiting Norway, told
us that he plans to return to Vietnam this summer after
touring the United States and Europe to promote human
rights. Ket confirmed Internet reports that the police
have issued a warrant for his arrest. Like Hai, Ket is
prepared to face prosecution. GVN authorities are closely
monitoring the activities of the dissidents inside Vietnam
and overseas. Anti-terrorism police complained to HCMC RSO
that the Consulate continues to associate with
"terrorists." End Summary.

The Last "Free" 8406 Bloc Member in Vietnam
--------------


2. (SBU) Following police action to confine co-founder of
the "8406 Bloc" Father Nguyen Dan Ly in Hue and the arrest
of lawyer Nguyen Van Dai in Hanoi, we checked up on the
author of the 8406 Bloc democracy manifesto, HCMC-based Do
Nam Hai. (The 8406 Bloc was founded in April 2006 by Ly
and Hai. The Bloc and associated organizations such as the
"Alliance for Democracy," brought together dissidents
throughout Vietnam under a platform calling for elimination
of one-party rule in Vietnam.) Hai reports that the level
of police surveillance against him has increased
considerably over the past month placing him under de facto
house arrest. Four to six policemen are routinely
stationed around his home. When he leaves his house, he
often is picked up by police, who hold him all day and
question him on the cases of 8406 Bloc and other activists
that have been arrested in HCMC. Hai said that he refuses
to answer any police questions during these interrogation
sessions. On March 9, a police colonel came to his house
and told him that he will face "strong measures like in Hue
and Hanoi" if he does not cease his 8406 activities.


3. (SBU) Hai said that police also questioned him about
whether he wished to leave Vietnam. Hai said that he told
police that he is a loyal Vietnamese citizen and has no
intention to leave despite the threat of prosecution. Hai
noted that he last spoke with Father Ly over the phone
immediately before the Lunar New Year holiday in late
February. He would not discuss the content of that
conversation over the phone.

One on the Outside
--------------


4. (SBU) Hai said that he could not confirm, but did not
doubt the authenticity of overseas Vietnamese website
reports that police have issued an arrest warrant for 8406
Bloc member Nguyen Chinh Ket. In December 2006, Ket was
issued a visa to travel to the United States to receive a
human rights award from a California-based group.
(Following MPS efforts to block Ket from applying for a
routine visa, ConGen facilitated an interview and visa
through Post's visa referral system.) Ket reported that
police also sought to prevent him from departing Vietnam.
We understand that Ket eventually snuck out of the country
overland.


5. (SBU) On March 9, Nguyen Chinh Ket reported to us via
email that he departed the United States on March 3 and now
is in Norway. Ket said he will meet with representatives
of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, Norway's
Labor and Conservative Parties, the Nobel Institute and the
Nobel Peace Center, the Mayor of Oslo, the Rafto Foundation
and the Norwegian MFA. Ket stated that he will hold
similar meetings in Belgium, Germany, France, Denmark,
Canada, and Australia. He confirmed that, on March 5,
police delivered an arrest warrant for four months
investigative detention to his home. Nonetheless, he
intends to return to Vietnam in June after his
international trip.

HCMC Police: "They Are Terrorists"
--------------


6. (SBU) In a March 6 meeting, HCMC anti-terrorist police
raised the case of Ket and another 8406 Bloc activist, Tran
Quoc Hien, with HCMC RSO. The police said that on February
13, Ministry of Public Security (MPS) "contacts" reported

HO CHI MIN 00000224 002.2 OF 003


that Hien conducted prohibited activities during APEC and
had a plan to "target the President Bush visit." The anti-
terrorist police said that Hien was charged with disturbing
social security in accordance with Article 89, Vietnamese
Criminal Code (which governs illegal migration in and out
of Vietnam). (Note: During the visit of President Bush to
HCMC, police prevented dissidents from contacting the
international press pool covering the visit. End Note.)


7. (SBU) The anti-terrorist police called Nguyen Chinh Ket
"an accomplice" of Hien. They reported that on December 6,
Ket left Vietnam "illegally" for Cambodia and entered the
U.S. on December 20. The MPS officials complained that
ConGen issued a visa for Ket "without an interview." They
expressed concern that Ket now had more opportunities to
carry out prohibited activities against the Vietnamese
government in the United States. They requested an
explanation as to how and why Ket received a visa.


8. (SBU) The anti-terrorism officials also told RSO that
the MPS has information that Hien and Ket "are supported by
a number of politicians in the United States, who do not
have appropriate information about these two individuals."
They requested that "in the spirit of enhancing our
cooperative relationship," ConGen ask U.S. politicians not
to support "terrorist activities against the Vietnamese
government." They also asserted that ConGen coordinate
with the anti-terrorism office in dealing with dissidents.
RSO stressed that we do not consider peaceful speech to be
terrorism and added that, unless and until MPS provides
evidence to the contrary, all our available information
indicates that Ket, Hien and other political dissidents are
only exercising free speech.


9. (SBU) Comment: Do Nam Hai is the intellectual backbone
of the 8406 Bloc. He is the last unincarcerated Bloc
member in Vietnam (see complete list of dissidents under
detention in HCMC Consular District below),although he
clearly is feeling the heat. The level of detail that the
MPS provided RSO about Ket's movements -- including
knowledge of his correct date of entry into the United
States -- demonstrates how carefully the GVN tracks and
pursues political dissidents, even overseas. End Comment.


10. (SBU) List of democracy activists in HCMC Consular
District reportedly under arrest, detention (based on
information available as of March 8, 2006):

8406 Bloc
--------------

Nguyen Van Ly: under strict house arrest outside Hue as of
February 24. Prosecution pending.

Nguyen Ngoc Quang: Quang detained in Hue after meeting
with Father Ly on September 2, 2006.

Vu Hoang Hai: Arrested in HCMC on September 5, 2006.

Pham Ba Hai: Arrested in Thai Binh province in early
September. Reportedly transferred back to HCMC.

Truong Quoc Huy: Arrested August 18 at an Internet caf, in
HCMC while listening on the PalTalk internet forum.

Tran Quoc Hien: Arrested January 12, 2007 in HCMC. Also
"spokesman" of the United Workers/Farmers Organization of
Vietnam.

Democratic Party of Vietnam
--------------

Bui Kim Thanh: Involuntarily committed to the Dong Nai
mental institution since November 2, 2006.

People's Democratic Party of Vietnam (PDP-VN)
--------------

Le Trung Hieu: Arrested in An Giang province, date
unknown.

Huynh Nguyen Dao: aka Huynh Viet Lang, arrested August 15,
2006

Le Nguyen Sang: aka Nguyen Hoang Long, arrested on August
14, 2006. Charged with "storage of anti-government
materials."

Workers/Farmers Union (affiliated with the PDP-VN)

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-------------- --------------

Nguyen Tuan: Arrested in HCMC November 18, 2006.

Hoang Huy Chuong: aka Doan Huy Chuong, detained in Tan Phu
district, HCMC on November 14.

Doan Van Dien: Father of Hoang Huy Chuong. Dien also was
arrested on November 14 in Dong Nai province. Charged with
"propagandizing against the government."

Nguyen Tan Hoanh: Arrested in Dong Nai province on
November 15, 2006.

Tran Thi Le Hang: Arrested in Dong Nai province on
November 15, 2006.

Le Van Sy: Arrested November 15, 2006.

Nguyen Thi Tuyet: Arrested in HCMC November 15, 2006.

Le Ba Triet: Arrested in HCMC November 18, 2006.
WINNICK