VZCZCXRO1658
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHNH
DE RUEHHM #0608 1900926
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080926Z JUL 08
FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4611
INFO RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI PRIORITY 3117
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 4837

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000608 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/AWH AND DRL/IRF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KIRF PREL PGOV VM
SUBJECT: BUDDHISTS MOURN PASSING OF UBCV PATRIARCH THICH HUYEN QUANG 
 
REF: HCMC 617 AND PREVIOUS 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Thich Huyen Quang, the 4th most Venerable 
Patriarch of the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam 
(UBCV), died on July 5 in Binh Dinh province after a long battle 
with heart, lung and liver problems.  While state-run media are 
reporting the event via the officially-sanctioned Vietnam 
Buddhist Sanga (VBS), UBCV leaders have been at Quang's bedside 
since late May and will officiate at his July 11 funeral.  Post 
believes Quang's most likely successor is the fiery and 
politically outspoken Thich Quang Do, who is no more likely to 
reconcile with the GVN than was Quang.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) The International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB), the 
international support organization of Unified Buddhist Church of 
Vietnam (UBCV), announced the death of the 4th Most Venerable 
Thich Huyen Quang on July 5, 2008 at Nguyen Thieu monastery in 
Binh Dinh province.  Quang, who was 89 years old, had been 
suffering from heart, lung and kidney problems for many years. 
 
UBCV Leadership to Unofficially Officiate Funeral... 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
¶3. (SBU) While state-run media outlets reported the news of 
Thich Huyen Quang's death on July 5 via the 
officially-recognized Vietnam Buddhist Sanga (VBS) Executive 
Council in Binh Dinh, UBCV contacts told Poloff that both VBS 
and UBCV leaders are unified in their condolences and prayers 
for the departed Buddhist leader. 
 
¶4. (SBU) According to post's UBCV contacts, more than twenty 
UBCV monks have been holding a vigil at Thich Huyen Quang's 
bedside since late May, including UBCV General Secretary Thich 
Quang Do from HCMC.  The UBCV will also officiate at Quang's 
funeral on July 11, and UBCV leaders expect thirty to forty UBCV 
members from Hue, Quang Tri, Tien Giang and Lam Dong provinces 
to attend "without difficulties."  Similar statements were 
reported by RFA in a July 6 interview with IBIB spokesman, Vo 
Van Ai. 
 
...Amidst Heavy Security 
------------------------ 
¶5. (SBU) Post contacts say about 30-40 plain clothes policemen 
are currently stationed near and inside Nguyen Thieu Monastery, 
and Mr. Ai noted in his July 3 letter to the Ambassador that the 
hospital where Quang was being treated imposed "extremely 
restrictive conditions" on UBCV visitors, i.e., limiting 
visitation time and access.  Ai also claimed that Thich Quang Do 
had been unsuccessful in his previous attempts to travel from 
HCMC to Binh Dinh, but was able to "get through" on May 29 
because of Quang's deteriorating condition and because it was on 
the same day as the US-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue. 
 
¶6. (SBU) It is unclear, however, whether the similar 
restrictions applied to non-UBCV visitors.  We have no 
independent confirmation of any previous attempts by Thich Quang 
Do to leave HCMC for Binh Dinh.  It is therefore equally 
possible that Thich Quang Do purposely chose to travel on the 
same day as the Human Rights Dialogue.  Regardless of these past 
difficulties, prayer sessions and funeral preparations appear to 
be moving ahead smoothly. 
 
And the 5th UBCV Patriarch Is... 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) The UBCV is not commenting on plans to announce a 5th 
Patriarch to succeed Quang, but Ai told RFA there are two 
options for deciding the next UBCV leader--either Thich Huyen 
Quang may have left a will naming his preferred successor, or 
UBCV leadership will vote on the next leader in the event Quang 
left no will. 
 
Comment 
------- 
¶8. (SBU) Post believes there is a strong possibility the fiery 
and outspoken Thich Quang Do will succeed Quang as the 5th UBCV 
Patriarch. Given that the GVN has encouraged UBCV leaders to 
join the officially-sanctioned VBS in recent years, the 
appointment of Do would likely portend a continued lack of 
compromise between the UBCV and the GVN. Thich Quang Do has told 
Mission officers on many occasions that the UBCV has no desire 
to register under the GVN's legal framework because they do not 
recognize the GVN's authority over religious matters. What is 
much harder to predict is how relations between the UBCV and the 
VBS will progress should Thich Quang Do become the next 
Patriarch. End comment. 
 
¶9. (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassy Hanoi. 
 
FAIRFAX