AMBASSADOR, HANOI ARCHBISHOP DISCUSS CHURCH LAND DISPUTES,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001120 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF, DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM KIRF PREL PGOV VM SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR, HANOI ARCHBISHOP DISCUSS CHURCH LAND DISPUTES, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, VATICAN RELATIONS Ref: A) Hanoi 1093, B) Hanoi 1086, C) Hanoi 1007 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Meeting the Ambassador September 30, Hanoi Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet noted improvements in the Church's ability to recruit seminary students and assign priests, but voiced dismay over ongoing land disputes. The Ambassador assured the Archbishop of active U.S. support for human rights and religious freedom, noting that he had personally urged the authorities to resolve the disputes equitably. The Archbishop thanked the Embassy for its repeated visits to the disputed sites; however, he expressed disappointment that the United States had publicly cited improvements in Vietnam's record on religious freedom. The Archbishop remarked that while annual discussions between Vietnam and the Vatican continued, progress toward normalization of relations remained slow. He said that the Hanoi land disputes were "not serious enough" to merit interference from the Vatican. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) On September 30, the Ambassador called on the increasingly embattled Archbishop of Hanoi. The Chairman of the Hanoi People's Council Chairman's public comments calling the Archbishop a "troublemaker" were widely reported in the Vietnamese press and the Archbishop's website and access to internet have been blocked intermittently since tensions over the land in downtown Hanoi which formerly housed the residence of the Papul Nuncio escalated (ref A). CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS, BUT LIMITS ON SOCIAL OUTREACH -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Archbishop Kiet affirmed that, overall, the Catholic Church continues to enjoy greater freedom to conduct its activities and to reach out to parishioners. As evidence, the Archbishop cited the fact that Catholic seminaries are now able to recruit students annually and that the Church is able to assign priests with less government interference. He said that the Church was also increasingly able to contact Catholics in remote highland areas. The Archbishop noted, however, that the Church continues to encounter difficulties in its health care and educational initiatives, explaining that nuns and members of the lay community must contend with the same corruption and state control that other independent groups face. Describing his August trip to Orange County, the Archbishop said that he views the move to create a "sister diocese" relationship as contributing to bilateral relations in much the same way as business relationships and sporting exchanges help to build people-to-people ties. VEXED OVER THAI HA, PAPAL NUNCIATE -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Archbishop Joseph expressed frustration over recent events at Thai Ha parish and the former residence of the Papal Nuncio. He emphasized that the demonstrations and prayer vigils at the two sites had been peaceful and respectful, but that the government had forced a confrontation with its sudden decision to turn the properties into public parks. The Archbishop cited the beating of an AP correspondent (ref. B) and the arrest of several Thai Ha parishioners (ref. C) as particularly egregious examples of the government's lack of respect for human rights. Speculating on what he described as an intra-Party dispute between reformers and hardliners, the Archbishop noted that the fairly progressive officials with whom he thought he had brokered a compromise earlier this year were no longer in contact with him. ¶5. (SBU) Asked for his views on how the dispute might end, the Archbishop said that the Church had repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to compromise. The fact the Church was only disputing a handful of the 95 Church properties in Hanoi confiscated by the government in the 1950s and 1960s was itself a major concession, the Archbishop insisted. He emphasized that the Church had made a principled decision not to contest property that was being used for the people's benefit, such as land that had been turned into hospitals or schools. What was "unreasonable" was when property was used for speculative or profane purposes. Using atypically emotional language, the normally placid Archbishop described as "insulting" plans first put forward at the end of 2007 to turn the Papal Nuncio's former residence into an entertainment center featuring a disco and karaoke. ¶6. (SBU) The United States has encouraged the GVN to allow individuals with differing views to express their opinions peacefully, the Ambassador emphasized, stressing that U.S. officials would continue to meet with people throughout society to get a full understanding of developments within Vietnam. Archbishop Joseph said that priests and parishioners alike appreciated recent visits by the U.S. Embassy to Thai Ha and the Papal Nunciate. Referring to remarks made at the Septebmer 19 release of the IRF, he voiced disappointment, however, over public statements by the State HANOI 00001120 002 OF 002 Department noting progress in expanding religious freedom. The Ambassador responded that the United States has consistently pressed Vietnam to expand religious freedom and to allow greater political and media freedom. While the United States takes no position on the complicated legal and historical issues involved in the Church's land disputes, the Ambassador had personally called on the government to find a mechanism to resolve its differences with the Church peacefully, fairly, and within the law. VATICAN RELATIONS -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Archbishop Joseph said that the Vatican had not weighed in specifically on the land disputes, acknowledging that this was "not serious enough" to merit direct intercession. He affirmed that Vietnam and the Vatican continue to hold annual discussions, as they have for the past decade and a half. Unfortunately, despite positive signals from PM Dung after his meeting with the Pope two years ago, progress was incremental and the prospects for normalizing relations remained distant. ¶8. (SBU) Comment: In addition to meeting with the Archbishop, the Embassy has emphasized the need to find a transparent and equitable solution to land disputes throughout Vietnam and noted the negative impact on Vietnam's image of the GVN's failure to tolerate peaceful protest in meetings over the last two weeks with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, the Committee on Religious Affairs and the Office of Government. End Comment.