VZCZCXRO0758
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #0657/01 1560915
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 040915Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7939
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4799
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000657 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL/IRF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PGOV PREL VM
SUBJECT:  Vietnam Fatherland Front Discusses Religious Freedom 
 
REFS: A. HANOI 0278; B. HANOI 0442 
 
HANOI 00000657  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Poloff and DRL/IRF officer met with Mr. Tran Dinh 
Phung, Permanent member of the Central Vietnam Fatherland Front 
(VFF) Presidium and Head of its Board for Ethnicity and Religious 
Affairs (Vice Minister rank), on May 28 to discuss the VFF role in 
the promotion of religious freedom in Vietnam. After explaining the 
VFF's role, Mr. Phung shared that there is currently a review of the 
implementation of the legal framework on religion underway, and 
highlighted the VFF's support to upgrade the Ordinance on Religion 
to a law as well as expand freedom for religious groups to undertake 
social and charitable activities.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) The VFF is a political alliance of social organizations, 
political groups, professional associations, ethnic groups, 
religious groups, and groups of Vietnamese living overseas, all 
underpinned by the Communist Party of Vietnam.  The VFF is an 
umbrella organization, Mr. Phung explained, intended to unite all 
social groups and mobilize the people to continue social and 
economic development.  The VFF also participates in drafting laws, 
recommending revisions when necessary.  After passage of 
legislation, the VFF collects feedback and may provide 
recommendations to government and state offices to improve 
implementation of laws.  The VFF is led by a central office in Hanoi 
and maintains executive committees at the provincial level, as well 
as representatives at the district and commune levels. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Mr. Phung underscored that the VFF takes the implementation 
of the legal framework on religion very seriously, noting that, "our 
responsibility is to encourage religious clergy and local government 
officials to implement religious framework."  He went on to explain 
that each of the six major religions in Vietnam has a seat on the 
advisory council and all religious groups are members of the VFF. 
The VFF provides an open forum where members of religious groups can 
share ideas and opinions, address problems, and make recommendations 
for improvements.  "The VFF wants religious followers to be good 
citizens and good followers," he said, adding "religious believers 
are our family members." 
 
¶4. (SBU) Noting that Vietnam has no ethnic or religious conflicts, 
Mr. Phung pointed to good interfaith relations, along with the 
growing numbers of religious followers and religious places of 
worship as positive signs for religious freedom in Vietnam.  Mr. 
Phung went on to acknowledge the uneven implementation of the legal 
framework at local levels,  commenting that while government and 
local officials are supposed to understand and implement all laws, 
actual practice may be different.  In remote areas, many local 
officials are often not keen on learning about new information and 
new responsibilities; however, the GVN is working to standardize 
qualifications for local officials without sufficient education in 
order to improve the dissemination and understanding of legal 
information. 
 
¶5. (SUB) When asked about specific recommendations to improve the 
implementation of the legal framework on religion, Mr. Phung 
responded that the VFF is coordinating with the GVN on a review of 
the three years of implementation of the legal framework, focusing 
both on achievements and needed improvements, as well as what more 
can be done.  Once the review is complete, the VFF will make 
official recommendations, with the goal of having the recommendation 
submitted by the end of 2008. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Mr. Phung highlighted several areas where the VFF would 
like to see improvements.  Specifically, the VFF hopes the National 
Assembly will consider making the legal framework stronger by 
turning the current ordinance into law.  Mr. Phung noted that the 
VFF is also discussing how the GVN can facilitate pending 
registration requests from religious groups, as well as assist 
groups in training and ordaining more pastors and priests. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The VFF is also looking to expand the freedom of religious 
groups undertake more social and charitable activities, particularly 
in the areas of assistance to the poor and disabled, as well as to 
HIV/AIDS sufferers.  Mr. Phung advocated for the ability of 
religious organizations to be able set up clinics and provide 
medical services, and establish schools, noting that such activities 
provided needed social services and will better integrate religious 
organizations and followers into their communities. 
 
¶8. (SBU) With regard to the various land disputes between religious 
groups and the GVN, Mr. Phung explained that the VFF proposal is to 
seek agreement from religious groups that where the land is now 
being used for religious, social, or charitable activities, they 
will not pursue their claim.  He added that the GVN should also 
facilitate applications from religious groups that request land for 
new facilities. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Comment:  The VFF's position as the lead mass organization 
in Vietnam, as well as its role in promoting Communist Party 
 
HANOI 00000657  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
doctrine throughout the country makes it a heavyweight on social 
issues such as religious freedom.  As such, VFF's progressive 
recommendations on strengthening the legal framework on religion, 
improving registrations and training, and expanding freedom for 
religious organizations to undertake social and charitable 
activities are positive signs for continued progress on religious 
freedom.  As with the existing legal framework on religion, the 
challenge will be the implementation of any new policy 
recommendations at the local level.  End comment.