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

161034Z Jul 02

2002HANOI01794 - CONFIDENTIAL
 
 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4737

PAGE 01        HANOI  01794  01 OF 04  161046Z 
ACTION EAP-00   

INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  USNW-00  
      DINT-00  DODE-00  DOEE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    ED-01    
      FBIE-00  VC-00    HHS-01   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    
      LAB-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   
      OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     
      SP-00    STR-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00  BBG-00   R-00     ECA-00   
      PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00   
        /011W
                  ------------------CBC4C0  161046Z /38    
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7045
INFO AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HANOI 001794 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL 07/16/2012 
TAGS: PHUM PINS PGOV SOCI VM DPOL HUMANR
SUBJECT:  DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS SPEAK OUT 
 
REF:  A.  HANOI 632  B. 2001 HANOI 2321 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  01794  01 OF 04  161046Z 
 
¶1.  (U)  CLASSIFIED BY POL/C SCOTT BELLARD; REASON 1.5(D) 
 
¶2.  (C)  SUMMARY:  VIETNAM'S DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS CONTINUE 
TO WRITE OPEN LETTERS TO THEIR COUNTRY'S LEADERSHIP AND TO 
ATTEMPT TO DISTRIBUTE THESE LETTERS OVERSEAS.  A JULY 6 
LETTER COMPLAINED THAT GVN "POLITICAL SECURITY FORCES" HAVE 
ACTED ILLEGALLY AGAINST THESE ACTIVISTS AND OTHERS.  SOME 
ACTIVISTS REPORT THAT THEY FACE PARTICULAR DIFFICULTY 
CONTACTING FOREIGNERS BOTH IN VIETNAM AND OVERSEAS, AND 
THAT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RECEIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT 
FROM OVERSEAS.  AT LEAST ONE CRITIC MAINTAINS OPTIMISM THAT 
THE GOVERNMENT WILL "CHANGE" (SOMEHOW) IN TIME, BUT ALSO 
PREDICTS THAT "NEW PEOPLE" WILL BE REQUIRED TO REALIZE ANY 
SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCES.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3.  (C)  VIETNAMESE DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS SENT BY MAIL A 
LETTER DATED JULY 6, 2002 TO VIETNAM'S TOP FOUR LEADERS 
(PRESIDENT TRAN DUC LUONG, COMMUNIST PARTY GENERAL 
SECRETARY NONG DUC MANH, PRIME MINISTER PHAN VAN KHAI, AND 
 
SIPDIS 
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CHAIRMAN NGUYEN VAN AN) AND, INDIRECTLY 
BY EMAIL ON JULY 10, TO INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS 
ORGANIZATIONS, PRESS FREEDOM ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER 
INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING POLOFF.  (UNOFFICIAL EMBASSY 
TRANSLATION FOLLOWS IN PARA 9.)  SEVENTEEN INDIVIDUALS 
SIGNED THE LETTER; IN THE PAST, ONLY ONE OR TWO PEOPLE HAVE 
USUALLY SIGNED SIMILAR LETTERS.  WHILE SOME OF THE 
SIGNATORIES ARE WELL-KNOWN ACTIVISTS -- INCLUDING SEVEN 
WHOM THE AUTHORITIES QUESTIONED IN SEPTEMBER 2001 OVER A 
PROPOSAL TO SET UP AN ANTI-CORRUPTION NGO (REF B) -- THIS 
IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE HEARD OF SEVERAL OF THE OTHERS. 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  01794  01 OF 04  161046Z 
A NUMBER IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS LONG-TIME PARTY MEMBERS 
AND/OR MILITARY VETERANS.  THREE OTHERS ARE FAMILY MEMBERS 
OF ACTIVISTS DETAINED WITHIN THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS.  ONE OF 
THESE, MRS. VU THUY HA, IS MARRIED TO THE CURRENTLY 
DETAINED DR. PHAM HONG SON, AND HAS RECENTLY WRITTEN AT 
LEAST ONE OTHER WIDELY DISTRIBUTED LETTER CALLING FOR THE 
RELEASE OF HER HUSBAND.  (SEPTEL REPORTS ON SON'S CURRENT 
STATUS.) 
 
¶4.  (C)  THE JULY 6 LETTER CRITICIZED "POLITICAL SECURITY 
FORCES" FOR THEIR ACTIONS AGAINST VARIOUS INDIVIDUALS, 
INCLUDING SOME OF THE SIGNATORIES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, 
FROM APRIL 2001 TO THE PRESENT.  THE LETTER CONCLUDED WITH 
FOUR SUGGESTIONS:  1) THE POLITBURO SHOULD HOLD A 
CONFERENCE ON SECURITY FORCE ADMINISTRATION TO PREVENT 
ABUSES; 2) ACTIVISTS NGUYEN KHAC TOAN, LE CHI QUANG, AND 
PHAM HONG SON SHOULD EITHER BE TRIED OR RELEASED SOON; 3) 
DECREE 31/CP ON ADMINISTRATIVE PROBATION SHOULD BE REPEALED 
AND BUI MINH QUOC, TRAN KHUE, AND HA SY PHU (ALL CURRENTLY 
UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE PROBATION) SHOULD BE SET FREE; AND 4) 
THE AUTHORITIES SHOULD RECONNECT THE PHONE LINES OF 
ACTIVISTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. 
 
¶5.  (C)  DR. NGUYEN THANG GIANG, ONE OF THE SIGNATORIES, 
CONFIRMED TO POL/C AND POLOFF ON JULY 12 THAT THE LETTER 
WAS TIMED TO CORRESPOND WITH THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF VIETNAM 
(CPV) CENTRAL COMMITTEE'S SIXTH PLENUM AS WELL AS THE 
IMMINENT OPENING OF THE 11TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.  HE ADDED 
THAT THE ACTIVISTS ALSO TARGETED A UN COMMISSION ON HUMAN 
RIGHTS DISCUSSION ON VIETNAM ABOUT WHICH THEY HAD LEARNED 
FROM VOICE OF AMERICA (VOA) AND RADIO FREE ASIA (RFA). 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  01794  01 OF 04  161046Z 
(NOTE:  WE ARE UNAWARE OF THIS MEETING.  END NOTE.)  WHILE 
DR. GIANG SPECULATED THAT THE LETTER WOULD HAVE BEEN 
DISCUSSED AT THE PLENUM, HE ADMITTED THAT HE DID NOT EXPECT 
TO SEE ANY RESULTS.  HE CONFIRMED THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN 
ANY REPERCUSSIONS AGAINST THE ACTIVISTS SINCE THEY HAD SENT 
THE LETTER.  HE EXPLAINED THAT THE SEVENTEEN SIGNATORIES 
HAD NOT MET TOGETHER, BUT HAD PASSED AROUND THE LETTER FROM 
ONE HAND TO THE NEXT, WITH TRAN KHUE (CURRENTLY DETAINED IN 
HIS HOME IN HO CHI MINH CITY) PARTICIPATING BY TELEPHONE. 
DR. GIANG ADDED THAT FELLOW ACTIVIST PHAM QUE DUONG WAS 
SEPARATELY WRITING LETTERS ABOUT THE NAM CAM CORRUPTION 
CASE AND THE VIETNAM-CHINA BORDER ISSUE. 
 
¶6.  (C)  RETIRED COLONEL PHAM QUE DUONG (REF A), SEPARATELY 
NOTED TO POLOFF ON JULY 15 THAT HE DID NOT EXPECT ANY 
RESPONSE TO THE JULY 6 LETTER.  HOWEVER, HE EXPRESSED 
OPTIMISM THAT VIETNAM'S LEADERSHIP WOULD "CHANGE" 
RELATIVELY SOON. A HOPEFUL SIGN OF CHANGE, DUONG SAID, WAS 
THAT THE VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY (VNA) HAD ON MARCH 1 PUBLISHED 
PRESIDENT BUSH'S FEBRUARY 22 ADDRESS AT CHINA'S TSINGHUA 
UNIVERSITY, INCLUDING REFERENCES TO THE RULE OF LAW AND 
POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. 
 
¶7.  (C)  DR. GIANG AND COLONEL DUONG SEPARATELY DISCUSSED 
THE NECESSITY OF AND THE DIFFICULTIES IN GETTING THEIR 
THOUGHTS DISTRIBUTED WIDELY.  DR. GIANG EMPHASIZED THE 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4740 
 
PAGE 01        HANOI  01794  02 OF 04  161046Z 
ACTION EAP-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  DINT-00 
      DODE-00  DOEE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    ED-01    FBIE-00 
      VC-00    HHS-01   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01 
      L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01 
      OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00 
      IRM-00   STR-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00 
      DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00     /011W 
                  ------------------CBC4D8  161047Z /38 
R 161034Z JUL 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7046 
INFO AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HANOI 001794 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL 
 
 
DANGER IN CONTACTING FOREIGN MEDIA SOURCES, SAYING THAT IT 
IS TOO HAZARDOUS TO USE NAMES WHEN SPEAKING WITH FOREIGN 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  01794  02 OF 04  161046Z 
JOURNALISTS.  COLONEL DUONG REMARKED THAT IT REMAINS 
DIFFICULT TO CONTACT FOREIGN JOURNALISTS.  HE SAID THAT HE 
AND FELLOW ACTIVISTS NGUYEN VU BINH, HOANG TIEN, AND DR. 
GIANG HAVE DIVIDED UP RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTACTING 
DIFFERENT NEWS SERVICES AND OVERSEAS INTEREST GROUPS, 
NOTING THAT HE WAS THE "REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS (RSF)" 
REPRESENTATIVE FOR VIETNAM.  COLONEL DUONG CLAIMED THAT, 
WHILE FOREIGN PRESS ORGANIZATIONS ARE WILLING TO PAY HIM 
AND FELLOW ACTIVISTS FOR STORIES THEY PROVIDE, THE 
AUTHORITIES HAVE BLOCKED WIRE TRANSFERS INTO THE ACTIVISTS' 
BANK ACCOUNTS AND/OR PREVENTED THEM FROM OPENING NEW BANK 
ACCOUNTS.  HE SAID THAT, IF HE COULD BECOME AFFILIATED WITH 
AN OVERSEAS COMPANY, HE COULD OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM. 
(NOTE:  SEPTEL REPORTS THAT THE GVN IS INVESTIGATING DR. 
PHAM HONG SON, A REPRESENTATIVE FOR A FOREIGN 
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY, IN PART, FOR RECEIVING MONEY FROM 
OVERSEAS FOR "ANTI-STATE" ACTIVITIES.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶8.  (C)  COLONEL DUONG GAVE POLOFF COPIES OF THREE LETTERS 
ON CORRUPTION THAT HE HAS WRITTEN SINCE JUNE BUT HAS NOT 
BEEN ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE OVERSEAS YET.  HE SAID THAT HE 
USUALLY SENDS SUCH LETTERS FROM INTERNET CAFES EITHER 
HIMSELF, OR THROUGH HIS NIECES AND NEPHEWS.  HOWEVER, HE 
EXPLAINED, THE POLICE HAVE FOLLOWED THEM CLOSELY IN RECENT 
WEEKS AND THEY HAVE THUS NOT TRIED TO SEND THE LETTERS. 
 
UNOFFICIAL EMBASSY TRANSLATION OF JULY 6 LETTER 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶9.  (U)  SRV 
INDEPENDENCE - FREEDOM - HAPPINESS 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  01794  02 OF 04  161046Z 
 
TO:   MR. NONG DUC MANH - SECRETARY GENERAL OF CPV 
      MR. TRAN DUC LUONG - STATE PRESIDENT 
      MR. PHAN VAN KHAI - PM 
      MR. NGUYEN VAN AN - CHAIRMAN OF THE NA 
 
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS TO YOU, LEADERS 
OF THE PARTY AND THE STATE, THE FOLLOWING THOUGHTS AND 
SUGGESTIONS: 
 
IN OUR REVOLUTION PROCESS, NEXT TO THE AREAS OF MILITARY, 
DIPLOMACY, ECONOMICS . POLITICAL STRUGGLE ALWAYS HAS AN 
IMPORTANT POSITION AND IT HAS CONTRIBUTED IN A NOT-TOO- 
SMALL PART IN THE GENERAL VICTORY OF VIET NAM REVOLUTION. 
HOWEVER, IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE NINTH 
CONGRESS, THERE ARE MANY SIGNS OF SHORTCOMINGS AND 
WRONGDOING, ESPECIALLY IN THE ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE 
PROTECTION OF POLITICAL SECURITY. 
 
BECAUSE OF THEIR WEAKNESS IN UPDATING AND DEVELOPING THEIR 
REASONING, AS WELL AS THERE IS NO REGULAR, LOGICAL, LEGAL 
ORGANIZATION IN IDEOLOGICAL STRUGGLE, THE CULTURAL AND 
IDEOLOGICAL SECURITY FORCES OFTEN MAKE ILL-USE OF MANY 
OPAQUE TRICKS AND REPRESSIVELY RUDE MEASURES.  THEREFORE, 
THE SOCIETY IS BECOMING MORE IRRITATED AND THE CONSEQUENCES 
ARE IMMEASURABLE.  THE RESILIENCE OF THE AWARENESS OF 
CITIZEN'S RESPONSIBILITY, OF EARNEST IDEAS NECESSARY FOR 
THE TRUE REFORM, WHEN BEING DEPRESSED, NOT ONLY MAKES THE 
SOCIETY UNABLE TO DEVELOP WELL BUT ALSO NOURISHES DANGERS 
THAT CAUSE COLLAPSE.  BESIDE, THESE CONDITIONS ARE 
WORSENING THE IMAGE OF THE COUNTRY AND PEOPLE IN THE 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  01794  02 OF 04  161046Z 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.  THEREFORE, THESE CONDITIONS NOT 
ONLY IMPEDE THE PROCESS OF NECESSARY INTEGRATION BUT ALSO 
CAN PUSH THE COUNTRY BACK INTO PREVIOUS ISOLATION TOGETHER 
WITH LINGERING SELF-MADE ENEMIES WHICH ARE ALWAYS TO BE 
CONFRONTED. 
 
WE WOULD LIKE TO LIST SEVERAL OBJECTIONABLE INCIDENTS WHICH 
WERE RECENTLY INSTIGATED BY THE POLITICAL SECURITY FORCES: 
 
1 - TWO DAYS AFTER SECRETARY GENERAL NONG DUC MANH TOOK 
OFFICE, HAI PHONG POLICE ARRESTED A 70 YEARS OLD VETERAN, 
VU CAO QUAN, DETAINED HIM FOR 9 DAYS TO INTERROGATE ABOUT 
HIS WRITINGS AND THOSE OF OTHER SCHOLARS AND 
REVOLUTIONARIES.  MFA SPOKESWOMAN PHAN THUY THANH LOUDLY 
DENIED THAT MR. VU CAO QUAN HAD BEEN ARRESTED.  IN THIS WAY 
THE NATIONAL HONOR NO LONGER EXISTS WHEN THE WHOLE WORLD 
KNOWS THAT OUR STATE AND OUR PARTY LIE BLATANTLY. 
 
2 - ON 12 JULY 2001, HO CHI MINH CITY POLICE STOPPED AND 
ARRESTED GENERAL TRAN DO TO ROB HIS ARTICLES WHICH 
EXPRESSED HIS IMPRESSION ABOUT THE NINTH CONGRESS.  THAT 
RUDE ACT WHICH INJURIOUSLY INSULTED HIS CHARACTER CAUSED 
INDIGNATION TO THE REVOLUTIONARY WHO WAS AWARDED WITH HO 
CHI MINH MEDAL, RESULTING IN A NEAR-DEATH HOSPITALIZATION. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4738 
 
PAGE 01        HANOI  01794  03 OF 04  161046Z 
ACTION EAP-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  USNW-00 
      DINT-00  DODE-00  DOEE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    ED-01 
      FBIE-00  VC-00    HHS-01   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00 
      LAB-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02 
      OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00 
      SP-00    STR-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00  BBG-00   R-00     ECA-00 
      PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00 
        /011W 
                  ------------------CBC4EB  161046Z /38 
R 161034Z JUL 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7047 
INFO AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HANOI 001794 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL 
 
3 - ON 5 JULY 2001, JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR SIGNING AN 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  01794  03 OF 04  161046Z 
APPLICATION TO ESTABLISH THE ASSOCIATION OF CITIZENS WHO 
SUPPORT THE STATE TO FIGHT CORRUPTION, COLONEL PHAM QUE 
DUONG, SOCIOLOGIST TRAN KHUE, FORMER DEAN OF THE PHILOSOPHY 
INSTITUTE HOANG MINH CHINH AND ALMOST 20 OTHERS, MANY OF 
THEM VETERAN REVOLUTIONARIES, WERE EITHER DETAINED OR 
HARASSED. 
 
4 - THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER OF 2001, THE POLITICAL 
SECURITY FORCES DISTRIBUTED ANONYMOUS ARTICLES WIDELY TO 
MISREPRESENT AND TAINT NOVELIST HOANG TIEN, SOCIOLOGIST 
TRAN KHUE; HELD PUBLIC DENUNCIATIONS IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES 
TO TRY MSSRS. HOANG MINH CHINH, PHAM QUE DUONG, NGUYEN 
THANH GIANG, LE CHI QUANG.  THE SPECIAL ASPECT OF ALL OF 
THOSE DENUNCIATIONS WAS TRIAL IN ABSENTIA; SEVERAL 
ADHERENTS REVILED AGAINST THE ABOVE MEN BASELESSLY WITH NO 
REGARD FOR TRUTH AND PRINCIPLES. 
 
5 - REVOLUTIONARY POET BUI MINH QUOC WAS STOPPED AND 
ARRESTED AFTER A TRIP TO THE NORTHERN BORDER PROVINCES.  HE 
WAS ORDERED TO BE DETAINED FOR 2 YEARS MERELY BECAUSE 
DURING A SEARCH OF HIS LUGGAGE, SEVERAL HUNDRED PAGES OF 
PRIVATE WRITINGS, WHICH HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH NATIONAL 
SECRETS, WERE DISCOVERED. ALSO PUSHED INTO PRISON WERE 
 
SIPDIS 
SOCIOLOGIST TRAN KHUE, BIOLOGIST HA SY PHU. 
 
6 - IN JANUARY 2002, VICE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND 
INFORMATION PHAN KHAC HAI SIGNED A DECISION TO SEEK AND 
DESTROY 4 BOOKS: "THOUGHTS BEFORE PASSING AWAY" BY VU CAO 
QUAN, "CONVERSATION IN 2000" BY TRAN KHUE AND NGUYEN THI 
THANH XUAN, "REFLECTIONS AND ASPIRATIONS" BY NGUYEN THANH 
GIANG, "DIARY OF DRAGONS AND SNAKES" BY TRAN DO.  THIS 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  01794  03 OF 04  161046Z 
DECISION IS INVALID BECAUSE NOBODY IMPLEMENTS IT. NOT ONLY 
THAT, IT WAS DENOUNCED STRONGLY BY DOMESTIC AND 
INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION. 
 
7 - THE MASS ARREST OF OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE WITHOUT JUST 
REASONS.  THE IMPRISONMENT OF AMERICAN WAR VETERAN NGUYEN 
KHAC TOAN FOR MORE THAN 4 MONTHS WITH THE "INDICTMENT": 
DARING TO COLLECT PETITIONS AND ASSISTING OTHER PEOPLE 
AGAINST CORRUPTION WHO HAVE BEEN OPPRESSED BY THEIR LOCAL 
AUTHORITIES WHO DEMONSTRATED IN FRONT OF THE NA AUDITORIUM. 
THE IMPRISONMENT OF LAW LECTURER LE CHI QUANG FOR MORE THAN 
4 MONTHS MERELY BECAUSE OF HIS WRITINGS EXPRESSING HIS 
PERSPECTIVES ON THE DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICIES OF THE 
PARTY, GOVERNMENT.  THE IMPRISONMENT OF MEDICAL DOCTOR AND 
MASTER OF ECONOMICS PHAM HONG SON MERELY BECAUSE OF HIS 
TRANSLATION OF "WHAT IS DEMOCRACY?" AND HIS LETTER TO 
SECRETARY GENERAL NONG DUC MANH TO EXCHANGE IDEAS ON THE 
 
SIPDIS 
ISSUE OF DEMOCRATIZATION OF THIS COUNTRY. 
 
8 - FOR ALMOST A YEAR, WITHOUT OFFICIAL NOTICE, TELEPHONE 
SERVICES HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED AT THE FAMILIES OF MSSRS. 
HOANG MINH CHINH, PHAM QUE DUONG, HOANG TIEN, TRAN KHUE, 
TRAN DUNG TIEN, HA SY PHU, NGUYEN DAN QUE, BUI MINH QUOC, 
NGUYEN THANH GIANG, NGUYEN VU BINH, . THIS FURTIVE ACT DID 
NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED EFFECT (BECAUSE ALMOST ALL HAVE 
SWITCHED TO MOBILE PHONES AND MANY HAVE ANSWERED QUESTIONS 
FROM FOREIGN PRESS MORE DRASTICALLY) IT ONLY MADE THE 
AUTHORITIES LOOK LOST.  THERE'S A COMMENT THAT STATES: 
PRISONERS IN VIETNAM ARE TREATED WORSE THAN PRISONERS IN 
WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE; THERE, TODAY, PRISONERS ARE STILL 
ALLOWED TO USE TELEPHONES. 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  01794  03 OF 04  161046Z 
 
9 - HARASS AND DETAIN MANY RELIGIOUS BELIEVERS AND CLERGY 
... 
 
THE CONTINUOUS BLUNT AND HAUGHTY OPPRESSION, WITHOUT REGARD 
TO MORALS, EVIDENCE, REASONING THAT RUDELY VIOLATES THE LAW 
AND CONSTITUTION CAUSES MANY PEOPLE TO COMMENT THAT: 
TOGETHER WITH THE "HUMANITY MAGAZINE" AND "REEXAMINATION OF 
ANTI-PARTY" MOVEMENTS, THIS IS ONE OF THE DARKEST PERIODS 
IN THE HISTORY OF CPV IN THE AREAS OF CULTURE, IDEOLOGY, 
REASONING. 
 
THEREFORE WE TOGETHER SUGGEST: 
 
1- THE POLITBURO NEEDS TO HAVE A CONFERENCE TO REEXAMINE 
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RECENT POLITICAL, CULTURAL, 
IDEOLOGICAL SECURITY MEASURES IN WHICH ORGANIZATIONS OF 
DOMESTIC POLICY, FOREIGN POLICY, TRADE, SCIENCE AND 
EDUCATION PARTICIPATE.  TO DEEPLY ANALYZE IMMEDIATE AND 
LONG-TERM BAD IMPACTS WHICH WERE CAUSED BY THE SECURITY 
FORCES IN ORDER TO RESHAPE, ADJUST, ADMINISTER RESOLUTELY 
THOSE CADRES WHO HAD CAUSED THOSE BAD SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF 
THEIR INEXPERIENCE OR OPPORTUNITY.  TO CLEARLY DETERMINE 
THE REASONS FOR LAX CONTROL THAT HAS CAUSE MAJOR PERILS 
SUCH AS NAM CAM, THAI BINH, CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ., WHILE 
WEAPONS ATTACK SCHOLARS AND REVOLUTION VETERANS WHO HAVE 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4742 
 
PAGE 01        HANOI  01794  04 OF 04  161047Z 
ACTION EAP-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  USNW-00 
      DINT-00  DODE-00  DOEE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    ED-01 
      FBIE-00  VC-00    HHS-01   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00 
      LAB-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02 
      OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00 
      SP-00    STR-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00  BBG-00   R-00     ECA-00 
      PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00 
        /011W 
                  ------------------CBC4FE  161047Z /38 
R 161034Z JUL 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7048 
INFO AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HANOI 001794 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL 
ZEAL FOR THE COUNTRY. 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  01794  04 OF 04  161047Z 
 
2 - IF THERE IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE, THEN TRY THEM OPENLY SOON; 
OTHERWISE, RETURN FREEDOM TO VETERAN NGUYEN KHAC TOAN, 
BACHELOR OF LAW LE CHI QUANG, MD MA PHAM HONG SON . 
 
3 - TO IMMEDIATELY RELEASE POET BUI MINH QUOC, SOCIOLOGIST 
TRAN KHUE, BIOLOGIST HA SY PHU AND SIMULTANEOUSLY ANNUL 
DECREE 31/CP, ONE THAT IS COMPLETELY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND 
ILLEGAL. 
 
4 - TO RECONNECT TELEPHONE LINES FOR THE ABOVE FAMILIES. 
TO END ALL CURSING, LIBELING, HARASSING ACTS FROM THE 
AUTHORITIES TOWARD CITIZENS.  THE INDIGNITY, ANGER, 
COMPLAINTS, SLANDERS . HAVE SPREAD NATIONWIDE AND GLOBALLY. 
TO AVOID HEAVY JUDGMENT IN HISTORY, WE RESPECTFULLY AND 
URGENTLY REQUEST YOU TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE CONTENT OF 
THIS SUGGESTION BECAUSE OF ITS URGENCY. THE REALITY 
SERIOUSLY DEMANDS YOUR NECESSARY VISION, JUST AND 
CLAIRVOYANT FOR THE SAKE OF A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY 
THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, FOR A WEALTHY, DEMOCRATIC, 
JUST, MODERN COUNTRY. 
 
HANOI, 6 JULY 2002 
SIGNED 
 
1 - NGUYEN VAN BAI - AGE 82 - TEACHER - NGUYEN KHAC TOAN'S 
PARENT, 11 TRANG TIEN LANE - HANOI, TELEPHONE 8 260244 
 
2 - NGUYEN VU BINH - FORMER CORRESPONDENT COMMUNIST 
MAGAZINE, HOUSE NUMBER 26, APARTMENT 67B - VINH TUY - HANOI 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  01794  04 OF 04  161047Z 
3 - HOANG MINH CHINH  - FORMER GENERAL SECRETARY DEMOCRATIC 
PARTY OF VIETNAM, FORMER GENERAL SECRETARY VIETNAM UNITED 
YOUTH ASSOCIATION, FORMER ACADEMICIAN OF TRIET STUDIES 
INSTITUTE, 26 LY THUONG KIET - HANOI 
 
4 - NGUYEN KIM CHUNG - AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER - LE CHI 
QUANGS'S PARENT, 22 TRUNG LIET STREET - HANOI 
 
5 - PHAM QUE DUONG - COLONEL PEOPLE'S ARMY OF VIETNAM - 
FORMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MILITARY HISTORY MAGAZINE, 37 LY NAM 
DE - HANOI 
 
6 - NGUYEN THANH GIANG - ACADEMICIAN, PROFESSOR OF 
GEOPHYSICS, HOUSE A13P9, CAU GIAY DISTRICT 
 
7 - VU THY HA - SECRETARY, DIRECTORS OFFICE, FRANCOPHONIE 
ASIA-PACIFIC, 72B THUY KHUE - HANOI, TELEPHONE 9 840858 
 
8 - VU KINH - AGE 73 - DISABLED VETERAN OF FRENCH WAR, 
ENTERED MILITARY IN 1947, PARTY IN 1947, LIEUTENANT COLONEL 
PEOPLE'S ARMY OF VIETNAM 
 
9 - TRAN KHUE - RETIRED CADRE OF LINGUISTICS INSTITUTE, 296 
NGUYEN TRAI - HO CHI MINH CITY (COULD NOT SIGN IN PERSON 
BECAUSE UNDER DETENTION) 
 
10 - PHAN LONG (HONG LONG) - AGE 85, 56 YEARS IN THE PARTY, 
REVOLUTIONARY SINCE 1936 IN DONG DUONG CONGRESS, FORMER 
PROVINCIAL VICE CHAIRMAN, HOUSE 2, 43/43 CHUA BOC STREET - 
HANOI, TELEPHONE 5 743698 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  01794  04 OF 04  161047Z 
11 - NGUYEN XUAN PHUC - VETERAN OF AMERICAN WAR, 11 TRAN 
TIEN LANE - HANOI 
 
12 - TRAN THI QUYET - RETIRED CADRE, 11 TRAN TIEN LANE - 
HANOI 
 
13 - CHU THANH - POET, PEN NAME TU SOT, 16 NGUYEN THUONG 
HIEN - HANOI, TELEPHONE 8 535911 
 
14 - NGUYEN THU - AGE 75, FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF CENTRAL 
ECONOMIC DEPARTMENT 
 
15 - TRAN DUNG TIEN - VETERAN (NOTE:  LISTS UNITS), 12/95 
CU LOC - THANH XUAN - HANOI 
 
16 - HOANG TIEN - WRITER, APARTMENT 420, HOUSE A11, THANH 
XUAN BAC - HANOI 
 
17 - TRAN DAI SON - 54 YEARS IN THE PARTY, VETERAN (NOTE: 
LISTS UNITS), 51 HANG BAI - HANOI, TELEPHONE 8 263700 
(END UNOFFICIAL EMBASSY TRANSLATION.) 
BURGHARDT 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL