US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE1020

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001020 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, PREF, PREL, VM, NL 
SUBJECT: DUTCH SHARE EU DEMARCHE TO VIETNAM 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 86031 
 
     B. SECSTATE 82712 
     C. HANOI 1114 
     D. DUBLIN 587 
 
Classified By: PolCouns Mary E. Daly Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C) The Dutch government remains concerned about the 
situation of the Vietnamese Montagnards in the Central 
Highlands.  Following the volatile situation April 10-11, the 
Dutch immediately contacted the Irish EU Presidency to 
register concern and request EU action.  (Note:  The Dutch 
are acting as the local EU Presidency embassy in Hanoi.  End 
note.)  Unfortunately, due to the slow EU process, reaction 
to the incidents and the GVN  response was slow.  EU missions 
in Hanoi were given instruction on the 19th to approach the 
GVN.  (Note:  The (Dutch-drafted) demarche text begins Para 
3.  End note.) 
 
2.  (C) The Dutch Human Rights Ambassador, Piet de Klerk, 
will conduct a bilateral visit to Vietnam in mid-May.  This 
visit is one of several to the region, and demonstrates the 
Dutch government's desire to ensure that bilateral 
cooperation is deeply connected to human rights issues. 
(Note: Vietnam receives significant Dutch aid.  The GoNL will 
contribute approximately 21 million euros this year via both 
multilateral and bilateral programs.  End Note.)  Desk 
officer Hein Copper stated that, in light of recent events, 
the delegation is now considering including a trip to the 
Central Highlands during the visit. 
 
3.  (C) Following is text of Dutch-drafted Irish presidency 
demarche message to EU members, which the GoNL reported was 
achieved without changes.  It was recommended for urgent 
delivery by EU Troika Ambassadors in Hanoi by EU HOMs 
resident in Hanoi: 
 
Begin Quote: 
 
-expressing concern about the events that took place; 
-requesting information on the events that took place, 
including numbers of persons killed, injured, arrested and 
detained as well as charges against those detained 
-call on the authorities to fully respect international human 
right standards in their longer term response to the protests 
during the Easter Weekend 
-calling on the authorities to allow peaceful demonstrations 
to take place and not to use excessive force during 
demonstrations 
-calling on the authorities to reestablish a tripartite 
agreement with UNHCR and Cambodia and allow UNHCR access to 
the Central Highlands to monitor the situation 
-requesting access to the area for diplomats, international 
press, other UN agencies and international NGOs 
-requesting authorities to investigate the grievances of the 
ethnic minority people, to address them and to respect the 
freedom of religion of the ethnic minority people in the 
Central Highlands 
 
End Quote. 
 
4.  The Dutch government will assume the EU presidency on 
July 1, and will likely act as local presidency 
representative in Vietnam during the Luxembourg presidency in 
the first half of 2005. 
SOBEL