VZCZCXRO8638
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #0188/01 0231041
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231041Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0594
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 0387
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1035

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 HANOI 000188 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS and PRM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PREF VM CB
SUBJECT: Central Highlands: UNHCR, Protestant Pastor Discuss 
Recent Monitoring Visits 
 
Ref: A) Hanoi 98; B) HCMC 53; C) HCMC 72 
 
HANOI 00000188  001.2 OF 004 
 
 
This is a joint Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City message. 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  UNHCR representatives traveled to Dak Lak 
and Kon Tum provinces January 17-20 to meet with local 
officials and ethnic minority returnees.  In both provinces, 
UNHCR interviewed a number of returnees in private.  There 
were no allegations of mistreatment by the authorities. 
However, UNHCR was not able to see an individual who had 
allegedly been mistreated (and whom USG and EU officials 
also have been unable to meet.)  A well-connected Protestant 
source in the region reports that returnees are not 
physically abused or directly threatened by local 
authorities.  On the other hand, the source explains that 
government officials have gone to great lengths to coach 
returnees and other locals on what to say in meetings with 
international representatives.  The Montagnard Foundation 
has also coached returnees, our contact said.  End Summary. 
 
UNHCR 
----- 
 
¶2. (SBU) On January 23, UNHCR Senior Policy Officer Giuseppe 
de Vincentis and Vietnam Chief of Mission Vu Anh Son briefed 
Hanoi-based diplomats on the results of their January 17-20 
monitoring trip to Dak Lak and Gia Lai provinces in the 
Central Highlands (text of UNHCR's prepared brief in 
paragraph 9).  (Note:  de Vincentis was originally tapped to 
be UNHCR's expatriate Chief of Mission in Hanoi, but, due to 
GVN reluctance to assent to this, will instead use his 
multiple-entry visa to visit Vietnam as frequently as 
necessary.  He said he will assume the position of Deputy 
Regional Representative in Bangkok, most likely this summer. 
End Note.)  Describing the Dak Lak part of the trip as very 
successful, the UNHCR representatives asked for and were 
quickly granted private meetings with a number of returnees. 
A similar request was initially rebuffed by officials in Gia 
Lai Province, who explained that private interviews could 
send the wrong signal, increase tensions among villagers and 
create an image of distrust between UNHCR and Vietnamese 
officials.  In the end, however, the Gia Lai officials 
relented and granted "on an exceptional basis" private 
interviews with a number of returnees. 
 
¶3. (SBU) None of the returnees whom the UNHCR officials met 
alleged any mistreatment.  That said, UNHCR was unable to 
meet with returnee Siu Nham of Gia Lai Province (UNHCR case 
number MTN-406), who allegedly experienced mistreatment (Ref 
A) (and whom USG and EU officials also have been unable to 
meet).  However, UNHCR did meet with Nham's family, who said 
he is doing well.  UNHCR also extracted a commitment from 
Gia Lai provincial officials to facilitate a meeting with 
Nham at a later date.  The UNHCR team also met with an 
individual who had appeared very nervous during his meeting 
with Embassy/ConGen representatives two weeks earlier (Ref 
B); this individual also said that he has had no problems 
with the authorities since returning to Vietnam.  According 
to de Vincentis, none of the returnees made any reference to 
UNHCR about meeting USG officials the week before. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The UNHCR's de Vincentis reported that his GVN 
interlocutors, including MFA Consular Department Director 
General Bui Dinh Dzinh, responded positively to UNHCR's 
request to meet with a returnee who had been imprisoned for 
"people smuggling" (Ref A).  Regardless of the positive 
response, de Vincentis surmised that it may be a while 
before the GVN agrees to this meeting.  The GVN also 
indicated its willingness to inform UNHCR about any future 
arrests of returnees.  Finally, the GVN requested, and UNHCR 
agreed to, assistance to train central and local government 
officials in legal issues related to refugees.  This would 
most likely take the form of a seminar in April, and these 
officials would become trainers for other officials. 
 
Pastor Kim 
---------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Gia Lai-based Protestant Pastor Siu Y Kim (strictly 
protect) told ConGen HCMC PolOff January 20 that Gia Lai 
provincial authorities had organized meetings of all 
district leaders and government and police officials prior 
to USG and UNHCR visits to the province.  The purpose of the 
meetings was to coach them on how to respond.  The local 
officials and the villagers were told that the visitors will 
ask questions with a "bad purpose."  The province had no 
choice but to take the groups of outsiders to the villages, 
 
HANOI 00000188  002.2 OF 004 
 
 
so it was up to the village elders and the local officials 
to manage the situation and the delegations. 
 
¶6. (SBU) To Kim's knowledge, none of the returnees was 
directly threatened or pressured by local authorities.  He 
noted that international attention and the visits by 
representatives of the international community tie the local 
officials' hands to a considerable extent.  However, at 
least some of the returnees were visited by local 
authorities prior to monitoring visits and told that they 
should not/not say anything negative to the outsiders.  Many 
returnees are still frightened by the overall climate of 
intimidation and psychological pressure on the ethnic 
minority community in Gia Lai, Kim said. 
 
¶7. (SBU) At least one returnee reported to Kim that he was 
instructed by the U.S.-based Montagnard Foundation to tell 
UNHCR representatives in Phnom Penh that he wanted to return 
to Vietnam, Kim continued.  The returnee was promised that 
the Montagnard Foundation would take care of him.  In 
Vietnam, the returnee was subsequently instructed to talk to 
representatives of the international community about past 
government mistreatment and ethnic minorities' hopes of 
establishing an independent Dega state.  The returnee was 
told that the Montagnard Foundation would establish an 
office in Cambodia "soon." 
 
¶8. (SBU) Asked to contrast conditions in Gia Lai with those 
in Kon Tum Province, where the USG team also visited on 
January 12 (Ref C), Kim acknowledged that conditions for 
ethnic minorities in Kon Tum were far worse:  "it is like 
what Gia Lai and Dak Lak were a decade ago," he said.  While 
he had no specific information about returnees, he had heard 
credible reports of people, including Protestant believers, 
having been beaten and threatened by authorities. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Begin text of UNHCR briefing. 
 
From January 17-20, 2006, UNHCR has undertaken a routine 
monitoring mission to Dak Lak and Gia Lai Provinces in the 
Central Highlands of Vietnam.  The mission was conducted by 
Mr. Giuseppe de Vincentis, Senior Policy Officer of the 
Regional Office for Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam 
based in Bangkok, Thailand and Mr. Vu Anh Son, Chief of 
Mission in Vietnam.  This is the 10th mission of UNHCR to 
the Central Highlands (the 4th mission undertaken together 
with UNHCR senior international officials from Bangkok 
and/or Phnom Penh) since the inception of the repatriation 
program under the framework of the Memorandum of 
Understanding signed between Vietnam, Cambodia and UNHCR on 
January 25, 2005. 
 
The purpose of the mission was to discuss with local 
authorities about the returnee reintegration situation, 
especially after the mission of the EU to Gia Lai in 
November 2005, and meet with the returnees in Ea Sup 
District of Dak Lak Province and Chu Se, Ia Grai and Dac Doa 
districts of Gia Lai Province. 
 
The UNHCR delegation was received by Mr. Duong Thanh Tuong, 
Standing Vice Chairman of the Dak Lak People's Committee, 
Mr. Pham The Dung, Chairman of the Gia Lai People's 
Committee and other senior officials of the two provinces. 
At all meetings, the local authorities informed UNHCR about 
economic developments in their areas, confirmed privileged 
policies of the Government of Vietnam toward ethnic 
minorities and committed to the framework of the MOU on 
reception and reintegration of the returnees. 
 
UNHCR met with 6 returnee families out of total 
of 7 cases (8 persons) in Ea Sup District, Dak Lak Province 
on January 17, 2005: 
 
--MTN-599 SIU HON, M, 1979 - returned voluntarily on 
November 3, 2005.  IC got married in early 2005, left for 
Cambodia in July and returned in November 2005.  His wife 
told us that while drinking with his two nephews on December 
28, 2005, they had fought with each other.  Consequently Y 
Ho, one of the two nephews, stabbed the neck of the IC, and 
he died soon after.  Y Ho also broke his arm and is now 
being treated in the hospital.  Local authorities said Y Ho 
would be brought to court immediately after the treatment. 
IC's wife was 2 months pregnant. 
 
--MTN-600 KPA SAMAY, F, 1989 - returned voluntarily on 
November 3, 2005.  She is very happy to have returned home. 
Especially, her father expressed his appreciation for 
 
HANOI 00000188  003.2 OF 004 
 
 
UNHCR's arrangement for his daughter to return safely and 
quickly. 
 
--MTN-602 KPA UN, M, 1989 - returned voluntarily on November 
3, 2005.  He said upon return he immediately started to 
assist his family to work in the farm.  The family is very 
happy to see him back. 
 
--MTN-589 RMAH DEUK, M, 1982  - returned voluntarily on 
November 3, 2005.  He has wife and 4 children, including 3 
stepchildren of his wife.  They seem quite happy with 
current life, but it's very clear to see that their life is 
not easy at all. 
 
--MTN-592 KSOR KHINH, M, 1985 - returned voluntarily on 
November 3, 2005.  His wife is now 14 years old.  He said 
they got married when she was only 12.  His wife was very 
happy when he came back home. 
 
--MTN-598 RMAH VIK, M, 1985 - returned voluntarily on 
November 3, 2005.  He was working in the farm when we came 
to visit his home.  His mother told us that he is happy to 
be back home and assisting her in the farm. 
 
We could not visit the remaining 2 returnees (one case) in 
Ea sup District (MTN-588 RMAH H'MEUN and her son RMAH LOUN) 
as they live in different commune from others and it was 
already 5PM if continued we would return to Buon Ma Thuot 
too late since Ea Sup District is some 90 km from Buon Ma 
Thuot.  We would also like to note that all the interviews 
in Ea Sup were at the returnee's home and private. 
 
On January 18, 2005, we had met/visited 6 returnees and/or 
their families in Chu Se District, Gia Lai Province: 
 
--MTN-275 KPA SAI, M, 1977 and MTN-276 KPUIH THU, M, 1979. 
These two Montagnards returned involuntarily on July 20, 
¶2005.  The interviews were conducted privately in the 
commune office of Ia Hru.  KPA SAI did not have any 
particular questions for UNHCR and seemed OK since returning 
home, but preferred to go to the United States for 
resettlement.  KPUIH THU at the end of the meeting said he 
was afraid of being arrested by local police as his friends 
in other communes were arrested before 2005 Christmas. 
Responded to our question whether he had ever been summoned 
by the local authorities, he said, "no, never".  This is the 
second time that UNHCR had met with these two returnees. 
The first time was on August 3, 2005 conducted by Mr. Hasim 
Utkan, Regional Representative and Mr. Vu Anh Son, Chief of 
Mission at their home.  The summary of August's visit is "We 
came to Kpa Sai's house where many his family members were 
at home.  Since Kpuih's house is nearby, we agreed to ask 
him to join.  Both of them were wearing new shirts that 
given by provincial authorities upon their arrival to Pleiku 
on July 21.  They were relaxed and in good health.  The 
family expressed their happiness for the return.  The 
Chairman also showed his attention and concerns to these two 
persons by offering jobs at the state farm or cotton 
factory.  However, the returnees seemed very reluctant to 
accept the offer". 
 
--MTN-164 RLAN NGOAN, M, 1981 - returned involuntarily on 
July 20 and MTN-ROAN JUAN, M, 1970 - returned voluntarily on 
March 31, 2005.  We met these two persons at the Dun 
Commune's office privately.  While ROAN JUAN expressed that 
he has no problem at all since returned, RLAN NGOAN stated 
that local authorities did not allow him to follow 
"Protestant Dega" which is the only requirement that he 
wanted UNHCR to help him.  We explained to him that UNHCR 
could not assist him on this issue as Dega is outlawed in 
Vietnam.  These two cases also were visited by UNHCR in 
¶2005.  The visit of RLAN NGOAN was carried out by Mr. Hasim 
Utkan on August 3, 2005.  The summary of the last visit is 
"When we came he was at his home alone.  He informed that he 
has wife and one child.  Since he returned, he has been 
given by local authorities fertilizers for cultivation on 
his over 2,000-m2 lands.  He was in good health.  Chairman 
of People's Committee of Chu Se knows him and his family 
quite well, as he was former director of rubber state farm, 
which is located in the village.  Furthermore IC's uncle was 
head of the village.  IC was offered by the Chairman a job 
in either the Rubber State Farm or Cotton Factory.  However, 
IC seemed not ready for the offer". 
 
--MTN-406 SIU NHAM, M, 1981 and MTN-277 KPA BO, M, 1979. 
Both returned involuntarily on July 20, 2005.  After meeting 
with these four returnees mentioned above, we requested 
 
HANOI 00000188  004.2 OF 004 
 
 
local authorities to meet with these two returnees at their 
home.  However, when we came, none of the two were at home. 
Their families told us that they were working in the farm 
and only came back home about 6PM.  Both the families seemed 
happy to have them back.  During the mission in august 2005, 
Mr. Utkan and Mr. Vu Anh Son had met him at the vocational 
training centre of Chu Se District. 
 
In the morning of January 19, 2006, we visited 
5 families in Ia Grai District.  However, we could only meet 
with 3 returnees, as other 2 were not at home. 
 
--MTN-42 ROCHAM DIN, M, 1972.  IC returned voluntarily on 
September 2, 2005.  He has wife and three children.  They 
are happy to be together and said they had no problem at all 
since returned.  The meeting was private. 
 
--MTN-121 PUIH CHONH, M, 1978.  IC returned voluntarily on 
March 18, 2005.  He informed that his family had just moved 
to the new house in November 2005.  This case was met by 
UNHCR the first time in July 2005 when received allegations 
that IC was in hiding.  The meeting was private. 
 
--MTN-118 PUIH DJUN, M, 1980.  IC returned voluntarily on 
March 11, 2005.  He has wife but no children yet.  He is 
happy to return and has been working in his farm since 
returned.  The meeting was in his garden and the official of 
Gia Lai People's Committee was around. 
 
--MTN-281 PUIH DUC, M, 1983.  IC returned voluntarily on May 
7, 2005 and visited UNHCR three times before.  But he was 
not at home when we came. 
 
--MTN-119 RMAH KUET, M, 1985.  IC returned involuntarily on 
July 20.  He was not at home when we came.  The neighbor 
informed that he was working in his farm, which is quite far 
away from his home. 
 
In the afternoon of January 19 we went to Dac Doa District 
where we had met two returnees at Ha Bau Commune's office 
privately. 
 
--MTN-209 PUIH KRAI, M, 1984.  IC returned involuntarily on 
July 20, 2005.  We talked with him together with his 
parents.  They said their son had no problems since 
returned.  The discussion was very open and frank.  Finally 
IC stated that he does not want UNHCR visit his family again 
as they would waste their time for nothing. 
 
--MTN-213 KSOR PHYON, M, 1984.  IC returned involuntarily on 
July 20, 2005.  Since his house is very close to the 
communal office, upon our request, local authorities agreed 
we would meet him privately at his home.  It was very 
impressive that our talk was almost in English as IC is 
quite talented in language.  He and his family are happy to 
return home.  He said he had no problem since returning.  He 
just got married 2 months ago and his wife is only 16 years 
old. 
 
End text of briefing. 
 
BOARDMAN