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

100259Z Jan 06

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FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0211
INFO AMEMBASSY HANOI PRIORITY 
ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY

UNCLAS  HO CHI MINH CITY 000029 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KIRF SOCI PHUM VM RELFREE HUMANR ETMIN
SUBJECT: DAK LAK: ENCOURAGING SIGNS ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 
IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS 
 
REF: A) HCMC 1338 B) HCMC 1310 C) HCMC 968 D) 04 HCMC 1491 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  The atmosphere for religious freedom in the 
hitherto intransigent Central Highlands province of Dak Lak 
appeared much improved during a ConGen visit in early January. 
In contrast to past visits, provincial officials told us that 
they now are prepared to implement Vietnam's legal framework on 
religion for the province's 100,000-strong Protestant community 
and detailed some initial positive steps, including church 
registrations and recognition.  Provincial officials remain 
deeply concerned, however, over the spread of ethnic minority 
separatism.  Protestant leaders from both the GVN-recognized 
Southern Evangelical Church of Vietnam and a local house church 
confirmed that conditions have improved markedly for many 
Protestants in the province, although significant problems 
remain, particularly in communities that participated most 
actively in anti-government protests in 2004 and 2001.  Change 
likely would not have been possible without the replacement of 
the hardline Dak Lak Party Secretary during the province's 
December Provincial Party Congress.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) During a visit to the Central Highlands province of Dak 
Lak January 4-5, PolOff met with government and religious 
leaders to reassess religious freedom conditions.   Atmospherics 
and substance had improved since our past visits in September 
2005 and November 2004 (refs C and D).  In a surprisingly frank 
and friendly exchange, Ngo Luc, Standing Vice Chairman of the 
Dak Lak Committee for Religious Affairs said that the province 
now is committed to work "step by step" to implement Vietnam's 
legal framework on religion.  In the case of the province's 
160,000 Catholics, Luc stressed that the local diocese had 
ordained nine priests, while the province had facilitated 
another 13 candidates to enter the seminary.   Similarly, Dak 
Lak is working to normalize the situation for the province's 
100,000 Protestants.  According to the CRA, 90 percent of the 
Protestant community in the province is affiliated with the 
Southern Evangelical Church of Vietnam, the rest with various 
house churches. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Luc emphasized that the province facilitated the 
operation of 191 SECV-linked "meeting points" or house churches 
during Christmas.  The CRA also was in the process of 
recognizing three new SECV churches, a process that should be 
completed by the end of February.  The province has or soon will 
provide land and facilitate building permits for the five 
already-recognized SECV churches in the province.  Dak Lak also 
has allowed the SECV to run a training class for 35 new pastors; 
the CRA is considering running a second class in 2006. The 
Province also approved the registration of 19 SECV "meeting 
points" in three districts in the province.  Another seven 
meeting points might also be registered shortly.  Once these 
meeting points have a proven track record of operating "safely 
and securely," they will be eligible for recognition. 
Additional meetings points in those districts will be allowed to 
operate as legal "sub-churches" of the 19 new meeting points. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Luc stated that the province's policy of step-by-step 
registration and recognition also applies to house church groups 
operating in the province.  Those that have "stable operations" 
will have their registration applications approved, but in the 
interim, they have been allowed to operate freely.  He noted 
that the habit of house churchgoers to change their affiliation 
from one denomination to another complicated the province's 
ability to register house churches. 
 
The Specter of Dega Separatism 
------------------------------ 
 
¶5. (SBU) The CRA official acknowledged that legalization of the 
activities of the Protestant community has been slow, but said 
that Protestantism, with its many denominations, is more 
"complicated."  So to, was the history of Protestantism in the 
Central Highlands, as it has become intermixed with the ethnic 
minority separatism, a subject of deep concern for provincial 
leadership.   Before Protestantism can be normalized in the 
province, "political aspects" must be removed so that it is a 
"pure religion." 
 
The SECV:  Hopeful for the First Time 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Pastor Y Ky Eban, Dak Lak representative on the SECV 
National Executive Board and two other pastors from the Dak Lak 
SECV Provincial Committee told us that they were "very happy" 
with progress in the province over the past few months. 
Dialogue with national and provincial government officials is 
improved.  They confirmed the impending recognition of three new 
churches, the registration of the 19 meeting points and the 
ongoing training class for pastors.  Once ordained, these 
pastors will be assigned to the newly-registered meeting points 
so that the congregations can begin internal SECV and GVN 
procedures for full recognition. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The SECV leaders said that significant problems remain. 
 For example, while the government allowed 191 meeting points to 
operate at Christmas, another 109 in dozens of villages remained 
closed.  According to Eban, these villages participated in the 
April 2004 protests "against the GVN."  Asked to be more 
specific, Eban said that individuals "linked to FULRO" told 
worshipers that the protests would lead to return of their 
lands, additional financial support and migration to the United 
States.  Protest organizers also said that, ultimately, there 
would be an independent Dega state with a separate "Dega 
Protestantism" in the Central Highlands.  (FULRO was the armed 
anti-GVN ethnic minority insurgency that operated in the Central 
Highlands from 1975 to 1992.) 
 
¶8. (SBU) Eban said that the challenge for the SECV was how to 
work to bring the believers influenced by the Dega activists 
back to "normal religious activities."  On this score, the SECV 
urged the provincial government to allow all 300 meeting points 
in the province to operate over Christmas, but it refused. 
According to Eban, Ea Sup district (which we had visited the 
previous day) is the most difficult locality in Dak Lak.  Not 
only are no SECV meeting points operating, but the district 
government also did not allow any candidates to attend the 
pastoral training class.  They noted that Ea Sup was one of the 
key centers of anti-GVN protest in 2004 and 2001. 
 
United World Mission Church 
--------------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) On January 5 we also met in private with lay preacher 
Diep Tan Chau, provincial representative of the United World 
Mission Church (a house church organization based in Danang), at 
his home some 30 kilometers from the provincial capital of Buon 
Ma Thuot.  Chau told us that conditions have improved for the 
church's 400 members and six house churches.  Members are 
principally ethnic Bru and Van Kieu.  None participated in the 
2004 or 2001 protests, according to Chau.  Another 200 members 
recently broke away from the United World Mission Church and 
affiliated themselves with the Presbyterian Church. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Chau said that in December 2005 he submitted the 
paperwork with the provincial CRA to begin the registration 
process for the church in the province.  In preparation for 
registration, he also has had a number of interviews with 
district and provincial CRA and police officials. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Although the church's relationship with senior levels 
of provincial government has improved, Chau complained that 
local implementation of the legal framework on religion is 
inconsistent.  For example, some local officials have said that 
the legal framework applies only to registered churches and 
therefore, United World Mission Church members can only worship 
at home.  Police continue to order the church members not to 
gather for services -- including for Christmas.  However, when 
pastors ignore the instructions, there is no retribution. 
However, some followers are intimidated and have abandoned the 
church.  In another incident in December, local police seized a 
bible, hymnal and collection box from one United World Mission 
house church, although other operations of the same house church 
were unaffected.  District CRA officials have promised to 
intervene, but Chau was not overly optimistic. 
 
¶12. (SBU) Comment:  The mere fact that government leaders now 
tell us that the province has at least 100,000 Protestants and a 
significant house church community is a sea change from November 
2004, when they said straight-faced that the province only 
recognized 5,000 Protestants.  While provincial leaders remain 
highly -- perhaps overly -- concerned over ethnic minority 
separatism, they now appear more willing to provide the 
Protestant community there with alternatives to "Dega 
Protestantism."   This change of approach is significant as, 
from their perspective caution is paramount.  Dak Lak was the 
heart and soul of the FULRO movement and reportedly produced its 
toughest and most determined fighters. 
 
¶13. (SBU) Although Dak Lak is far behind other Central Highlands 
provinces in easing restrictions on religious freedom, this 
visit leaves us more hopeful that concrete progress is 
achievable.  One key factor in catalyzing change was the shift 
in local leadership.  In the recent Provincial Party Congress 
Dak Lak's ultra hardline Party Secretary was replaced. 
According to provincial officials, the new Party Secretary is 
much more moderate.  Similarly, his new Deputy is the former 
Provincial Chief of Public Security, who in past meetings, 
struck us as tough, but open-minded.  End Comment. 
WINNICK 
 
 
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