VZCZCXRO4101
PP RUEHHM
DE RUEHHM #0574 2160958
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 040958Z AUG 09
FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5985
INFO RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI PRIORITY 3886
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY PRIORITY 6221

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000574 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOE EAP/MLS, DRL/AWH AND DRL/IRF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV VM
SUBJECT: UBCV HOLDS MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR FORMER PATRIARCH UNDER HEAVY 
SECURITY 
 
REF: 08 HCMC 625 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary: Over 3,000 members of the unrecognized 
Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) gathered at Nguyen 
Thieu Monastery in Binh Dinh province on July 23 to mark the 
first anniversary of the death of their late patriarch, Thich 
Huyen Quang. While there were no direct confrontations with 
authorities, some members reported harassment and intimidation 
by police trying to dissuade followers from attending the event, 
which took place under heavy security. Despite these reports, 
leaders say the ceremony took place without interruptions and 
UBCV monks returned home without incident. End Summary. 
 
 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Despite reports of harassment and intimidation by 
authorities of the organizers and 3,000 attendees, the death 
anniversary of former Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) 
Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang proceeded smoothly at Nguyen Thieu 
Monastery in Binh Dinh province on July 23 (reftel). 
 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) The Venerable Thich Vien Dinh, Secretary General of the 
UBCV and the most senior monk in attendance, reported being 
stopped by a group of local policemen after his arrival in Binh 
Dinh on July 22. The police "invited" him to come down to the 
station to answer questions about "relevant matters" the next 
morning and threatened to expel him from the province if he 
refused to comply. Monk Dinh declined the request, citing his 
pre-occupation with preparing for the memorial ceremony. Monk 
Thich Vien Hy confirmed Monk Dinh's attendance at the services 
and his return to HCMC on July 26 without incident. (NOTE: Monk 
Dinh was not arrested as claimed by UBCV head-quarters in Paris 
in a press release dated July 23. We also have no information to 
confirm claims that UBCV leaders were prevented from attending 
the memorial services. END NOTE.) 
 
 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Venerable Thich Tam Lien, head of the UBCV 
Representative Board in Binh Dinh Province, also reported being 
stopped on the way to Nguyen Thieu Monastery and told ConGen he 
took a perilous mountain approach to the monastery in order to 
avoid further encounters. Several followers residing in Quang 
Tri, Thua Thien-Hue and Da Nang provinces also reported being 
approached by police who tried to pressure them into cancelling 
their trips to Binh Dinh. Current Patriarch Thich Quang Do told 
PolOff he chose to not travel to the ceremony due to poor health. 
 
 
 
¶5.  (SBU) On July 23, contacts reported approximately 100 
plainclothes and uniform policemen patrolling the area around 
Nguyen Thieu monastery, filming and questioning gatherers. 
Despite this presence, authorities made no overt efforts to 
prevent the ceremony from moving forward. Contacts also said 
about 50 local policemen searched nearby Thap Thap Pagoda, where 
monks and nuns who could not find space at Nguyen Thieu were 
temporarily sojourning. The monks reported that 30 to 40 
plainclothes policemen also continued to monitor the monastery 
in the days immediately following the ceremony. 
 
 
 
¶5.  (SBU) UBCV Monk Thich Vien Hy commented that there was no 
reason for authorities to fear that the UBCV would hold any 
"clandestine meetings" during their time in Binh Dinh, 
especially because the ceremony coincided with the period of 
Vesak, when all monks and nuns are expected to devote themselves 
completely to their practice. He added that all of the followers 
were in Binh Dinh for one purpose only--to mourn the passing of 
their dear patriarch, Thich Huyen Quang. 
 
FAIRFAX