VZCZCXRO0973
RR RUEHDT RUEHPB
DE RUEHHM #0224/01 0681226
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091226Z MAR 07
FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2201
INFO RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 1574
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0001
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 2375

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HO CHI MINH CITY 000224 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV KIRF PREF VM
SUBJECT: DO NAM HAI:  LAST OF THE 8406 BLOC DISSIDENTS? 
 
REF: HCMC 206; B) HCMC 1361 AND PREVIOUS 
 
HO CHI MIN 00000224  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. Summary:  Do Nam Hai, co-founder of the dissident 8406 
Bloc (which calls for peaceful political change in 
Vietnam), told us that he has been under de facto house 
arrest since about the time police intensified their 
actions against 8406 co-leader Father Nguyen Van Ly in Hue. 
Hai has no intention of leaving Vietnam despite police 
hints that he should do so or face arrest.   Separately, 
Nguyen Chinh Ket, an 8406 member now visiting Norway, told 
us that he plans to return to Vietnam this summer after 
touring the United States and Europe to promote human 
rights.  Ket confirmed Internet reports that the police 
have issued a warrant for his arrest.  Like Hai, Ket is 
prepared to face prosecution.   GVN authorities are closely 
monitoring the activities of the dissidents inside Vietnam 
and overseas.  Anti-terrorism police complained to HCMC RSO 
that the Consulate continues to associate with 
"terrorists."  End Summary. 
 
The Last "Free" 8406 Bloc Member in Vietnam 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Following police action to confine co-founder of 
the "8406 Bloc" Father Nguyen Dan Ly in Hue and the arrest 
of lawyer Nguyen Van Dai in Hanoi, we checked up on the 
author of the 8406 Bloc democracy manifesto, HCMC-based Do 
Nam Hai.  (The 8406 Bloc was founded in April 2006 by Ly 
and Hai.  The Bloc and associated organizations such as the 
"Alliance for Democracy," brought together dissidents 
throughout Vietnam under a platform calling for elimination 
of one-party rule in Vietnam.)  Hai reports that the level 
of police surveillance against him has increased 
considerably over the past month placing him under de facto 
house arrest.  Four to six policemen are routinely 
stationed around his home.  When he leaves his house, he 
often is picked up by police, who hold him all day and 
question him on the cases of 8406 Bloc and other activists 
that have been arrested in HCMC.  Hai said that he refuses 
to answer any police questions during these interrogation 
sessions.  On March 9, a police colonel came to his house 
and told him that he will face "strong measures like in Hue 
and Hanoi" if he does not cease his 8406 activities. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Hai said that police also questioned him about 
whether he wished to leave Vietnam.  Hai said that he told 
police that he is a loyal Vietnamese citizen and has no 
intention to leave despite the threat of prosecution.  Hai 
noted that he last spoke with Father Ly over the phone 
immediately before the Lunar New Year holiday in late 
February.  He would not discuss the content of that 
conversation over the phone. 
 
One on the Outside 
------------------ 
 
¶4. (SBU) Hai said that he could not confirm, but did not 
doubt the authenticity of overseas Vietnamese website 
reports that police have issued an arrest warrant for 8406 
Bloc member Nguyen Chinh Ket.  In December 2006, Ket was 
issued a visa to travel to the United States to receive a 
human rights award from a California-based group. 
(Following MPS efforts to block Ket from applying for a 
routine visa, ConGen facilitated an interview and visa 
through Post's visa referral system.)  Ket reported that 
police also sought to prevent him from departing Vietnam. 
We understand that Ket eventually snuck out of the country 
overland. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) On March 9, Nguyen Chinh Ket reported to us via 
email that he departed the United States on March 3 and now 
is in Norway.  Ket said he will meet with representatives 
of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, Norway's 
Labor and Conservative Parties, the Nobel Institute and the 
Nobel Peace Center, the Mayor of Oslo, the Rafto Foundation 
and the Norwegian MFA.  Ket stated that he will hold 
similar meetings in Belgium, Germany, France, Denmark, 
Canada, and Australia.  He confirmed that, on March 5, 
police delivered an arrest warrant for four months 
investigative detention to his home.  Nonetheless, he 
intends to return to Vietnam in June after his 
international trip. 
 
HCMC Police:  "They Are Terrorists" 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) In a March 6 meeting, HCMC anti-terrorist police 
raised the case of Ket and another 8406 Bloc activist, Tran 
Quoc Hien, with HCMC RSO.  The police said that on February 
13, Ministry of Public Security (MPS) "contacts" reported 
 
HO CHI MIN 00000224  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
that Hien conducted prohibited activities during APEC and 
had a plan to "target the President Bush visit."  The anti- 
terrorist police said that Hien was charged with disturbing 
social security in accordance with Article 89, Vietnamese 
Criminal Code (which governs illegal migration in and out 
of Vietnam).  (Note:  During the visit of President Bush to 
HCMC, police prevented dissidents from contacting the 
international press pool covering the visit.  End Note.) 
 
¶7. (SBU) The anti-terrorist police called Nguyen Chinh Ket 
"an accomplice" of Hien.  They reported that on December 6, 
Ket left Vietnam "illegally" for Cambodia and entered the 
U.S. on December 20.  The MPS officials complained that 
ConGen issued a visa for Ket "without an interview."  They 
expressed concern that Ket now had more opportunities to 
carry out prohibited activities against the Vietnamese 
government in the United States.  They requested an 
explanation as to how and why Ket received a visa. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The anti-terrorism officials also told RSO that 
the MPS has information that Hien and Ket "are supported by 
a number of politicians in the United States, who do not 
have appropriate information about these two individuals." 
They requested that "in the spirit of enhancing our 
cooperative relationship," ConGen ask U.S. politicians not 
to support "terrorist activities against the Vietnamese 
government."  They also asserted that ConGen coordinate 
with the anti-terrorism office in dealing with dissidents. 
RSO stressed that we do not consider peaceful speech to be 
terrorism and added that, unless and until MPS provides 
evidence to the contrary, all our available information 
indicates that Ket, Hien and other political dissidents are 
only exercising free speech. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Comment:  Do Nam Hai is the intellectual backbone 
of the 8406 Bloc.  He is the last unincarcerated Bloc 
member in Vietnam (see complete list of dissidents under 
detention in HCMC Consular District below), although he 
clearly is feeling the heat.  The level of detail that the 
MPS provided RSO about Ket's movements -- including 
knowledge of his correct date of entry into the United 
States -- demonstrates how carefully the GVN tracks and 
pursues political dissidents, even overseas.  End Comment. 
 
¶10. (SBU) List of democracy activists in HCMC Consular 
District reportedly under arrest, detention (based on 
information available as of March 8, 2006): 
 
8406 Bloc 
--------- 
 
Nguyen Van Ly: under strict house arrest outside Hue as of 
February 24.  Prosecution pending. 
 
Nguyen Ngoc Quang:  Quang detained in Hue after meeting 
with Father Ly on September 2, 2006. 
 
Vu Hoang Hai:  Arrested in HCMC on September 5, 2006. 
 
Pham Ba Hai: Arrested in Thai Binh province in early 
September.  Reportedly transferred back to HCMC. 
 
Truong Quoc Huy: Arrested August 18 at an Internet caf, in 
HCMC while listening on the PalTalk internet forum. 
 
Tran Quoc Hien:  Arrested January 12, 2007 in HCMC.  Also 
"spokesman" of the United Workers/Farmers Organization of 
Vietnam. 
 
Democratic Party of Vietnam 
--------------------------- 
 
Bui Kim Thanh: Involuntarily committed to the Dong Nai 
mental institution since November 2, 2006. 
 
People's Democratic Party of Vietnam (PDP-VN) 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
Le Trung Hieu:  Arrested in An Giang province, date 
unknown. 
 
Huynh Nguyen Dao:  aka Huynh Viet Lang, arrested August 15, 
2006 
 
Le Nguyen Sang: aka Nguyen Hoang Long, arrested on August 
14, 2006.  Charged with "storage of anti-government 
materials." 
 
Workers/Farmers Union (affiliated with the PDP-VN) 
 
HO CHI MIN 00000224  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
Nguyen Tuan:  Arrested in HCMC November 18, 2006. 
 
Hoang Huy Chuong:  aka Doan Huy Chuong, detained in Tan Phu 
district, HCMC on November 14. 
 
Doan Van Dien:  Father of Hoang Huy Chuong.  Dien also was 
arrested on November 14 in Dong Nai province.  Charged with 
"propagandizing against the government." 
 
Nguyen Tan Hoanh:  Arrested in Dong Nai province on 
November 15, 2006. 
 
Tran Thi Le Hang:  Arrested in Dong Nai province on 
November 15, 2006. 
 
Le Van Sy:  Arrested November 15, 2006. 
 
Nguyen Thi Tuyet:  Arrested in HCMC November 15, 2006. 
 
Le Ba Triet:  Arrested in HCMC November 18, 2006. 
WINNICK