VZCZCXRO7321
PP RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #2380/01 2620431
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190431Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3404
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 1820
RUEHZS/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 002380 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL/IRF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KIRF PREL PGOV VM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HANFORD MEETS ETHNIC AFFAIRS MINISTER 
 
Ref: A) Hanoi 1666 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: IRF Ambassador John Hanford met Minister/Chairman 
K'sor Phuoc of the GVN's Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs August 
17 to discuss GVN efforts to facilitate the practice of religion 
among ethnic minority groups, particularly those in Vietnam's north. 
 Ambassador Hanford urged the GVN to take steps over the next six 
weeks that would advance our bilateral religious freedom agenda. 
These steps could include registering Protestant congregations in 
Vietnam's ethnic minority-dominated north and approving training for 
pastors.  The Evangelical Church of Vietnam-North would be a good 
partner for the GVN in taking these steps.  Minister Phuoc stated in 
familiar terms the challenges facing the GVN in dealing with 
Protestantism in the north; underlined his government's commitment 
to religious freedom; and, outlined what actions the GVN plans to 
take to facilitate religious practice, including registering 
congregations, encouraging elections of pastors-in-charge and 
providing land for places of worship.  Ambassador Hanford and 
Minister Phuoc also briefly discussed recent beatings of Protestants 
in Thanh Hoa Province, and Phuoc had little to say beyond the 
official version of events.  End Summary. 
 
Ambassador Hanford's Presentation 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) United States Ambassador-at-Large for International 
Religious Freedom John Hanford, accompanied by Ambassador Marine, 
met August 17 with GVN Committee on Religious Affairs 
Minister/Chairman K'sor Phuoc.  Accepting Minister Phuoc's 
invitation to open the discussion, Ambassador Hanford noted that 
their previous meeting in Washington in July was a good opportunity 
to discuss the growth of Protestantism among ethnic minorities and 
the tensions that this is generating in some places.  The USG 
appreciates the Minister's efforts to facilitate progress for ethnic 
minority groups, particularly in their religious activities. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Hanford explained that the purpose of this visit 
to Vietnam is to discuss possible areas for progress in the area of 
religious freedom in the weeks ahead.  This matter is more pertinent 
than ever considering the Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) 
discussions taking place in Congress, the need to make a decision on 
Vietnam's Country of Particular Concern (CPC) status and the 
President's planned November visit to Vietnam.  Vietnam's positive 
actions to date have been notable, and this is a point that 
Ambassador Hanford has sought to make in meetings with Members of 
Congress and others. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Ambassador Hanford expressed his hope that both sides could 
think creatively about ways in which the GVN could accelerate 
advances in religious freedom, perhaps by moving up the timetables 
of actions that are already in train.  By taking a number of 
positive steps in the weeks ahead, Vietnam would be showing its 
considerable commitment to responding to our concerns.  Similarly, a 
GVN roadmap, or general guidelines, of what it intends to do over 
the next year in the area of religious freedom would send a positive 
signal about Vietnam's willingness to keep up our forward momentum, 
Ambassador Hanford said. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The USG's particular ara of concern remains the slow pace 
of registratins in northern Vietnam, including the Northwest 
ighlands, Ambassador Hanford continued.  In spite o Hanoi's 
positive efforts, it appears that localofficials still have not 
gotten the message.  Fo example, we still hear of instances of 
local officials pressing individuals to renounce their Protestant 
faith, although we are aware that this is not GVN policy.  We 
realize that it is impossible to solve these problems nationwide, 
simultaneously and in a quick manner.  But, it seems that some steps 
could be taken in the near future to show that progress is being 
made in the north. 
 
¶6. (SBU) As we are aware, under the Ordinance on Religion and Belief 
and the Prime Minister's Instruction on Protestantism, congregations 
that follow correct procedures and fill out the proper paperwork 
will be allowed to register, Ambassador Hanford said.  According to 
the Evangelical Church of Vietnam-North (ECVN), some 700 
congregations have submitted applications to register in various 
places throughout the north.  However, to the ECVN's knowledge, none 
of these applications has been approved.  In fact, a large number of 
these applications have been returned unopened, or, in other cases, 
the people associated with the applications have received severe 
treatment from local officials, including harassment and beatings. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The issue of registrations, at least for a symbolic number 
of congregations, should be easy to resolve in a short period of 
time, Ambassador Hanford continued.  The USG is aware that the GVN 
has made a good-faith effort to arrange training sessions in the 
north for local officials on the legal framework on religion and the 
need to respect religious beliefs.  Similar efforts in this area and 
others over the next six weeks, and a sense from the GVN of where it 
 
HANOI 00002380  002 OF 003 
 
 
intends to go over the next year, would be welcome signals that 
Vietnam remains committed to working together to advance religious 
freedom, Ambassador Hanford said. 
 
Phuoc: Protestantism in North a Complex Matter 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶8. (SBU) Minister Phuoc outlined in familiar terms the GVN's 
commitment to freedom of religion and belief for all of Vietnam's 
citizens.  In Vietnam today, there are more or less ten different 
religions operating, including those such as Cao Dai and Hoa Hao 
that are products of Vietnam.  Of course, there are many foreign 
religions as well, such as Catholicism, Buddhism, Islam and 
Protestantism.  Most of these religions are "operating normally" in 
Vietnam, and, in the case of Protestantism, there are many branches. 
 For example, Protestantism in the Central Highlands is dominated by 
the Mennonites, while in the north the most prevalent branches are 
the Vietnam Christian Fellowship, the 7th Day Adventists, the 
Baptists and the Grace Baptist Church.  Protestant adherents are 
present in 16 provinces, 88 districts and 459 communes in the north. 
 Many Protestant adherents were converted by "Voice of America 
broadcasts in the ethnic Hmong and Dzao languages."  (Note: 
Ambassadors Hanford and Marine later corrected Phuoc, noting that 
private religious groups operate these radio broadcasts.  End Note.) 
 Because so many branches exist in one locality, there tends to be 
some overlap in Protestant religious groups' registration 
applications. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Furthermore, certain segments of the population still have 
a nomadic lifestyle and move between provinces or over the border 
between Vietnam and Laos, Phuoc continued.  Among them, many follow 
"Vang Chu," which is a clear influence of Laotian Hmong people, and 
they hope for the restoration of the ancient "Hmong Empire" under 
the flag of Vang Hao, who lives in the United States.  There are 
often clashes within one family or a single community between those 
who have different religions.  Prior to Protestantism's arrival in 
the Northwest Highlands in 1985, local people were polytheistic and 
followed traditional customs.  With the French colonists came 
Catholicism.  It is thus possible that within one family, three 
generations can follow three different religious beliefs: 
polytheism or traditional ancestor worship, Catholicism and 
Protestantism.  This situation can lead to clashes, Phuoc repeated. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Even some Protestant leaders do not fully understand their 
own religion, not to mention Vietnam's legal framework on religion, 
Phuoc said.  For example, some Protestants mistakenly believe that 
they are not allowed to drink alcohol, or do not have to serve in 
the army or pay taxes.  They argue that because everything was 
created by God, they can practice their beliefs anywhere or do 
anything they want.  In some extreme cases, a Protestant leader will 
even gather his followers together to commit mass suicide.  All of 
these things explain why local authorities often have a hard time 
dealing with Protestantism and certain groups' applications to 
register, Phuoc noted. 
 
What a Congregation Must Do 
--------------------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) The GVN's policy is to give guidance to provincial 
authorities on facilitating normal Protestant activities, the 
Minister continued.  Under this guidance, all religious groups must 
register in order to practice their faith.  In the case of 
Protestantism, these groups are asked to identify what branch they 
belong to, but many cannot.  "They just know that they are 
Protestant," Phuoc said.  Upon registration, the local Vietnam 
Fatherland Front representative and commune leadership should assist 
the congregation in electing a pastor-in-charge.  Phuoc pledged to 
work closely with the ECVN to introduce the pastor-in-charge to the 
provincial authorities.  The congregation must also organize a local 
congress and invite Protestant leaders (Note: presumably from Hanoi 
or elsewhere) to hold training sessions on true Protestant 
teachings.  Where necessary, the authorities will also consider 
providing land to set up places of worship. 
 
¶12. (SBU) One possibly difficult area is in the selection of the 
congregation's leadership, because there could be disputes among 
followers about who should become pastor-in-charge, Phuoc observed. 
In fact, in some cases, the ECVN has asked government authorities to 
resolve disputes when it became clear that people were abusing 
Protestantism to gain personal benefits.  In any event, even if a 
congregation is not yet recognized or registered, it will still be 
allowed to gather to worship, Phuoc said. 
 
¶13. (SBU) Repeating the steps a congregation must take to normalize 
its operations, Phuoc said that, once a congregation is registered, 
it must hold a congress to select its leadership and then it will be 
recognized by the State.  At that point, the congregation's leader 
will have the legal status to work with local authorities to address 
his followers' needs.  In some cases, this will entail facilitating 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 003 * 
***********************