Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09HANOI931
2009-12-29 09:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:
War hero/dissident sentenced to 5.5 years; Le Cong Dinh
how-toVZCZCXRO6996 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHHI #0931 3630956 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O R 290956Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0659 INFO ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RHMCSUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0051 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 0320 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L HANOI 000931
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/29
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL VM
SUBJECT: War hero/dissident sentenced to 5.5 years; Le Cong Dinh
trial date set
REF: A) HCMC 673; B) HANOI 663; C) HCMC 473
CLASSIFIED BY: Mike Goldman, Acting Political Chief; REASON: 1.4(B),
(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L HANOI 000931
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/29
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL VM
SUBJECT: War hero/dissident sentenced to 5.5 years; Le Cong Dinh
trial date set
REF: A) HCMC 673; B) HANOI 663; C) HCMC 473
CLASSIFIED BY: Mike Goldman, Acting Political Chief; REASON: 1.4(B),
(D)
1. (SBU) Following a half-day trial December 28, former ARMY Lt.
Colonel and democracy activist Tran Anh Kim was sentenced by a
court in Thai Binh to five and a half years in prison, followed by
three years of probation. Although Kim was convicted under the
more serious Article 79 (subversion),which carries sentences of 12
years to death by firing squad (ref A),the prosecution focused on
dissident activities that are typically prosecuted under the more
commonly used Article 88. According to contacts at the trial, the
judge cited Kim's decorated war record when issuing the sentence,
which was lighter than many expected.
2. (SBU) Kim was arrested in June, together with U.S.-trained
attorney Le Cong Dinh and three other prominent democracy advocates
(refs B,C). Over the weekend, HCMC staff received confirmation
from the attorney representing Dinh's co-defendant Nguyen Tien
Trung that Trung, Dinh, and Tran Huynh Duy Thuc will be tried on
January 20 in HCMC.
3. (C) COMMENT: Five and a half years represents a light sentence
for an Article 79 conviction, though it is firmly in the range for
Article 88. This "leniency" may not necessarily apply to Le Cong
Dinh and his codefendants, who are charged under the same statute
but whom the government has sought to portray as more serious
threats to state security. END COMMENT.
4. (U) This cable was coordinated with ConGen HCMC.
Michalak
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/29
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL VM
SUBJECT: War hero/dissident sentenced to 5.5 years; Le Cong Dinh
trial date set
REF: A) HCMC 673; B) HANOI 663; C) HCMC 473
CLASSIFIED BY: Mike Goldman, Acting Political Chief; REASON: 1.4(B),
(D)
1. (SBU) Following a half-day trial December 28, former ARMY Lt.
Colonel and democracy activist Tran Anh Kim was sentenced by a
court in Thai Binh to five and a half years in prison, followed by
three years of probation. Although Kim was convicted under the
more serious Article 79 (subversion),which carries sentences of 12
years to death by firing squad (ref A),the prosecution focused on
dissident activities that are typically prosecuted under the more
commonly used Article 88. According to contacts at the trial, the
judge cited Kim's decorated war record when issuing the sentence,
which was lighter than many expected.
2. (SBU) Kim was arrested in June, together with U.S.-trained
attorney Le Cong Dinh and three other prominent democracy advocates
(refs B,C). Over the weekend, HCMC staff received confirmation
from the attorney representing Dinh's co-defendant Nguyen Tien
Trung that Trung, Dinh, and Tran Huynh Duy Thuc will be tried on
January 20 in HCMC.
3. (C) COMMENT: Five and a half years represents a light sentence
for an Article 79 conviction, though it is firmly in the range for
Article 88. This "leniency" may not necessarily apply to Le Cong
Dinh and his codefendants, who are charged under the same statute
but whom the government has sought to portray as more serious
threats to state security. END COMMENT.
4. (U) This cable was coordinated with ConGen HCMC.
Michalak