VZCZCXRO9492
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #0459/01 1130406
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 220406Z APR 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7659
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4618
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000459 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/AWH, PRM/A 
BANGKOK FOR REFCOORD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL VM
 
SUBJECT: GVN ON CENTRAL HIGHLANDS UNREST 
 
REF: HCMC 0406 
 
HANOI 00000459  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) 
officials briefed the DCM about the recent unrest in the Central 
Highlands and asked for USG assistance in cutting off support for 
the demonstrations from U.S.-based organizations, in particular the 
Montagnard Foundation, Inc.  In the April 19 meeting, MPS also asked 
for USG support in discouraging people from fleeing to Cambodia to 
seek UNHCR protection and eventual resettlement in the U.S.  DCM 
responded that while the U.S. does not support the use of violence 
we do support the right of free expression.  He noted that we have 
announced an end to the policy of resettlement screening Montagnards 
who have been rejected by UNHCR.  Such persons are now told they may 
directly contact the U.S. Consulate in HCMC instead.  The DCM 
praised GVN transparency in allowing foreign delegations to visit 
the Central Highlands and encouraged continued openness for people 
to see for themselves the situation on the ground.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) In a two-hour meeting requested by MPS, Deputy Director 
General of the MPS General Security Department To Lam said that he 
had been directed by Vice Minister of Public Security Nguyen Van 
Huong to inform the embassy of recent protests in the Central 
Highlands (CH)(Reftel).  Lam said the demonstrators wanted to 
establish an independent Degar state and some of the demands 
involved land rights.  Lam did not see any connection to any 
religious issues. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Lam said MPS has discovered that FULRO (The United Front 
for the Liberation of Oppressed Races) and the South Carolina-based 
Montagnard Foundation, Inc. (MFI) are inciting people in the CH to 
launch anti-GVN demonstrations in Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Phu Yen 
provinces with the goal of destabilizing the region and gaining 
international publicity.  Local officials explained the situation to 
the people, and corrected the false information they had received 
from FULRO and the Montagnard Foundation.  Montagnard Foundation 
President Kok Ksor, Lam claimed, wanted to drum up large 
demonstrations as in 2001 and 2004, but this time the demonstrations 
were small.  The latest demonstration involved a dozen people at a 
village headquarters on April 14, but the situation is now calm. 
About 30-40 people were detained for two to three days, then 
released, Lam claimed.  One or two who had been engaged in violence, 
however, remain incarcerated. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Lam said there had been stone throwing and attacks by 
demonstrators using sticks on local officials.  The authorities 
responded with restraint, Lam said, but MFI's Kok Ksor used slogans 
to incite violence. DCM responded that encouraging people to 
demonstrate is not a crime in the United States but violence is. 
Lam said the demonstrators were receiving direction from Kok Ksor 
and that MPS would provide evidence that FULRO is also encouraging 
violence. 
 
¶5. (SBU) According to MPS, they have information that people will be 
coming from the U.S. at the end of April or early May to encourage 
further anti-government demonstrations.  MPS provided a list with 
the following names and information regarding individuals they said 
are active in organizing the demonstrations: 
¶1. Y Luong Nie, Greensboro, NC 
¶2. Bo Choc, Greensboro, NC 
¶3. Bo Nghit, Greensboro, NC 
¶4. Y Ykhyk, 1210 Westside Dr., Greensboro, NC 
¶5. Y hmlok Nai, 1408 Mayfair Ave., Greensboro, NC 
¶6. Day Dieu, 3304 N Elm St., Greensboro, NC 
¶7. Y M Krong, 208 W Smith St., Greensboro, NC 
¶8. Sang (Bo Than), 2806 James St., Charlotte, NC 
¶9. Donald Holbrook, 308 Glencourt Dr., Charlotte, NC 
 
¶6. (SBU) Kok Ksor provides financing and equipment for 
anti-government demonstrations in Vietnam and the GVN requests USG 
assistance in stopping them from doing so, Lam said.  The Montagnard 
Foundation is a "paramilitary" organization with the intent of 
launching terrorist attacks in Vietnam, Lam alleged.  The USG should 
also list it as a terrorist organization so we can cooperate in 
preventing anti-GVN demonstrations.  We have a good bilateral 
relationship, Lam said, and we do not want bad people to make it 
worse.  The GVN would like a formal announcement that the USG does 
not support the demonstrations. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The other area where the GVN and USG should cooperate is in 
discouraging people from fleeing Vietnam to Cambodia, Lam said. 
Many have the idea that if they protest in Vietnam, they can flee 
across the border, and UNHCR will help them resettle in the United 
States.  The GVN would like a statement from the USG that it will 
not resettle people who flee to Cambodia.  The DCM responded that we 
have announced an end to the policy of considering Montagnards for 
resettlement even if UNHCR had refused them refugee status. 
Instead, such persons are informed that they may contact the U.S. 
 
HANOI 00000459  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Consulate General in HCMC if they believe they have a claim for 
resettlement. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Lam noted that many provincial officials even now do not 
want foreign delegations to visit the CH, even though the GVN 
understands that foreign delegations visit the CH for humanitarian 
reasons. The DCM responded that the GVN has done the right thing by 
allowing and encouraging more people to visit the CH, since this 
encourages transparency and counters inaccurate reports from outside 
Vietnam. 
 
¶9. (SBU) The DCM cited the recent VolVis delegation of CH leaders 
who visited North Carolina while in the U.S. as another good step in 
building greater trust as our bilateral relations continue to 
improve.  The DCM noted that the U.S. supports the right of 
individuals to organize and express their opinions peacefully and, 
absent compelling and verifiable evidence from the GVN, is not 
likely to list FULRO as a terrorist organization. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Note:  The GVN has asserted several times in recent years 
that FULRO and MFI are active terrorist organizations and that the 
USG should designate them as such, but has yet to provide evidence 
that would support the designation.  FULRO officially disbanded in 
late 1992, when its last few hundred guerillas surrendered to UN 
peacekeepers in Cambodia.  FULRO's leadership was instrumental in 
organizing MFI, but MFI's web site and frequent press releases 
stress that it is committed to non-violence.  End note. 
 
¶11. (U) This cable was coordinated with ConGen HCMC. 
 
MICHALAK