VZCZCXRO6309
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #0929/01 2210958
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080958Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8283
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4999
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 000929 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PREL VM
SUBJECT: A Mixed Bag for Vietnam's Catholics in the Northwest 
 
HANOI 00000929  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Recent visits to Catholic congregations in 
Vietnam's Northwest Highlands highlighted inconsistent 
implementation of the legal framework on religion at the provincial, 
district and commune levels.  Poloff, accompanied by Pol Specialist 
and Pol Intern, visited the towns of Moc Chau and Son La in Son La 
Province, and Dien Bien Phu in Dien Bien Province in late July/early 
August.  Each visit illustrated the different levels of freedom for 
Catholic followers in these communities and reinforced the need for 
continued focus on these remote areas to gain needed progress on 
religious freedom in the region.  End Summary. 
 
Moc Chau's Catholics Acknowledge Improvements 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) The Moc Chau Catholic congregation began meeting in secret in 
the 1990's.  As the GVN became more permissive toward religious 
groups, the congregation went public in 2003 and has experienced a 
steady increase in the number of congregants.  Today, the basement 
level chapel in the home of two congregation members, Mr. Nha and 
Ms. Hong, welcomes 200-300 worshipers for regular Sunday services. 
On Holy Days of Obligation and holidays, the chapel struggles to 
accommodate 400-600 worshipers, many coming from as far as 40 km 
away for these special services. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Mr. Nha acknowledges that conditions for this congregation 
have improved in recent years, particularly since the visit of the 
Bishop in 2005, but notes that four other sub-congregations in Moc 
Chau district have not been so lucky.  He explained that commune and 
village level officials outside of the district headquarters are 
still deeply suspicious of the Catholic sub-congregations and 
routinely hamper their ability to meet and worship. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Mr. Nga stated that while Moc Chau district officials 
observed the Moc Chau congregation closely over the past year, they 
now seem more relaxed towards the congregants.  Still, many Catholic 
followers in the Moc Chau district are reticent to worship in 
public, fearing discrimination in their ability to access to school 
and employment.  Children of the congregants participate in 
catechism classes during the summer months taught by visiting 
teachers, though this activity is not reported to local authorities. 
 The congregation focuses on charitable work within the Catholic 
community and on occasion reaches out to non-Catholics.  When the 
congregation offers to participate in projects for the community as 
a group, district officials refuse their assistance. 
 
¶5. (SBU) When asked about local officials' level of education on 
religion and understanding of the Catholic faith, the congregation 
told poloff that both greatly vary among local authorities, leading 
to abuse of the more remote congregations.  Though the congregation 
warmly welcomed visits by the U.S. officials, the congregation 
members emphasized that the increased attention alone will not 
change the minds of the local officials.  More needs to be done to 
improve the education and capacity of local officials, noted one 
church member, adding that acceptance and community integration 
"will take a lot of time." 
 
Son La's Catholics Suffer Local Officials' Ignorance 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) The situation for Catholics in the Quyet Thang precinct, 
Son La town, Son La province, is decidedly more difficult.  Local 
officials attempted to prevent poloff from meeting with a group of 
seven Catholics gathered at a local  residence, insisting that 
poloff was violating neighborhood regulations by not notifying local 
officials in advance.  Poloff noted that both national and 
provincial government authorities were informed of the meeting and 
continued into the residence.  Upon being seated, the group was 
quickly joined by several plain-clothed security police and the 
Chairman of the precinct People's Committee. 
 
¶7. (U) The Chairman insisted again that local regulations were being 
violated and asked for the purpose of the visit. Upon being told 
poloff was interested in the religious life of the Catholic 
congregation, the Chairman asserted that there are no Catholics in 
Son La, no places of religious worship, adding that "these things 
cannot exist unless they are registered."  One of the Catholics 
present interjected that the Catholic congregation has applied many 
times to register without success. 
 
¶8. (U) Poloff noted that Vietnam's legal framework on religion 
permits religious groups to meet and worship prior to registration. 
The PC Chairman directed poloff to change topics. After a brief, 
perfunctory exchange about socio-economic conditions and social 
issues, the PC Chairman stated the meeting was over as time had 
expired. 
 
¶9. (U) As the Chairman led the way out of the residence, poloff was 
able to step into the next room and visit the chapel.  Several 
Catholic congregants expressed their thanks for the visit, noting 
 
HANOI 00000929  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
the importance of outsiders witnessing how difficult conditions are 
for the congregation.  One member noted that the last time a priest 
came to conduct mass services, armed security officials were 
present.  During the brief discussion, a security official conveyed 
a telephonic message from the PC Chairman that poloff should leave 
immediately.  Poloff and the Catholic congregants continued 
conversing while walking out to the street, but were unable to 
conduct any further discussions of substance. 
 
Dien Bien's Catholics Poised for Community Integration 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶10. (U) The Catholic congregation of Noong Het commune, Dien Bien 
Dong district, Dien Bien Province, on the other hand, is able to 
meet and worship without interference and has a wholly different 
relationship with local neighborhood officials.  The congregation 
meets regularly on Sundays in the home Mr. Nguyen Ba Huan.  The 
chapel, a small room adjoining the family business, receives 80-90 
people for normal Sunday services and 200-300 for worship on the 
Holy Days of Obligation.  A priest visits the congregation once a 
month for services, as well as for funerals and weddings.  Unlike 
the Catholic congregation in Moc Chau, the children of the Noong Het 
congregation do not attend catechism in the local chapel.  Mr. Huan 
explained that, "there is no catechism here. It is not appropriate 
yet because officials have not recognized us.  Children have to go 
to our native provinces to get catechism classes to prepare for 
their First Communion and go to Hanoi for their First Communion 
service." 
 
¶11. (SBU) Congregation members told poloff that they applied for 
registration in March 2007 and then waited to start meeting 
regularly until November 2007, noting that they wanted to give 
officials ample time to approve their application. To date, they 
have yet to receive a response.  In Mr. Huan's opinion, "the 
provincial officials ignore the congregation's presence on purpose," 
and remain cautious about any acknowledgement of them. 
 
¶12. (SBU) At the commune level, the authorities are well aware of 
the congregation's presence and activities.  The commune's deputy 
police chief, Mr. Vu Van Yen, joined the meeting and contributed to 
the discussion in an open and frank manner.  Further, congregants 
did not hesitate to share their views and ask questions in his 
presence.  Mr. Yen noted that he visits the chapel regularly, adding 
that he has attended Mass and Christmas celebrations.  He views it 
his responsibility and pleasure to mingle with different people in 
the community.  When asked about his views on the Catholic 
congregation in Noong Het, Yen remarked, "I think they actually are 
positive for the community and I see no problems.  I have a lot of 
respect for the people here.  The men come from Catholic families 
which is why they continue their traditions here.  However, it is 
important that the local officials take time to review their 
registration application as this is a sensitive matter." 
 
¶13. (SBU) Several congregants stated that they understand why 
province and district officials look at them with caution; however, 
they assert that the time has come to officially recognize them as 
part of the community.  Mr. Huan told poloff, "We fully understand 
why eyes have been on us. We have been behaving ourselves. 
Catholicism is new to Vietnam but not new to the world.  Look at 
what we have done and how we can be in the future so we can be one 
with our community.  We openly invite officials to have a closer 
look at our congregation and its activities so we can become 
recognized." 
 
¶14. (SBU) Comment:  The atmosphere and substance of the three 
meetings could not have been more different, highlighting yet again 
the uneven and inconsistent implementation of Vietnam's legal 
framework on religion.  Congregations in Dien Bien and, to a certain 
extent, Moc Chau, appear to be making progress in their 
relationships with local officials.  Poloff met with the Moc Chau 
congregation without any officials in the room while the Dien Bien 
congregation warmly welcomed the deputy police chief to the open and 
lively discussion.  While both congregations still await official 
registration, they meet, worship, conduct services and maintain 
chapels, largely without the presence of or interference from local 
authorities.  Both were also quick to note that this represented a 
significant improvement over several years ago, when they met in 
secret and were unable to acknowledge their faith publicly. 
 
¶15. (SBU) The congregation in Son La town, however, continues to 
suffer under heavy-handed local officials who appear intent on 
denying the existence of the congregation and preventing them from 
discussing their plight with outsiders.  The congregants, determined 
to continue their religious practice, show little apprehension or 
fear when confronted by local officials.  The owner of the residence 
housing their chapel invited poloff and other embassy officials for 
Christmas services, noting that continued visits will eventually 
force local authorities to acknowledge the existence of the 
congregation.  While post continues to push for the full 
 
HANOI 00000929  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
implementation of the legal framework with the national government, 
it is increasingly evident that greater engagement with provincial, 
district and other local officials in the Northwest Highlands will 
be necessary to advance religious freedom in the region.