VZCZCXRO1017
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #0931/01 1410840
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 210840Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5412
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 3062
RUEHZS/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0201
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0502
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0501
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0218
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 0082
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2267
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0057
RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN 0056
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0271

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000931 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/AWH 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL HUMANR PGOV PHUM VM
 
SUBJECT: EU, CANADA CONDEMN HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION 
 
HANOI 00000931  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) In recent days, the EU and Canada have issued statements 
expressing concern about the human rights situation in Vietnam and 
calling on the GVN to release all non-violent political prisoners. 
The GVN rejected in familiar terms the EU's statement, noting that 
Vietnam has always respected the freedoms of speech and democracy. 
These statements are welcome additions to USG and other criticism of 
the GVN crackdown on political dissent.  We will continue to work 
with our colleagues from other like-minded embassies to encourage 
similar statements from their governments.  End Summary. 
 
EU, Canada Issue Statements 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) In recent days, both the EU and Canada have issued 
statements expressing concern about the human rights situation in 
Vietnam (full texts of statements in paragraphs 6 and 7).  The EU 
statement, issued by the Germany Presidency on May 15, notes with 
great concern the trials and sentencing of Father Nguyen Van Ly, 
human rights lawyers Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan and others. 
 It further calls on the GVN to release all non-violent political 
prisoners and abide by the International Covenant on Civil and 
Political Rights, as well as Vietnam's own Constitution.  According 
to a senior colleauge at an EU-member embassy in Hanoi, "the French, 
Germans and Swedes have been out in front on this one.  We have them 
to thank for this human rights statement, the last of which was in 
2003." 
 
¶3. (SBU) The Canadian statement, read May 18 by Deepak Obhrai, a 
Canadian MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Foreign Minister, 
calls the GVN's recent actions against dissidents violations of the 
principles of freedom of expression and tolerance for peaceful 
opposition.  It also urges the GVN to release all political 
prisoners and respect international standards of human rights. 
 
GVN Responds 
------------ 
 
¶4. (SBU) Responding to the EU's Statement, on May 16 Foreign 
Ministry Spokesperson Le Dzung said that Vietnam is "disappointed" 
with the statement regarding Vietnam's "treatment of a group of 
recently convicted criminals...These people abused the right to 
freedom in order to negatively affect national security, social 
order and stability."  Repeating virtually verbatim the language 
used to reject U.S. Congressional and other criticism of Vietnam, 
Dzung said that "the State of Vietnam has always respected the 
rights to freedom and democracy, including the freedom of 
speech...No one is arrested due to his or her political or religious 
beliefs.  Only those who have breached the law are punished in 
accordance with the law." 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) The EU and Canadian statements are welcome additions to 
USG, Congressional and other criticism of the GVN crackdown on 
political dissent.  We will continue to work with our colleagues 
from like-minded embassies, including Australia, New Zealand, Norway 
and Switzerland, to encourage similar statements from their 
governments.  End Comment. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Begin text of EU Statement: 
 
Declaration of the Presidency on Behalf of the European Union on the 
Sentencing of Human Rights Defenders in Vietnam. 
 
The EU has noted with great concern that several peaceful human 
rights defenders have been arrested and given long prison sentences 
on charges of "conducting propaganda against the Socialist Republic 
of Vietnam". On March 30, Father Nguyen Van Ly, Nguyen Phong and 
Nguyen Binh Thanh were sentenced to eight, six and five years' 
imprisonment respectively by the People's Court of Thua Thien Hue 
Province.  On May 10, Nguyen Bac Truyen, Huynh Nguyen Dao and Le 
Nguyen Sang were sentenced to thre, four and five years' 
imprisonment respectively by the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City. 
 
HANOI 00000931  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
 
On May 11 the People's Court of Hanoi sentenced lawyers Nguyen Van 
Dai to five years' imprisonment plus four years' "administrative 
probation" (house arrest) and Le Thi Cong Nhan to four years' 
imprisonment plus three years' "administrative probation".  On May 
15, Tran Quoc Hien was sentenced to five years' imprisonment and two 
years' "administrative probation" by the People's Court of Ho Chi 
Minh City. 
 
The EU reiterates its plea to the Government of Vietnam to release 
all non-violent political activists who have simply exercised their 
rights to freedom of expression and association as guaranteed in 
article 69 of the Vietnamese Constitution and in articles 19 and 22 
of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to 
which Vietnam is a party. 
The EU will continue its ongoing dialogue process with Vietnam, of 
which the established EU-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue is an 
integral part. 
 
End text of EU Statement. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Begin text of Canadian Statement 
 
Mr. Speaker, over the past few months, Vietnam has been cracking 
down on peaceful political activists. Since March 30, seven 
Vietnamese activists have been found guilty in four trials and given 
jail sentences ranging from three years to eight years for spreading 
propaganda against the state. 
 
These actions violate the principles of freedom of expression and 
tolerance for peaceful opposition. Canada calls on the government of 
Vietnam to release all political prisoners and to respect the 
international standards for human rights to which it has freely 
adhered.  Vietnam has a duty as an ASEAN member country and an 
increasingly engaged member of the international community to 
respect these fundamental rights. 
 
Canada urges the Vietnamese government to respect an individual's 
right to a fair trial. The promotion and protection of human rights 
forms the central part of Canada's relationship with Vietnam. Canada 
will therefore continue to urge Vietnam to ensure that the right to 
freedom of expression and due process are fully respected. 
 
End text of Canadian Statement. 
 
MARINE