VZCZCXRO0626
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHNH RUEHPB
DE RUEHHI #1115/01 1310300
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110300Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1820
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 1105
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 HANOI 001115 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR DRL AND EAP/MLS 
 
STATE ALSO FOR DS/IP/EAP, DS/T/ATA AND DS/P/DP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM KIRF PGOV ASEC VM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS MPS VICE MINISTER 
 
Ref: A) HCMC 466; B) Hanoi 395; C) Hanoi 715; D) Hanoi 667; 
E) Hanoi 669 
 
HANOI 00001115  001.2 OF 007 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) During a May 9 meeting with Vice Minister of Public 
Security Nguyen Van Huong, the Ambassador welcomed progress 
in developing cooperative bilateral law enforcement 
contacts, but called on MPS to do more; recognized 
improvements in the religious freedom situation in Vietnam, 
but underlined the need for continued progress, particularly 
in northern Vietnam; welcomed MPS's assistance in promoting 
positive activity in the Central Highlands, such as family 
reunification, fullest possible accounting and international 
monitoring of ethnic minority returnees; and, urged the GVN 
to release our remaining prisoners of concern.  Vice 
Minister Huong, who is rumored to be in line to be head of a 
new Ministry of State Security, pledged further progress in 
religious freedom, but cautioned that those who abuse 
religion to advance political goals would be punished; 
committed to examining our list of prisoners of concern, but 
offered no promises; requested U.S. assistance, including 
training and equipment, in APEC protection issues; and, 
welcomed U.S. interest in promoting economic development in 
the Central Highlands.  The Ambassador urged VM Huong to 
make clear what exactly MPS needs in the way of support for 
APEC.  End Summary. 
 
Bilateral Cooperation, Including Law Enforcement 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador, accompanied by the Senior Advisor 
and Pol/C, opened his May 9 meeting with Minister of Public 
Security Vice Minister Nguyen Van Huong by noting that, in 
light of the Ambassador's upcoming travel to the United 
States, their discussion is a good chance to go over issues 
of mutual interest.  One of the biggest tasks ahead of both 
countries is our joint effort to wrap up our bilateral WTO 
negotiations.  There is cause for optimism about this week's 
negotiating session, the successful conclusion of which will 
set the stage for a vote by Congress on Permanent Normal 
Trade Relations (PNTR) for Vietnam, the Ambassador said. 
Many of the issues of interest to Members of Congress fall 
directly within MPS's purview and have been advanced by the 
Vice Minister's efforts. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The USG hopes to continue to build bilateral 
cooperation in the area of security and law enforcement and 
expand beyond the progress our two sides have made since 
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai's visit to Washington in June 
2005, the Ambassador continued.  The USG has a strong 
interest in issues related to the proliferation of weapons 
of mass destruction and their means of delivery, 
counternarcotics and counterterrorism.  In all these areas, 
the USG appreciates the assistance and cooperation we 
receive from the GVN, particularly MPS. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Vietnam's efforts to expand its ties with regional 
and global organizations, such as ASEAN, have also been 
impressive, the Ambassador said.  We are firmly convinced 
that Vietnam should play a greater role in the region and 
the world, such as peacekeeping and demining activities.  We 
look forward to Vietnam's participation in PKO as well as 
its bid for non-permanent membership on the UN Security 
Council.  The world's spotlight will be on Vietnam this year 
as host of APEC and as a possible new member of the WTO. 
The security that MPS has provided for the various APEC 
events has so far been excellent, and we look forward to 
working with MPS to provide security to senior American 
officials, including those participating in the APEC Leaders 
Meeting.  We have begun discussions with MPS on the 
possibility of providing assistance through a seminar on 
event planning in preparation for the Leaders Meeting, the 
Ambassador noted. 
 
¶5. (SBU) In the area of bilateral law enforcement 
cooperation, we have seen improvements over the past year, 
the Ambassador continued.  There have been meaningful and 
beneficial exchanges of information regarding the case of 
Nguyen Huu Chanh.  Furthermore, just over a week ago, 
Vietnam cooperated with us on the return to the United 
States of an individual wanted for drug-related crimes.  In 
the sensitive and high-profile issue of trafficking in 
persons, we have seen an increasing willingness of the GVN 
to exchange information and cooperate to address this 
terrible phenomenon.  The USG is spending a considerable 
 
HANOI 00001115  002.2 OF 007 
 
 
amount of money, some USD 34 million, to assist Vietnam in 
its fight against HIV/AIDS, and MPS can play a major role in 
making our efforts to protect Vietnam's young people as 
effective as possible, the Ambassador noted. 
 
¶6. (SBU) MPS currently has the draft Memorandum of 
Understanding for cooperative activities with the Drug 
Enforcement Administration (DEA), and we hope to receive 
positive comments soon, the Ambassador said.  The FBI also 
is also interested in a similar MOU once the DEA matter is 
resolved.  However, in spite of our two sides' progress, 
there is still room to take our cooperation to a higher 
level and enable us to work on cases in a joint, cooperative 
manner.  Vietnam's law limits how much can be done in this 
regard, and we intend to try to raise this matter with the 
National Assembly and would like to work with MPS on this, 
the Ambassador said. 
 
Fullest Possible Accounting 
--------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Many Members of Congress are very interested in the 
issue of Fullest Possible Accounting of those missing from 
the war, and this humanitarian mission continues to go very 
well thanks to MPS's support, the Ambassador continued.  We 
have resumed regular operations in the Central Highlands and 
thus removed what had been a cloud over this issue.  There 
are a number of other possible cases located in sensitive 
areas that off-limits to foreigners, and we welcome efforts 
to find technical or other solutions to these issues, such 
as allowing a small number of investigators, or using video 
cameras, to observe recovery operations performed by the 
Vietnamese.  We also hope that the GVN will take unilateral 
actions whenever possible to recover and return remains and 
allow us to close cases, the Ambassador stressed. 
 
Central Highlands: Monitoring, Visas-93, ESF 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) The GVN's handling of the issue of international 
access to the Central Highlands to monitor ethnic minority 
returnees from Cambodia is an excellent example of how we 
can work together to solve difficult problems, the 
Ambassador observed.  The Ambassador himself has been to Gia 
Lai and Kon Tum provinces and met returnees there, and the 
cooperation provided by the GVN and local authorities was 
outstanding.  The key is that returnees are treated in a 
humane manner, and that all allegations of mistreatment are 
vigorously investigated.  This appears to be what is 
happening, and it is a good story for Vietnam. 
 
¶9. (SBU) We are also pleased with the progress we have seen 
in our family reunification efforts directed at those 
separated by the exodus of ethnic minorities in 2001 and 
¶2004.  Passports have been issued to 67 percent of the total 
caseload, and each province in the Central Highlands region 
is now cooperative, including the previously problematic Dak 
Lak Province.  Of the total caseload, 47 percent have 
already left for the United States.  We would not have 
achieved this without the assistance of MPS and the personal 
intervention of the Vice Minister, and we appreciate it. 
Our goal is to wrap this up before the end of the year and 
have the remaining 53 percent of the caseload depart for the 
United States, the Ambassador said. 
 
¶10. (SBU) As the Ambassador and the Vice Minister discussed 
before, the key to resolving issues in the Central Highlands 
is working together to create improved economic conditions 
and decrease the possibility of instability.  The Ambassador 
will meet with Viet Kieu groups in the United States next 
week and, as he has done on previous occasions, will state 
the USG's complete support for Vietnam's territorial 
integrity.  The Ambassador will also make clear that the USG 
condemns efforts to use violence or force to achieve 
political aims in Vietnam.  The USG is currently discussing 
with the GVN how to implement projects to help ethnic 
minorities in the Central Highlands to improve their 
economic conditions.  The U.S. Congress has provided USD two 
million for this purpose.  The fact that the Central 
Highlands enjoyed a quiet and happy Easter (Ref A) is 
evidence of the success of the GVN's policies in this 
region, the Ambassador noted. 
 
Religious Freedom 
----------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International 
 
HANOI 00001115  003.2 OF 007 
 
 
Religious Freedom John Hanford and his staff will soon begin 
a review process that will culminate later this year in 
Country of Particular Concern (CPC) decisions, the 
Ambassador continued.  As Ambassador Hanford told the Vice 
Minister in February (Ref B), the USG fully recognizes that 
Vietnam has made progress, particularly in freeing religious 
prisoners and banning forced renunciations.  However, there 
are those in the United States who believe a case can still 
be made for re-designating Vietnam as a CPC.  We need strong 
evidence that Vietnam is making progress in order to 
convince those who are opposed to lifting CPC, particularly 
among Members of Congress.  We still see problems in the 
Northwest Highlands and across northern Vietnam.  During the 
Ambassador's visit to Son La Province several months ago 
(Ref C), both local Party and government leaders said that 
there were no religious believers in Son La, which we know 
is not correct. 
 
¶12. (SBU) Furthermore, we have not been able to see any 
evidence that the GVN takes action against those officials 
or police who abuse religious believers, the Ambassador 
said.  The next several months will be critical in balancing 
the good news with the bad news in the religious freedom 
story in Vietnam as Ambassador Hanford prepares his views 
for the Secretary and the President.  A concerted GVN effort 
to register churches and congregations in the north and the 
Central Highlands would go a long way in silencing Vietnam's 
critics on this issue.  Many congregations have turned in 
registration applications, but nothing has happened.  These 
congregations are allowed to worship quietly, but not 
openly, and this must change, the Ambassador stressed. 
 
Human Rights Issues: Prison Visits, Prisoners of Concern 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
¶13. (SBU) Building on our successful Human Rights Dialogue 
in February (Refs D and E), we received permission to visit 
two prisons in Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai provinces, near HCMC 
(Note:  The visits took place on May 9-10 and will be 
reported septel.  End Note.)  This was welcome news, and we 
appreciate the efforts of all those who made it possible, 
the Ambassador said.  We hope that Vietnam will extend an 
invitation to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions, 
as well. 
 
¶14. (SBU) We are also well aware of and grateful for the 
role the MPS and the Vice Minister himself played in the 
release over the past year of a number of our prisoners of 
concern.  Many of the prisoners on the list that the 
Ambassador gave to the Vice Minister in June 2005 have been 
released, and the number of individuals of concern to the 
USG has been reduced to a handful.  However, this handful 
still attracts the attention of many in the United States 
and the international community.  These individuals are not 
a threat to Vietnam, except that their continued confinement 
causes public relations damage to Vietnam.  (Note:  At this 
point, the Ambassador handed VM Huong an updated version of 
the list of prisoners and individuals facing restrictions 
that DRL A/S Lowenkron presented during the Human Rights 
Dialogue.  End Note.)  Among our prisoners of concern are 
Pham Hong Son and Nguyen Vu Binh, whose cases have high 
visibility in the United States and elsewhere around the 
world.  The USG has no desire to interfere in the internal 
affairs of the GVN, but we have to advise that the 
perception of many around the world is that these two 
individuals are being held for political reasons and not the 
reasons the GVN advances.  In preparation for the PNTR vote, 
it would be a boon to acquiring the needed votes if the GVN 
made a gesture under its laws and released these 
individuals, the Ambassador said. 
 
¶15. (SBU) After a brief interlude, the Ambassador noted that 
an Embassy officer had recently traveled to Lao Cai and Ha 
Giang provinces (septel) to get the ground truth about the 
religious freedom situation there.  While the report from 
this trip is basically positive, issues of concern remain. 
This is how it always will be, as no country is perfect, 
including the United States.  However, the key is the extent 
to which the GVN is willing to be open and provide us with 
information, giving us the opportunity to share this 
information with Washington. 
 
VM Huong responds 
----------------- 
 
¶16. (SBU) VM Huong noted that the GVN often provides 
information to the United States on a number of issues, and 
 
HANOI 00001115  004.2 OF 007 
 
 
also takes steps to allow U.S. officials to visit localities 
to see things for themselves.  In the past, this was not 
always possible because the unfortunate history between our 
two countries did not always make it safe for visiting 
Americans.  But now things are different, and an American 
can safely travel anywhere in Vietnam and meet local 
citizenry. 
 
¶17. (SBU) In any society, there will be those who say good 
things and those who say bad things, the Vice Minister 
continued.  The case of Father Nguyen Van Ly is a good 
example.  The USG urged the GVN to release him, but it seems 
that he is an "opportunist":  when he was in prison, he 
criticized the U.S. Congress.  Now that he is out, he is 
criticizing the GVN.  "We know what kind of man he is," VM 
Huong said.  Based on discussions with Ambassador Hanford 
and others, Vietnam released Father Ly, thinking that this 
would allow Vietnam to be removed from the CPC list.  But, 
Ambassador Hanford could not persuade the U.S. Congress, and 
Vietnam remains a CPC.  The GVN believed that when it 
released Father Ly he would say the opposite of what he said 
in prison, and this is what happened.  Father Ly's 
activities are political, not religious.  He says what 
people want to hear.  Vietnam does not fear him, VM Huong 
asserted. 
 
Law Enforcement Cooperation 
--------------------------- 
 
¶18. (SBU) VM Huong agreed that U.S.-Vietnam law enforcement 
cooperation is effective and fruitful.  Vietnam highly 
regards the sharing of information and experiences and other 
forms of cooperative activities.  USG-provided capacity- 
building lessons and other forms of training have many 
tactical similarities to those of the MPS.  Vietnam can also 
contribute supplemental content to those lessons.  For 
example, in Vietnam, the Government has very strict control 
of local areas.  Each resident can act as a security 
officer.  Therefore, it is very difficult for a stranger 
from outside to intrude because he would be immediately 
detected, the Vice Minister noted. 
 
Religious Freedom 
----------------- 
 
¶19. (SBU) Vietnam's socio-economic development efforts will 
increase democracy in Vietnam, VM Huong continued. 
Religious freedom and other personal freedoms will 
increasingly be respected.  Vietnam's legal framework on 
religion will also continue to be improved.  The USG has 
said that certain people do not yet have religious freedom, 
and this is correct.  This is particularly true for 
Protestantism because this is a new religion only recently 
introduced to Vietnam, especially in the Northwest 
Highlands.  The proselytizing of this religion was "sneaky 
and not in the open."  Therefore, the residents of a certain 
village did not understand what a Protestant believer was 
following and did not know that it was Protestantism.  Some 
thus considered it as a "heresy," and there were clashes. 
So it is correct when provincial leaders say that "there are 
no religious followers in our area," but it is also correct 
when those people say "we are religious followers."  Thus, 
it can be reported one way or the other, VM Huong argued. 
 
¶20. (SBU) When the new Ordinance on Belief and Religion is 
widely disseminated, religious freedom will be ensured, VM 
Huong continued.  It took four to five years for the Central 
Highlands to have today's improvements.  For example, there 
are a number of new boards of deacons that were set up in 
Dak Lak Province in February.  It will take time for Vietnam 
to have similar improvements in the Northwest Highlands, but 
it will be faster than in the Central Highlands because 
Vietnam has gained experience from there.  In June, the GVN 
will hold a conference for the whole northern region to help 
local officials grasp thoroughly the GVN's policy on 
religion.  The trend for religious freedom, and particularly 
for Protestantism, is good, the Vice Minister predicted. 
 
¶21. (SBU) Long-established religions like Buddhism or 
Catholicism are well developed.  For example, every year the 
Buddha's birthday is widely celebrated.  When a nation with 
a population of 80 million has 20 million religious 
followers, it is not true that its Government causes 
difficulties for religious belief.  Generally speaking, the 
Vietnamese people are free to follow religions.  "When 
considering this issue, I hope that you take an overall view 
of all religions, and not just look at Protestantism, when 
 
HANOI 00001115  005.2 OF 007 
 
 
you make your assessment," VM Huong requested.  The GVN 
would welcome the USG's realistic view of the current 
religious situation in Vietnam. 
 
WTO, Bilateral Relations 
------------------------ 
 
¶22. (SBU) The Vice Minister also welcomed the U.S.-Vietnam 
negotiations on WTO accession.  Vietnam wishes to integrate 
itself into the world.  If the economy develops well, the 
Vietnamese people's rights will improve.  Given the current 
situation in the region and in the world, Vietnam must not 
be a weak nation, but a strong one.  Vietnam's foreign 
policy is to strengthen economic and multi-faceted relations 
with the United States to the benefit of both countries, 
because there are many commonalities in the interests and 
goals of both the United States and Vietnam.  In the past, 
the two countries missed many opportunities to develop their 
ties.  Now the current generation should make contributions 
to the development of bilateral relations, VM Huong said. 
 
¶23. (SBU) The things that have "entangled us here are only 
secondary, and we will surely solve them in the future," the 
Vice Minister continued.  The two countries' strategic 
goals, which were discussed at the meeting that VM Huong and 
the Ambassador also attended between the Prime Minister and 
President Bush, have been confirmed.  There are still many 
issues on which the United States and Vietnam should have a 
better mutual understanding.  The results of bilateral 
cooperation create good conditions for both sides to 
strengthen their relations in the future.  So far, the two 
countries have not had any economic cooperation programs 
that are commensurate with the relationship's potential.  If 
President Bush visits Vietnam, there is no appropriate 
"economic program" for him to visit.  Even a Presidential 
visit to a Fullest Possible Accounting site may not be 
appropriate because it is not the "right scale." 
 
APEC and Protection Issues 
-------------------------- 
 
¶24. (SBU) An issue of concern to the Vice Minister is 
Vietnam's hosting of APEC.  The GVN understands that this is 
not a normal conference, but a meeting of world leaders. 
Therefore, to securely protect them is Vietnam's primary 
goal.  Vietnam has completed making APEC protection plans, 
and the Vice Minister has the prime responsibility to 
provide protection and security for the APEC meeting.  MPS 
will mobilize the highest number of security forces for 
APEC, and it has exchanged experience with many countries. 
MPS will also soon invite its South Korean colleagues to 
exchange their experiences on the 13th APEC meeting in 
Busan.  Of course, MPS will also discuss protection issues 
with is U.S. counterparts.  Because Vietnam has never hosted 
such an event, it has not been able to anticipate all of the 
possible scenarios.  MPS will increase its coordination and 
wishes to cooperate with U.S. law enforcement agencies in 
providing protection at the APEC meeting in Vietnam. 
 
¶25. (SBU) As President Bush told Prime Minister Khai, "the 
United States will support Vietnam in protecting the APEC 
meeting."  But, "frankly speaking, our cooperation is still 
too modest, not strong enough," VM Huong said.  The 
Ambassador responded that the important thing is for MPS to 
articulate the issues before it and make clear the kind of 
help it will need.  The events planning seminar previously 
mentioned will provide benefits in terms of strengthening 
Vietnam's protection efforts.  The Department hopes to hold 
this seminar in September, and our Diplomatic Security 
Bureau will have a major role, the Ambassador said. 
 
¶26. (SBU) VM Huong agreed that we have to start now, 
particularly in the collection of information on security 
threats.  Vietnam needs equipment that can identify 
criminals and terrorists when they enter Vietnam, even in 
disguise.  There are still many things for the United States 
and Vietnam to discuss.  For example, vehicles for 
protection personnel will be needed in large numbers.  VM 
Huong explained that he told his staff to calculate the 
number of Ford vehicles that MPS will need.  Vietnam does 
not want to import vehicles from outside, because these 
vehicles are not fully under MPS's control.  MPS wants 
protection personnel to have vehicles that allow for 
effective operation, and VM Huong asked for the Ambassador's 
help in approaching Ford. 
 
¶27. (SBU) The Ambassador replied that Ford in Vietnam is 
 
HANOI 00001115  006.2 OF 007 
 
 
trying to deal with the policy changes surrounding the 
import of used vehicles that are undercutting Ford's 
investment here.  VM Huong noted that Vietnam's tax policy 
will take care of this issue, and continued by saying that 
MPS also wants to have bomb-detection equipment, but it is 
difficult to import this from the United States.  The 
Ambassador reiterated that MPS needs to let us know its 
specific needs, and we will do everything possible to 
accelerate the processing time.  However, time is short, and 
we need to move quickly, the Ambassador stressed. 
 
Visas-93 
-------- 
 
¶28. (SBU) Turning to other matters the Ambassador raised, VM 
Huong said that issues of concern to the United States are 
"also of concern to me, but perhaps they are not problems." 
For those who want to depart for the United States (under 
the Visas-93 Program), the GVN will issue passports to them. 
The problem is whether the USG will interview them and allow 
them to immigrate.  MPS has told these individuals to 
prepare money to pay fees, which the Ambassador noted was 
not necessary because there are no fees.  The Ambassador 
agreed that we do not have problems.  Instead, we have 
issues that we are working on constructively.  Although we 
cannot change everything in one day, and resolving our 
concerns will take time, there is nothing that we cannot 
handle. 
 
¶29. (SBU) Returning to the subject of Visas-93, VM Huong 
said that the difficulty has to do with the local people. 
Those who will depart think that they will have a better 
life, and they encourage others to flee the country 
illegally.  Vietnam's policy is not to punish those who have 
been duped into fleeing the country, but rather the 
traffickers and others who facilitate this. 
 
Central Highlands 
----------------- 
 
¶30. (SBU) VM Huong welcomed projects to raise the standard 
of living of those in the Central Highlands.  The only 
concern is to ensure that charitable work is not abused to 
instigate unrest among ethnic minorities.  Regarding the USD 
two million dollars, Vietnam requests that the United States 
work directly with the provinces in need so that the money 
can be efficiently used.  In terms of Fullest Possible 
Accounting, for 18 years the United States and Vietnam have 
enjoyed very good cooperation, and the Vice Minister urged 
the Ambassador to tell Congress about Vietnam's humanitarian 
policies in this area.  Noting that he himself worked on 
this issue years ago, VM Huong said that he would do what he 
could to bring the program to a successful conclusion. 
Vietnam hopes that the USG will take into account the 
conditions in Vietnam and provide assistance to those 
Vietnamese veterans who have difficult lives.   Furthermore, 
as Prime Minister Khai said to President Bush, Vietnam hopes 
for greater U.S. assistance in addressing the legacies of 
the war. 
 
Religious Freedom 
----------------- 
 
¶31. (SBU) VM Huong reiterated his belief that the situation 
for religious believers would soon improve further. 
"Ambassador Hanford has nothing to worry about," he said, 
pledging to provide more information which will show 
Vietnam's good progress in this area. 
 
Prison Visits, Prisoners of Concern 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶32. (SBU) The Vice Minister noted that the GVN had worked 
out a very special policy to allow U.S. diplomats to visit 
the two prisons.  "No place else allows foreign officials to 
visit their prisons," VM Huong asserted.  The Ambassador 
rejoined that prison visits take place elsewhere in the 
world, and foreign officials can visit American prisons. 
The greater transparency and openness that Vietnam shows, 
the more that people will believe Vietnam's assertions, the 
Ambassador stressed. 
 
¶33. (SBU) VFM Huong pledged to examine the list of prisoners 
of concern provided by the Ambassador, noting that he is 
familiar with the cases of Pham Hong Son and Nguyen Vu Binh. 
Outsiders claim that these two men are political prisoners, 
but they were tried under the law and their sentences are 
 
HANOI 00001115  007.2 OF 007 
 
 
correct.  "There are no differences in how they were 
treated," the Vice Minister said.  Even high-ranking Party 
members, including those from MPS like LtGen Bui Quoc Huy, 
were imprisoned when they had committed offenses.  The 
prisoners of concern will be released when they are 
qualified to be released.  The GVN will consider their 
cases, but is "not afraid of any threats of pressure."  If 
consideration of their releases is not in accordance with 
the law, there will be problems, VM Huong said. 
 
¶34. (SBU) In terms of the persons facing restrictions, such 
as Thich Quang Do and Father Ly, Huong said he is very 
familiar with them.  These individuals have "mental 
problems" and want to form political parties within their 
religions.  Because they are old, "I don't want to arrest 
them," VM Huong said.  However, if they violate the law, 
they will be punished.  The monks affiliated with the 
Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam cause a lot of trouble. 
They even have quarrels among themselves, such as that 
between Thich Tue Sy and Thich Quang Do.  Clearly, Vo Van Ai 
and other "outside agitators" are providing information to 
certain Members of Congress and others.  Should the 
Ambassador meet Thich Quang Do, "please tell him that he can 
practice religious services, but they must be in accordance 
with the law," the Vice Minister requested, noting that such 
a message from the Ambassador would have great impact. 
Dealing with these individuals, and others who try to set 
themselves on fire, is difficult.  "If you were in my place, 
you would feel the same," Huong said.  Religious activity is 
subject to the law, and the law says clearly that abuse of 
religious activities for political aims will get you 
arrested. 
 
¶35. (SBU) The Ambassador said that the USG has made clear 
that we are adamantly opposed to those who set themselves on 
fire, and we have told Hoa Hao adherents that this is wrong. 
The Ambassador suggested that VM Huong deal with these 
individuals as little as possible.  They are no threat to 
the State or the Party.  Responding to an earlier question 
by the Vice Minister regarding the future of the Party, the 
Ambassador said that the key to the Party's future success 
will be the extent to which it can learn to tolerate the 
views and opinions of all in society, including those on our 
lists of concern.  Some people will say foolish things, but 
all should have the space to express their views.  This is a 
prerequisite of a true democracy.  This will take time, and 
someday hopefully political freedom will exist.  This 
freedom will not be a threat to the Party. 
 
¶36. (SBU) The conference in June that will educate officials 
in the north is welcome news, the Ambassador continued.  We 
hope that Ambassador Hanford will be able to return to 
Vietnam soon to further assess the religious freedom 
situation here.  The more information the GVN can provide on 
local conditions, the better.  While true that changes in 
the north will take time, evidence of movement in the right 
direction is important, the Ambassador stressed. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶37. (SBU) Although VM Huong refused to speculate on his 
future in light of the rumored split of MPS into two 
ministries -- one responsible for the police and the other 
for State security -- our contacts have indicated that Huong 
is in line to be minister in a new Ministry of State 
Security (with Vice Minister Le The Tiem poised to take over 
as Minister of Police).  VM Huong flatly denied that current 
Minister of Public Security Le Hong Anh would assume one of 
Vietnam's three Deputy Prime Ministerships.  We have heard 
that Le Hong Anh will instead assume control of an until now 
largely inactive national security council or committee that 
oversees both the military and security services.  End 
comment. 
 
MARINE