EMBASSY REQUESTS PERMISSION TO VISIT FOR SPOUSE OF JAILED

UNCLAS HANOI 000273 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL VM SUBJECT: EMBASSY REQUESTS PERMISSION TO VISIT FOR SPOUSE OF JAILED AMCIT DISSIDENT NGUYEN QUOC QUAN ¶1. (SBU) Foreign Minister Dao Viet Trung told visiting Assistant Secretary Christopher Hill in their March 3 meeting (septel) that SIPDIS the ministry is prepared to assist in facilitating a visit by Ms. Huong Mai Ngo to her husband, imprisoned Amcit dissident Nguyen Quoc Quan. Following up on this offer, the Embassy has submitted a diplomatic note requesting that Ms. Ngo be allowed to visit her husband on humanitarian grounds. Full text of diplomatic note is in para 3. ¶2. (SBU) Nguyen Quoc Quan, who was jailed in November 2007, is still "under investigation" and has yet to be charged. Normally individuals whose cases are at this stage in the Vietnamese legal process, which can last for several months, cannot have any visitors. MFA clarified with us today that while it will try to be helpful, permission for Ms. Ngo to visit would have to be granted by the Ministry of Public Security and this could not be guaranteed. ¶3. (SBU) Begin text of diplomatic note: The Embassy of the United States of America in Hanoi presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and has the honor to note the statement by Vice Foreign Minister Dao Viet Trung to Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill in their March 3 meeting that the Ministry is prepared to help facilitate the request by American citizen Ms. Huong Mai Ngo to visit her American citizen husband, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Quan, who is in custody in Vietnam. The Embassy welcomes the Ministry's offer to assist in this matter and requests that Ms. Huong Mai Ngo be granted permission to visit her husband on humanitarian grounds. The Embassy point of contact for this matter is Political Counselor Brian Aggeler, who can be reached at (04) 850 5119, fax: (04) 850 5098 and email: AggelerBC@state.gov. The Embassy of the United States of America in Hanoi avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam the assurances of its highest consideration. End Text. ¶4. (U) This cable was coordinated with ConGen HCMC. MICHALAK