AMNESTIED DISSIDENT PHUONG QUANG QUYEN ARRESTED AGAIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L HO CHI MINH CITY 000616 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL/AWH E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/6/2019 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL VM SUBJECT: AMNESTIED DISSIDENT PHUONG QUANG QUYEN ARRESTED AGAIN CLASSIFIED BY: Kenneth J. Fairfax, Consul General, U.S. Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) 1.(SBU) On August 30, 2009, Phung Quang Quyen, a member of the U.S.-based group For the People's Party (FPP),was arrested for violating Article 91 of the Vietnamese Penal Code, which pertains to individuals who commit acts opposing the GVN in a foreign country. Authorities have accused Quyen, who was just released from prison in January during a general amnesty, of violating his administrative probation by covertly leaving the country and conspiring with FPP members during his recent trip to Cambodia. This is the third time Quyen has been arrested for his political activism. If convicted, Quyen faces three to twelve years in prison. ¶2. (C) ConGenOff confirmed with Quyen's father and wife that he was taken from his home in Lam Dong province after police issued a search a warrant and order for his arrest. The police informed his family that Quyen was involved in `human rights activities' during a recent trip to Cambodia, where he allegedly met with other members of the For the People's Party, a U.S.-based democracy group based in Texas and affiliated with Radio Hoa Mai in California. Quyen is now being held in a HCMC detention facility pending further investigation. ¶3. (SBU) Family members are concerned for his health, as Quyen has a history of high blood pressure and often suffers from seizures, including one for which he was hospitalized on September 12. Prison authorities arranged for his wife to be transported from Lam Dong to HCMC to visit him for one hour shortly after his seizure. She reported that she is able to send him funds and plans to visit again on October 10. ¶4. (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassy Hanoi. FAIRFAX