Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HOCHIMINHCITY26
2007-01-08 10:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Cable title:
UBCV PATRIARCH "PREVENTED" FROM TRAVELING TO HCMC
how-toVZCZCXRO1707 RR RUEHDT RUEHPB DE RUEHHM #0026 0081002 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 081002Z JAN 07 FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1960 INFO RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 1431 RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0027 RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 2122
UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000026
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV KIRF PREF VM
SUBJECT: UBCV PATRIARCH "PREVENTED" FROM TRAVELING TO HCMC
REF: 06 HCMC 1115
UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000026
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV KIRF PREF VM
SUBJECT: UBCV PATRIARCH "PREVENTED" FROM TRAVELING TO HCMC
REF: 06 HCMC 1115
1. (U) On January 4, the International Buddhist Information
Bureau (IBIB),the Paris-based mouthpiece for the Unified
Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) announced that UBCV
Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang was prevented from returning to
HCMC for a medical check up. Thich Huyen Quang returned to
Binh Dinh province in Central Vietnam in mid-November from
HCMC after spending over six weeks hospitalized for medical
treatment (reftel). A Ministry of Foreign Affairs
spokesman denied the IBIB allegation.
2. (SBU) On January 5, we spoke with UBCV contacts in HCMC
and Binh Dinh province, who noted that GVN authorities did
not specifically prohibit the Patriarch from traveling, but
stated in several meetings with Thich Huyen Quang that he
"should not" travel to HCMC. The officials argued that his
medical condition is stable and can be treated adequately
locally. The officials reportedly added that his travel
would not be "convenient" for security reasons. The UBCV
confirmed that the Binh Dinh hospital has sent doctors to
check up on the Patriarch "for time to time."
3. (SBU) Based on this implicit warning that there could be
a confrontation should he decide to travel, Thich Huyen
Quang decided to forgo a return to HCMC for the present
time. That said, he plans to seek to travel to HCMC in
late February after Tet (the Lunar New Year). According to
Thich Huyen Quang's assistant in Binh Dinh, the patriarch's
health is stable and he continues to follow the treatment
regimen prescribed by a private HCMC hospital.
4. (SBU) Comment: Quang and the UBCV used his six-week
stay in HCMC in 2006 to test the limits of GVN control of
the UBCV. Quang held a series of bedside meetings, not
just with UBCV General Secretary Thich Quang Do and other
senior UBCV leaders, but also with prominent political
dissidents such as Democratic Party of Vietnam Deputy
General Secretary Tran Khue. It is not surprising,
therefore, that the GVN would seek to prevent the UBCV from
"making routine" such visits. However, were Quang's health
to deteriorate again, the GVN almost certainly would
facilitate the patriarch's travel to HCMC for treatment.
End Comment.
WINNICK
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV KIRF PREF VM
SUBJECT: UBCV PATRIARCH "PREVENTED" FROM TRAVELING TO HCMC
REF: 06 HCMC 1115
1. (U) On January 4, the International Buddhist Information
Bureau (IBIB),the Paris-based mouthpiece for the Unified
Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) announced that UBCV
Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang was prevented from returning to
HCMC for a medical check up. Thich Huyen Quang returned to
Binh Dinh province in Central Vietnam in mid-November from
HCMC after spending over six weeks hospitalized for medical
treatment (reftel). A Ministry of Foreign Affairs
spokesman denied the IBIB allegation.
2. (SBU) On January 5, we spoke with UBCV contacts in HCMC
and Binh Dinh province, who noted that GVN authorities did
not specifically prohibit the Patriarch from traveling, but
stated in several meetings with Thich Huyen Quang that he
"should not" travel to HCMC. The officials argued that his
medical condition is stable and can be treated adequately
locally. The officials reportedly added that his travel
would not be "convenient" for security reasons. The UBCV
confirmed that the Binh Dinh hospital has sent doctors to
check up on the Patriarch "for time to time."
3. (SBU) Based on this implicit warning that there could be
a confrontation should he decide to travel, Thich Huyen
Quang decided to forgo a return to HCMC for the present
time. That said, he plans to seek to travel to HCMC in
late February after Tet (the Lunar New Year). According to
Thich Huyen Quang's assistant in Binh Dinh, the patriarch's
health is stable and he continues to follow the treatment
regimen prescribed by a private HCMC hospital.
4. (SBU) Comment: Quang and the UBCV used his six-week
stay in HCMC in 2006 to test the limits of GVN control of
the UBCV. Quang held a series of bedside meetings, not
just with UBCV General Secretary Thich Quang Do and other
senior UBCV leaders, but also with prominent political
dissidents such as Democratic Party of Vietnam Deputy
General Secretary Tran Khue. It is not surprising,
therefore, that the GVN would seek to prevent the UBCV from
"making routine" such visits. However, were Quang's health
to deteriorate again, the GVN almost certainly would
facilitate the patriarch's travel to HCMC for treatment.
End Comment.
WINNICK