VZCZCXRO7695
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #0160/01 0450523
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140523Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7160
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4283
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0044
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000160 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KIRF PHUM PGOV VM
 
SUBJECT: CATHOLIC CHURCH PROTESTS: DIFFERENT LOCATION, SAME ISSUES 
 
REF: HANOI 097 
 
HANOI 00000160  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: While there has been apparent progress in defusing 
the dispute over the former Vatican residence in Hanoi, another 
dispute has arisen at Thai Ha parish in Hanoi where the GVN's 
approval of construction of a state-owned sewing factory on the 
disputed property triggered a wave of protests.  Parish leaders told 
poloff that, while several online religious news services reported 
demonstrations at the site with numbers up to 10,000 people, it was 
actually a special Mass that drew close to 10,000 people, including 
many from dioceses outside of Hanoi.  The church officials also said 
that parishioners are reporting indirect harassment from security 
officials, but there have been no arrests or injuries.  The Hanoi 
People's Committee has temporarily halted construction at the site, 
while an investigation into the church's claims continue.  The case 
highlights the growing need for some mechanism to handle other 
long-standing land disputes between religious congregations and the 
GVN.  End summary. 
 
Background: Church Property Taken By GVN 
---------------------------------------- 
¶2. (U) The Redemptorists (a Roman Catholic missionary order) bought 
a piece of land of more than six hectares at Thai Ha, in central 
Hanoi, to build a convent and a church in 1928.  The convent was 
inaugurated in 1929 and the church was inaugurated six years later, 
in 1935.  The communist government took over a large portion of the 
property in 1959, converted the convent into Dong Da hospital, and 
distributed or sold off large parts of the land over the objections 
of the church, reducing the original 61,455 square meters to the 
2,700 square meters the Church controls today. 
¶3. (U) The church submitted its first request to government 
authorities for the disputed land in 1993, and submitted repeated 
requests asking for return of the land without receiving any 
official response or resolution.  Parish leaders told poloff that 
various offices of the GVN have told them either they have no 
foundation to their claim or that they should wait and the dispute 
will be resolved according to the law.  While the church claims the 
GVN never officially took control of the disputed site as the GVN 
has never made an official decision in writing, the GVN has control 
of the property and permitted a formerly state-owned company, Chien 
Thang company, to construct a factory and to sell off parts of the 
land the company does not need to other businesses. 
Construction of Factory on Site Triggers Protests 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Church officials told poloff that on January 6, 
approximately 3000 people, encouraged by the crowds gathered at the 
disputed site of the former Vatican residence (reftel) and angered 
at the decision of the local authorities to approve the start of 
construction of Chien Thang sewing company, gathered at the 
construction site in protest.  Approximately 100 police and security 
officials were present, some in riot control gear.  Security police, 
some in uniform and some in plain-clothes, took photos and filmed 
with video cameras, attempting to catch agitators in the act.  While 
no one was arrested, detained, or injured, church officials said the 
local police were verbally abusive and roughly manhandled some of 
the crowd.  By the evening, most of the parishioners dispersed, 
leaving approximately 100 people who spent the night on the street 
alongside the property. 
 
¶5. (U) Over the next several days, parishioners, with help from the 
church, erected two tents for those who wished to stay overnight at 
the site.  Poloff observed these tents still in place, along with a 
growing number of crosses and candles attached to the wall 
separating the street from the construction site.  Twenty to thirty 
people continue to spend the night at the site. 
 
¶6. (U) In the weeks following the initial protest, the church 
exchanged a number of official letters and met with local 
authorities, who orally promised the construction work would cease 
while the Hanoi People's Committee conducted an investigation into 
the dispute.   However, during this time the Hanoi People's 
Committee issued both an official order authorizing the sewing 
company to resume some work and an official order stopping 
construction altogether.  Church officials seemed bemused by the 
contradictory orders, but confirmed that construction had indeed 
stopped and no construction activity, supplies or machinery was 
observed by poloff during the visit to the site.  According to the 
church, the Hanoi People's Committee is conducting an investigation 
and they expected to be visited and questioned as part of that 
process, but did not expect anything to come of it. 
 
¶7. (U) Small groups of parishioners continued to gather at the site 
throughout January and into February, usually prior to or following 
Mass services.  While several online religious news services 
reported demonstrations at the site with numbers up to 10,000 
people, church officials clarified that it was a special Mass, held 
 
HANOI 00000160  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
on Saturday, February 9, that drew close to 10,000 people, including 
many from dioceses outside of Hanoi.  The church, the church 
courtyard, and many of the surrounding streets, including the street 
alongside the construction site, were packed with people coming to 
worship.  The head priest said that the main purpose of the 
gathering was to celebrate Mass, although many of those gathered for 
Mass did stop at the site and pray. 
 
¶8. (SBU) The church officials also said that parishioners are 
reporting indirect harassment from security officials.  Police and 
security officials are reportedly contacting mass organizations, 
schools, and government offices telling those in charge to 
discourage their members, students, and employees who might be 
Catholic, from participating in the gatherings at the disputed site. 
 While some civil servants have understandably bowed to the 
intimidation, the priests noted that many others continue to stop at 
the site to pray. 
 
Comment: One Case Among Many to Resolve 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Parish leaders were frank and open in discussing the matter 
with poloff and provided a three page written report (in Vietnamese) 
detailing the events and the Church's claim to the land.  They 
expressed hope that if the GVN is willing to seek an amicable 
solution to the disputed site adjacent to the Archbishop's office, 
there might be a way to get a positive result in this case as well 
with continued prayer vigils raising the visibility of the issue. 
The Thai Ha parish has increased the pressure on the GVN to 
reconsider their case, but has also highlighted the growing need for 
some kind of mechanism to handle other long-standing land disputes 
between religious congregations and the GVN.  Without it, the GVN is 
likely to continue to face repeated protests and continued unwanted 
publicity and international attention over disputed land, 
particularly as property values continue to climb and churches face 
an increasing need for facilities to attend to growing 
congregations. 
 
MICHALAK