VZCZCXRO4769
OO RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #1120/01 2740913
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 300913Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8548
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH PRIORITY 5170

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001120 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KIRF PREL PGOV VM
 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR, HANOI ARCHBISHOP DISCUSS CHURCH LAND DISPUTES, 
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, VATICAN RELATIONS 
 
Ref: A) Hanoi 1093, B) Hanoi 1086, C) Hanoi 1007 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: Meeting the Ambassador September 30, Hanoi 
Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet noted improvements in the Church's 
ability to recruit seminary students and assign priests, but voiced 
dismay over ongoing land disputes.  The Ambassador assured the 
Archbishop of active U.S. support for human rights and religious 
freedom, noting that he had personally urged the authorities to 
resolve the disputes equitably.  The Archbishop thanked the Embassy 
for its repeated visits to the disputed sites; however, he expressed 
disappointment that the United States had publicly cited 
improvements in Vietnam's record on religious freedom.  The 
Archbishop remarked that while annual discussions between Vietnam 
and the Vatican continued, progress toward normalization of 
relations remained slow.  He said that the Hanoi land disputes were 
"not serious enough" to merit interference from the Vatican.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) On September 30, the Ambassador called on the increasingly 
embattled Archbishop of Hanoi.  The Chairman of the Hanoi People's 
Council Chairman's public comments calling the Archbishop a 
"troublemaker" were widely reported in the Vietnamese press and the 
Archbishop's website and access to internet have been blocked 
intermittently since tensions over the land in downtown Hanoi which 
formerly housed the residence of the Papul Nuncio escalated (ref A). 
 
 
CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS, BUT LIMITS ON SOCIAL OUTREACH 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Archbishop  Kiet affirmed that, overall, the Catholic 
Church continues to enjoy greater freedom to conduct its activities 
and to reach out to parishioners.  As evidence, the Archbishop cited 
the fact that Catholic seminaries are now able to recruit students 
annually and that the Church is able to assign priests with less 
government interference.  He said that the Church was also 
increasingly able to contact Catholics in remote highland areas. 
The Archbishop noted, however, that the Church continues to 
encounter difficulties in its health care and educational 
initiatives, explaining that nuns and members of the lay community 
must contend with the same corruption and state control that other 
independent groups face.  Describing his August trip to Orange 
County, the Archbishop said that he views the move to create a 
"sister diocese" relationship as contributing to bilateral relations 
in much the same way as business relationships and sporting 
exchanges help to build people-to-people ties. 
 
VEXED OVER THAI HA, PAPAL NUNCIATE 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Archbishop Joseph expressed frustration over recent events 
at Thai Ha parish and the former residence of the Papal Nuncio.  He 
emphasized that the demonstrations and prayer vigils at the two 
sites had been peaceful and respectful, but that the government had 
forced a confrontation with its sudden decision to turn the 
properties into public parks.  The Archbishop cited the beating of 
an AP correspondent (ref. B) and the arrest of several Thai Ha 
parishioners (ref. C) as particularly egregious examples of the 
government's lack of respect for human rights.   Speculating on what 
he described as an intra-Party dispute between reformers and 
hardliners, the Archbishop noted that the fairly progressive 
officials with whom he thought he had brokered a compromise earlier 
this year were no longer in contact with him. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Asked for his views on how the dispute might end, the 
Archbishop said that the Church had repeatedly demonstrated a 
willingness to compromise.  The fact the Church was only disputing a 
handful of the 95 Church properties in Hanoi confiscated by the 
government in the 1950s and 1960s was itself a major concession, the 
Archbishop insisted.  He emphasized that the Church had made a 
principled decision not to contest property that was being used for 
the people's benefit, such as land that had been turned into 
hospitals or schools.  What was "unreasonable" was when property was 
used for speculative or profane purposes.  Using atypically 
emotional language, the normally placid Archbishop described as 
"insulting" plans first put forward at the end of 2007 to turn the 
Papal Nuncio's former residence into an entertainment center 
featuring a disco and karaoke. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The United States has encouraged the GVN to allow 
individuals with differing views to express their opinions 
peacefully, the Ambassador emphasized, stressing that U.S. officials 
would continue to meet with people throughout society to get a full 
understanding of developments within Vietnam.  Archbishop Joseph 
said that priests and parishioners alike appreciated recent visits 
by the U.S. Embassy to Thai Ha and the Papal Nunciate.  Referring to 
remarks made at the Septebmer 19 release of the IRF, he voiced 
disappointment, however, over public statements by the State 
 
HANOI 00001120  002 OF 002 
 
 
Department noting progress in expanding religious freedom.  The 
Ambassador responded that the United States has consistently pressed 
Vietnam to expand religious freedom and to allow greater political 
and media freedom.  While the United States takes no position on the 
complicated legal and historical issues involved in the Church's 
land disputes, the Ambassador had personally called on the 
government to find a mechanism to resolve its differences with the 
Church peacefully, fairly, and within the law. 
 
VATICAN RELATIONS 
----------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Archbishop Joseph said that the Vatican had not weighed in 
specifically on the land disputes, acknowledging that this was "not 
serious enough" to merit direct intercession.  He affirmed that 
Vietnam and the Vatican continue to hold annual discussions, as they 
have for the past decade and a half.  Unfortunately, despite 
positive signals from PM Dung after his meeting with the Pope two 
years ago, progress was incremental and the prospects for 
normalizing relations remained distant. 
 
¶8. (SBU)  Comment: In addition to meeting with the Archbishop, the 
Embassy has emphasized the need to find a transparent and equitable 
solution to land disputes throughout Vietnam and noted the negative 
impact on Vietnam's image of the GVN's failure to tolerate peaceful 
protest in meetings over the last two weeks with the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, the Committee on 
Religious Affairs and the Office of Government.  End Comment.