VZCZCXRO8370
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #0652/01 0981031
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 081031Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5076
INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 2855
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000652 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/AWH AND H/EAP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OREP PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC VM
SUBJECT:  GVN MAKES EXCUSES FOR APRIL 5 INCIDENT, DISSIDENT FAMILY 
MEMBERS OKAY 
 
Ref: HANOI 636 
 
HANOI 00000652  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) On April 6, a local security official told Poloff that the 
altercation at the Ambassador's residence on April 5 (reftel) was 
the result of "local officials acting without orders, to protect the 
Ambassador."  As for the five invitees to the Ambassador's 
residence, over the weekend we were able to ascertain through direct 
and indirect contact that they are "okay," although most remain 
under tight surveillance.  We will attempt to meet with them soon. 
Although the local press covered the overall Codel in generally 
positive terms, reportage on Congresswoman Sanchez's activities made 
extensive use of the negative comments of GVN and National Assembly 
officials.  End Summary. 
 
"Local Police Acted Independently" 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) On April 6, Poloff was contacted by one of our Ministry of 
Public Security (MPS) contacts to discuss reftel's incident at the 
Ambassador's residence on April 5.  The contact stated that he was 
instructed to pass to us an "informal message" from the MPS:  1) 
that the events at the residence were the result of local police 
trying to protect the Ambassador, and were not because of any GVN or 
MPS policy; 2) that the Ambassador had acted "illegally" in speaking 
to the press about the incident at a press roundtable on April 6 
with the Codel's Chairman Ortiz; 3) that the Ambassador's strong 
comments about the event were "made in ignorance of the situation on 
the ground since he had only seen what was in front of him;" and, 4) 
that the MPS would like to establish a better communication link 
with the Embassy to discuss "dangers" to the Ambassador's and DCM's 
residences "to prevent such an event in future." 
 
¶3. (SBU) Poloff replied that the "local officials acting without 
orders" excuse was thin given the large number of officers present 
at the residence on April 5 and the MPS's obvious effort to prevent 
our guests from even leaving their homes.  The situation was clearly 
the result of an MPS and GVN decision to interfere in the meeting, 
which was unacceptable.  Furthermore, the Embassy has a right to 
schedule press conferences when and as we feel it is appropriate, 
and the Ambassador will not accept being told when he can or cannot 
speak to the press, Poloff said. 
 
¶4. (SBU) After a somewhat heated exchange, the MPS contact agreed 
that Poloffs should meet with MPS officials as soon as possible to 
discuss these and other matters, but he would not commit to a time 
without further instructions from his superiors. 
 
Status of the Invitees 
---------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Since the April 5 incident, Post has reached out to all 
five of the invited women to determine their welfare and 
whereabouts.  They report the following: 
 
-- Mrs. Vu Thuy Ha (wife of cyber-dissident and former prisoner of 
concern Pham Hong Son) was one the two women who actually made it to 
the Ambassador's residence on the evening of April 5.  We are in 
e-mail contact with her.  She reports that she is "okay," but access 
to her home is controlled, and she is followed wherever she goes. 
 
-- Mrs. Bui Kim Ngan (wife of imprisoned journalist Nguyen Vu Binh), 
who also made it to the Ambassador's residence on April 5, is in a 
similar situation as Mrs. Ha.  Both are in touch with each other and 
with us and are interested in meeting with us to speak further.  We 
plan to do so shortly without jeopardizing their safety. 
 
-- Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien (wife of former NED fellow and now 
jailed attorney Le Quoc Quan) spoke to one of our FSN staff by 
telephone, and also e-mailed Poloff.  She reports that she was 
called to her local police station for questioning the afternoon of 
April 5 and was held there until 10 p.m. to prevent her from 
attending the meeting at the Ambassador's residence.  In addition, 
her home phone was cut off on April 5.  She is increasingly worried 
about the welfare of her husband, whom she has not seen since his 
arrest on March 8. 
 
-- We were not able to reach Mrs. Vu Minh Khanh (wife of jailed 
attorney Nguyen Van Dai) or Mrs. Tran Thi Le (mother of jailed 
attorney Le Thi Cong Nhan) by telephone.  However, another of our 
activist contacts, who is in direct contact with them, told us that 
they are both "okay."  Local police apparently prevented Mrs. Khanh 
from leaving her home on April 5 and she remains under surveillance. 
 Mrs. Le was interrogated by local police for several hours on April 
5 and April 6, at which time she was "threatened" not to speak with 
 
HANOI 00000652  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
the media, specifically referring to an apparent BBC News interview 
request. 
 
In the days ahead, Post will attempt to meet with each woman, should 
they desire and feel safe enough to do so. 
 
Press Coverage Mixed 
-------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Local press coverage of the incident was split between 
matter-of-fact reporting about the larger Codel's activities and 
scathing criticism of Congresswoman Sanchez for "interfering in 
Vietnam's internal affairs."  MFA Spokesman Le Dzung said that 
Congresswoman Sanchez "has never shown an impartial attitude towards 
nor genuine interest in boosting Vietnam-U.S.relations."  Vice 
Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Foreign Relations Committee 
Madam Ton Nu Thi Ninh accused Congresswoman Sanchez of "following an 
activist agenda, set by an extremist minority of her constituents in 
California, who are mired in the past." 
 
MARINE