This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.


2001HANOI03290 - UNCLASSIFIED
 
 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTO4847

PAGE 01        HANOI  03290  201010Z 
ACTION EAP-00   

INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   ACQ-00   CIAE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    
      FBIE-00  UTED-00  VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   LAB-01   VCE-00   
      DCP-01   NSAE-00  SCT-00   SSO-00   SS-00    TEST-00  ASDS-01  
      DSCC-00  DRL-02   NFAT-00  SAS-00     /005W
                  ------------------4E3523  201010Z /38    
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5050
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
NSC WASHDC
ASEAN COLLECTIVE
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ABLAGG//
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS HANOI 003290 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV; INR/EAP/SEA 
 
E.O. 12958:  NA 
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV VM CTERR
SUBJECT:  MFA REACTS TO SAN FRANCISCO "TERRORIST" INCIDENT 
 
REFS:  A) HANO1 3014  B) STATE 217427 
 
CONTAINS SENSITIVE INFORMATION - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  03290  201010Z 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY.  MFA AMERICAS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR NGUYEN 
XUAN PHONG URGED STRONG USG ACTION IN THE WAKE OF WHAT HE 
TERMED THE "TERRORIST INCIDENT" DIRECTED AGAINST DPM NGUYEN 
TAN DZUNG DURING HIS VISIT LAST WEEK TO SAN FRANCISCO.  IN A 
DECEMBER 20 MEETING WITH DCM, PHONG STRESSED THAT THIS WOULD 
SHOW THAT THE USG WILL TAKE ACTION AGAINST "TERRORIST 
ACTIVITIES" DIRECTED AT OTHER COUNTRIES.  PHONG ALSO 
PROVIDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON NGUYEN THI NGOC HANH, THE 
VIETNAMESE WOMAN ARRESTED IN THE INCIDENT.  PHONG DESCRIBED 
DPM DZUNG'S VISIT TO THE U.S. AS "A SOLID SUCCESS" (SEPTEL). 
END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  PHONG TERMED THE INCIDENT, WHICH HE SAID INVOLVED 
HANH ATTEMPTING TO SET A HOTEL CONFERENCE ROOM ALIGHT WITH A 
GASOLINE-SOAKED RAG WITH DZUNG PRESENT, "REGRETTABLE" BUT 
THAT IT WAS THE ONLY NEGATIVE INCIDENT DURING THE DPM'S 
VISIT.  THE GVN CONSIDERS THIS "A TERRORIST INCIDENT 
DIRECTED AT THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF VIETNAM," HE ADDED. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  PHONG PRESENTED THE DCM WITH A MFA REPORT 
DESCRIBING HANH'S ATTEMPT AT ARSON DIRECTED AGAINST THE GVN 
MISSION IN LONDON IN SEPTEMBER 2000 AND AN EGG-THROWING 
INCIDENT DIRECTED AT A VIETNAMESE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE IN 
PARIS IN APRIL 2001.  HE ALSO PROVIDED A DIPLOMATIC NOTE 
CONCERNING HANH'S ACTIVITIES IN THE U.S. AND THE GVN'S 
DESIRE FOR STRONG US ACTION.  (NOTE:  POST WILL FAX COPIES 
AND POUCH ORIGINALS TO EAP/BCLTV.  END NOTE.)  PHONG STATED 
THAT BRITISH AND FRENCH "INACTION" FOLLOWING THOSE INCIDENTS 
DISAPPOINTED THE GVN. 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  03290  201010Z 
¶4.  (SBU)  PHONG URGED THE DCM TO PASS ALONG THE GVN'S "DEEP 
CONCERN" OVER THE SAN FRANCISCO INCIDENT TO WASHINGTON. 
WHILE THE GVN UNDERSTOOD AND RESPECTED THE RIGHT OF CITIZENS 
TO PROTEST IN ACCORDANCE WITH US LAW, THE INCIDENT IN SAN 
FRANCISCO WENT "WAY BEYOND" THE LAW.  HE SAID THAT TO 
MAINTAIN CREDIBILITY, THE U.S. MUST PURSUE TERRORIST 
INCIDENTS DIRECTED AT NON-AMERICAN TARGETS ON ITS SOIL. 
PHONG ALSO BROUGHT UP THE CASE OF VO VAN DUC AND NGUYEN HUU 
CHANH (REF A) AND SAID THE GVN HAD NOT YET RECEIVED 
INFORMATION ON WHAT ACTION THE U.S. WAS PLANNING AGAINST 
THEM.  HE REQUESTED THE EMBASSY TO PASS ON ANY INFORMATION 
IT MAY HAVE ON THE STATUS OF BOTH CASES. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  THE DCM TOLD PHONG THAT HE WOULD CONVEY THE GVN'S 
CONCERN TO WASHINGTON.  HE NOTED THAT HANH WAS ARRESTED IN 
SAN FRANCISCO AND FACED SERIOUS CHARGES.  HE ALSO SAID THIS 
INCIDENT ILLUSTRATED THE NEED FOR THE U.S. AND VIETNAM TO 
MAKE GREATER EFFORT TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION ON POTENTIAL 
TERRORISTS.  IN ADDITION, THE DCM PRAISED DS AGENTS AND THE 
SAN FRANCISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT, NOTING THEY HAD BEEN 
"PROACTIVE" IN THEIR SECURITY MEASURES AND HAD MANAGED TO 
APPREHEND HANH BEFORE SHE COULD CAUSE ANY DAMAGE.  BURGHARDT 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED