US embassy cable - 01HANOI2152

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HANOI 002152 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV 
STATE ALSO FOR DRL AND PRM 
SECDEF FOR ISA/LSTERN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/11 
TAGS: PHUM, PINS, PGOV, KIRF, VM, CB, ETMIN, HUMANR, RELFREE 
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL MEETING WITH ETHNIC MINORITY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS 
 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  02152  01 OF 04  310909Z 
REF: HCMC 0874 
 
1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE DQAFFAIRES ROBERT PORTER. 
REASON: 1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
2. (C) SUMMARY: ETHNIC MINORITY STUDENTS DESCRIBED TO 
STAFFDEL REES THE FEBRUARY/MARCH UNREST IN THE CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDS, EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE PEOPLE SEEKING 
REFUGE IN CAMBODIA, NOTED GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO SOLVE 
ETHNIC PROBLEMS, AND DISMISSED REPORTS OF COERCIVE 
FAMILY PLANNING METHODS AND FORCED STERILIZATIONS.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
CAUSES OF THE UNREST 
-------------------- 
 
3. (C) JOSEPH REES (COUNSEL TO THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON 
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) AND BRIAN GUNDERSON (CHIEF OF 
STAFF TO HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER), ALONG WITH CONGENOFFS, 
MET AUGUST 13 AT CONGEN WITH SEVEN ETHNIC MINORITY 
STUDENTS FROM THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS CURRENTLY ENROLLED 
AT VARIOUS UNIVERSITIES IN HCMC.  THE STUDENTS 
COMPRISED THREE MEMBERS OF THE KQHO ETHNIC GROUP FROM 
LAM DONG PROVINCE, TWO MEMBERS OF THE LACH ETHNIC GROUP 
FROM LAM DONG PROVINCE, ONE MEMBER OF THE EDE ETHNIC 
GROUP FROM DAK LAK PROVINCE, AND ONE MEMBER OF THE GIA 
RAI ETHNIC GROUP FROM GIA LAI PROVINCE.  ALTHOUGH THE 
TWO STUDENTS FROM DAK LAK AND GIA LAI PROVINCES DID 
MOST OF THE TALKING, ALL THE STUDENTS CONTRIBUTED 
SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE CONVERSATION.  (NOTE: THE STUDENT 
FROM DAK LAK SAID HE HAD ARRIVED IN HCMC FROM BUON ME 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  02152  01 OF 04  310909Z 
THUOT ONLY THE DAY BEFORE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN 
THE STAFFDEL MEETING.  ANOTHER STUDENT AT THE 
UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES MENTIONED 
THAT A PROGRAM OF THE FORD FOUNDATION WAS FUNDING HIS 
EDUCATION.  END NOTE) 
 
4. (C) REES BEGAN THE MEETING BY INQUIRING INTO THE 
CAUSES OF THE FEBRUARY/MARCH UNREST THAT TOOK PLACE IN 
DAK LAK AND GIA LAI PROVINCES.  THE STUDENTS ALL AGREED 
THAT THE MAIN REASON FOR THE UNREST WERE THE ISSUES OF 
MIGRATION AND CLAIMS TO LAND.  THEY CLAIMED THAT ETHNIC 
VIETNAMESE KINH MIGRANTS TO THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OVER 
THE PAST DECADE HAD QAPPROPRIATEDQ THOUSANDS OF 
HECTARES OF LAND THAT QBELONGEDQ TO THE ETHNIC 
MINORITIES WHO HAVE LIVED IN THE AREA FOR GENERATIONS. 
ONE STUDENT EXPLAINED THAT ETHNIC MINORITY PEOPLE 
PRACTICE SHIFTING AGRICULTURE, CULTIVATING LAND IN ONE 
SECTION OF FOREST WHILE LEAVING OTHER SECTIONS FALLOW 
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS TO REJUVENATE THE SOIL.  MIGRANTS 
TAKE LAND THAT THEY THINK IS ABANDONED OR UNOCCUPIED 
WHEN IN REALITY IT IS CULTIVATED LAND CURRENTLY FALLOW, 
HE CLAIMED. 
 
5. (C) ONE STUDENT COMMENTED THAT WHEN THE CHILDREN OF 
ETHNIC MINORITY PEOPLE GET MARRIED, THEIR APPLICATION 
TO BUILD A HOME OR TO CULTIVATE LAND IS A COMPLEX 
PROCEDURE.  IN CONTRAST, BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT 
ENCOURAGES MIGRATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE 
PROCEDURE FOR MIGRANTS TO BUILD AND CULTIVATE IS 
SIMPLIFIED, HE CLAIMED.  ANOTHER STUDENT SAID THAT AS 
MORE MIGRANTS SETTLE IN THE AREA, THERE IS MORE CONTACT 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  02152  01 OF 04  310909Z 
BETWEEN THEM AND THE MINORITIES, AND ETHNIC TENSION IS 
INEVITABLE.  THE STUDENT SAID THE ETHNIC VIETNAMESE 
KINH MIGRANTS SOMETIMES DUMP THEIR GARBAGE IN MINORITY 
AREAS, AND THIS LEADS TO MANY QUARRELS. 
 
6. (C) TWO OF THE STUDENTS STATED THAT JUST PRIOR TO 
THE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 2, A NUMBER 
OF FIGHTS OCCURRED BETWEEN MIGRANTS AND ETHNIC MINORITY 
PEOPLE.  ONE STUDENT SAID THAT IN PHU BO DISTRICT OF 
GIA LAI PROVINCE, A QUARREL BETWEEN A MIGRANT HOUSEHOLD 
AND A MINORITY FAMILY OVER LAND QUICKLY DEVELOPED INTO 
A NEIGHBORHOOD BRAWL IN WHICH SEVERAL PEOPLE USED 
KNIVES AND CLUBS.  THE POLICE INTERVENED, ACCORDING TO 
THE STUDENT, BUT USED ELECTRIC PRODS AGAINST THE 
MINORITY PEOPLE AND APPEARED TO BE PROTECTING THE 
VIETNAMESE KINH.  ANOTHER STUDENT SAID THAT IN CHU SE 
DISTRICT OF GIA LAI PROVINCE JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE 
FEBRUARY 2, A FIGHT HAD BROKEN OUT BETWEEN DOZENS OF 
VIETNAMESE KINH MIGRANTS AND ETHNIC MINORITY PEOPLE 
THAT RESULTED IN MANY INJURIES SUCH AS BROKEN RIBS. 
(NOTE: CHU SE DISTRICT APPARENTLY REMAINS VERY TENSE. 
IT IS THE DISTRICT TO WHICH PROVINCIAL OFFICIALS 
ATTEMPTED TO KEEP AMBASSADOR PETERSON FROM TRAVELING IN 
JULY.  SEE REFTEL.) 
 
BUON ME THUOT DEMONSTRATIONS AND GOVERNMENT RESPONSE 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
7. (C) ACCORDING TO A STUDENT FROM BUON ME THUOT, UP TO 
1000 ETHNIC MINORITY PEOPLE DEMONSTRATED IN THAT TOWN 
IN DAK LAK PROVINCE ON FEBRUARY 3.  HE SAID THE LEADERS 
OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS USED LOUDSPEAKERS TO VOICE THEIR 
DEMANDS, WHICH INCLUDED THE RETURN OF ALL CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDS LAND TO THE ETHNIC MINORITIES, BETTER 
EDUCATION FOR MINORITY PEOPLE, AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. 
THE STUDENT ALSO NOTED THAT MANY DEMONSTRATORS CALLED 
FOR RECOGNITION OF AN INDEPENDENT DEGA STATE WITH KOK 
KQSOR AS ITS PRESIDENT.  (NOTE: SOME MONTHS BEFORE THE 
DEMONSTRATIONS, KOK KQSOR, WHO LIVES IN SOUTH CAROLINA, 
PROCLAIMED HIMSELF PRESIDENT-IN-EXILE OF AN INDEPENDENT 
DEGA STATE, ENCOMPASSING ALL OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS. 
HE AND HIS CABINET-IN-EXILE REPORTEDLY PLAYED AN 
INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN PLANNING THE DEMONSTRATIONS ALONG 
WITH ORGANIZERS RESIDENT IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS. 
DEGA IS A TERM USED TO DENOTE THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS 
AREA AND THE MINORITY PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE.  SEE 
REFTEL.) 
 
8. (C) THE SAME STUDENT SAID THE DEMONSTRATORS HAD 
CONGREGATED IN THE CENTER OF TOWN, BUT ARMORED MILITARY 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  02152  02 OF 04  310910Z 
VEHICLES PREVENTED THEM FROM REACHING THE PEOPLEQS 
COMMITTEE BUILDING (TOWN HALL).  HE ADDED THAT OTHER 
ARMORED MILITARY VEHICLES ENCIRCLED THE DEMONSTRATORS 
AND THAT SOLDIERS PREVENTED ADDITIONAL PEOPLE FROM 
JOINING THE CROWD.  AT ONE POINT, A FIRE ENGINE BLASTED 
WATER CANONS AT THE DEMONSTRATORS.  IN RESPONSE, HE 
ADMITTED THAT THE DEMONSTRATORS THREW STONES AT THE 
FIRE ENGINE AND AT THE MILITARY VEHICLES, WHILE SOME 
DEMONSTRATORS FOUGHT WITH POLICE.  HE CLAIMED THAT THE 
OPERATORS OF THE FIRE ENGINE FLED UNDER A VOLLEY OF 
STONES.  AFTER THE SITUATION CALMED, A REPRESENTATIVE 
FROM THE PEOPLEQS COMMITTEE CAME OUT AND MET WITH THE 
LEADERS OF THE DEMONSTRATORS.  THE PEOPLEQS COMMITTEE 
REPRESENTATIVES PROMISED TO CONSIDER THE DEMONSTRATORSQ 
DEMANDS.  BY THE AFTERNOON, THE DEMONSTRATORS AGREED TO 
GO HOME, AND THE PEOPLEQS COMMITTEE AGREED TO PROVIDE 
VEHICLES TO TAKE THEM HOME, ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT 
WHO WAS NOT AN EYEWITNESS. 
 
9. (C) SEVERAL STUDENTS SAID THAT AFTER THE 
DEMONSTRATIONS OF FEBRUARY 2 IN PLEI KU IN GIA LAI 
PROVINCE AND FEBRUARY 3 IN BUON ME THUOT, OTHER 
DEMONSTRATIONS OCCURRED IN SMALLER TOWNS OF THE TWO 
PROVINCES IN THE SUCCEEDING WEEKS.  THE CENTRAL 
GOVERNMENT SENT IN LARGE NUMBERS OF MILITARY TROOPS TO 
GIA LAI PROVINCE, ACCORDING TO THESE STUDENTS.  IN DAK 
LAK PROVINCE, TROOPS WENT ONLY TO EA SUP AND BUON DON 
DISTRICTS, THEY CLAIMED.  TWO STUDENTS STATED THAT THEY 
HAD SEEN A HELICOPTER ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT DID 
NOT KNOW IF IT WAS THE SAME HELICOPTER.  THEY ALSO SAID 
THEY SAW TANKS IN THE AREA IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH. 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  02152  02 OF 04  310910Z 
THESE STUDENTS ALL STATED THAT MOST OF THE UNIFORMED 
SECURITY FORCES HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR BASES, BUT A FEW 
REMAIN.  A STUDENT FROM GIA LAI PROVINCE SAID A SMALL 
CONTINGENT OF ABOUT 30 SOLDIERS STILL PATROLLED HIS 
HOME DISTRICT. 
 
CONCERN FOR PERSONS WHO FLED TO CAMBODIA 
---------------------------------------- 
 
10. (C) ONE STUDENT SAID MOST OF THE ORGANIZERS OF THE 
DEMONSTRATIONS HAD FLED TO CAMBODIA, BUT SOME HAD BEEN 
QARRESTEDQ IN VIETNAM.  HE SAID HE HEARD AN UNKNOWN 
NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WERE DETAINED IN CAMBODIA AND TURNED 
OVER BY CAMBODIAN POLICE TO VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES. 
ALL THE STUDENTS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO 
HAD FLED TO CAMBODIA AND ASKED ABOUT THEIR CURRENT 
SITUATION.  REES TOLD THEM THAT 38 PERSONS HAD BEEN 
RESETTLED TO THE U.S., AND THAT ANOTHER 360 WERE UNDER 
UNHCR PROTECTION IN CAMBODIA.  HE ADDED THAT ABOUT 70 
PERSONS WHO HAD GONE TO CAMBODIA REPORTEDLY HAD 
RETURNED TO VIETNAM.  HE SAID THAT MOST OF THE 360 
STILL IN CAMBODIA HAVE STATED THEY DO NOT WANT TO GO TO 
THE U.S.  INSTEAD, THEY WISH TO RETURN TO VIETNAM, BUT 
ONLY AFTER THE LAND AND MIGRATION PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED. 
THE STUDENTS WERE DISMAYED THAT SOME PERSONS MAY HAVE 
BEEN RETURNED TO VIETNAM.  WHEN ASKED WHAT THEY THOUGHT 
BEST FOR THOSE REFUGEES STILL IN CAMBODIA, THE STUDENTS 
TALKED AMONG THEMSELVES AND THEN SAID THEY THOUGHT IT 
BEST FOR THEM TO STAY IN CAMBODIA UNDER UNHCR 
PROTECTION UNTIL CONDITIONS WERE SUCH THAT THEY COULD 
RETURN TO THEIR HOMES WITHOUT FEAR OF REPRISAL. 
 
PROTESTANT PROBLEMS 
------------------- 
 
11. (C) ALL THE STUDENTS AGREED THAT LAND AND MIGRATION 
WERE THE MAIN CAUSES OF THE ETHNIC UNREST.  SOME OF 
THEM NOTED FURTHER, HOWEVER, THAT MANY ETHNIC MINORITY 
PEOPLE BELONG TO PROTESTANT CONGREGATIONS, AND THAT THE 
DEMONSTRATIONS ALSO RESULTED FROM THE VENTING OF PENT- 
UP FRUSTRATIONS OVER HARASSMENT OF ETHNIC MINORITY 
PROTESTANTS BY LOCAL OFFICIALS OVER THE YEARS. 
 
12. (C) ONE STUDENT SAID FRIENDS HAD TOLD HIM THAT IN 
KRONG PA DISTRICT OF GIA LAI PROVINCE, AUTHORITIES 
RECENTLY DEMANDED SEVERAL ETHNIC MINORITY PROTESTANT 
BELIEVERS RENOUNCE THEIR FAITH.  WHEN THEY REFUSED, 
THEY WERE MADE TO PAY FINES (WHICH COULD BE IN THE FORM 
OF MONEY OR LIVESTOCK).  ONE OF THE STUDENTS SAID HE 
HAD BEEN DENIED A JOB IN PLEI KU BECAUSE HE REFUSED TO 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  02152  03 OF 04  310910Z 
CROSS OUT QTIN LANHQ (PROTESTANT) ON HIS JOB 
APPLICATION FORM.  SEVERAL STUDENTS SAID THEY HAD HEARD 
THAT IN APRIL, A COFFEE SHOP OWNER IN DAM RONG VILLAGE, 
LAC DUONG DISTRICT IN LAM DONG PROVINCE WAS PLAYING A 
VIDEO OF THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST IN HER SHOP WHEN 
POLICE CAME AND TOLD HER TO TURN IT OFF.  TEN OR TWELVE 
CUSTOMERS WHO WERE IN THE SHOP ARGUED WITH THE 
POLICEMAN WHO THEN WENT AWAY.  BUT 30 MINUTES LATER, 
THE SHOP CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND.  THE 
STUDENTS CLAIMED THAT WHEN REPORTERS FROM THE DALAT 
CITY NEWSPAPER CAME TO THE VILLAGE INQUIRING ABOUT THE 
INCIDENT, THE POLICE TOLD THEM THAT THE COFFEE SHOP 
OWNER HAD BEEN SHOWING A PORNOGRAPHIC FILM. 
 
13. (C) THE STUDENTS ALL AGREED THAT ETHNIC MINORITY 
CATHOLICS GENERALLY FARED BETTER THAN ETHNIC MINORITY 
PROTESTANTS IN THE HIGHLAND PROVINCES, BUT IN CERTAIN 
LOCALITIES CATHOLICS, TOO, FACED REPRESSION IN VARYING 
DEGREES.  ONE STUDENT SAID HE WAS AWARE THAT IN LAC 
DUONG DISTRICT IN LAM DONG PROVINCE, THE PRIEST AT THE 
SINGLE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS BEEN REQUESTING PERMISSION 
TO RENOVATE HIS BADLY DILAPIDATED CHURCH SINCE 1989, 
BUT HAS RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM THE AUTHORITIES. 
CATHOLICS IN THIS AREA ARE ALLOWED TO PERFORM BAPTISMS 
ONLY ON CHRISTMAS AND EASTER, HE SAID, BUT THIS YEAR, 
BECAUSE OF THE ETHNIC UNREST, EASTER BAPTISMS WERE NOT 
ALLOWED. 
 
14. (C) THE STUDENTS FROM LAM DONG PROVINCE SAID IT WAS 
WIDELY BELIEVED THAT THE PRESTIGIOUS HIGH SCHOOL 
BOARDING SCHOOL FOR ETHNIC MINORITY STUDENTS IN THE 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  02152  03 OF 04  310910Z 
PROVINCIAL CAPITAL DALAT DOES NOT APPROVE REGISTRATION 
FOR PROTESTANT STUDENTS.  SOME OF THE STUDENTS ADDED 
THAT THEY KNEW OF A 16-YEAR-OLD STUDENT AT THIS 
BOARDING SCHOOL WHO WAS EXPELLED IN MAY WHEN IT BECAME 
KNOWN THAT HIS FATHER HAD ONCE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH 
FULRO.  (NOTE: FULRO WAS POLITICAL/MILITARY 
ORGANIZATION THAT ESPOUSED AUTONOMY FOR THE INDIGENOUS 
PEOPLES OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS UNTIL ITS FINAL DEMISE 
IN THE EARLY 1990QS.  END NOTE.)  SOME OF THE STUDENTS 
CLAIMED THE REASON PROTESTANTS FACE REPRESSION IN THE 
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS IS BECAUSE THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES 
ASSOCIATE PROTESTANTISM WITH FULRO.  THE STUDENTS 
UNANIMOUSLY DISAGREED WITH THIS VIEW.  THEY AGREED 
THERE HAD BEEN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PROTESTANT PASTORS 
AND FULRO IN THE PAST, BUT THAT NOWADAYS PROTESTANT 
PASTORS PREACH ONLY RELIGION.  (COMMENT: SEVERAL 
RELIABLE PROTESTANT SOURCES HAVE PAINTED A SOMEWHAT 
DIFFERENT PICTURE ABOUT PROTESTANTISM AND POLITICS IN 
THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS.  THEY SAY THERE IS A SPLIT 
BETWEEN THE MAJORITY OF PASTORS WHO WANT ONLY TO PREACH 
RELIGION AND A VOCAL MINORITY WHO WERE ACTIVE 
SUPPORTERS OF THE FORMER FULRO AND ARE NOW SUPPORTERS 
OF THE DEGA STATE.  END COMMENT.) 
 
GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTS TO FIND SOLUTIONS 
------------------------------------- 
 
15. (C) MOST OF THE STUDENTS SAID THEY WERE ENCOURAGED 
THAT THE CENTRAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS APPEAR TO 
BE SEARCHING FOR WAYS TO ADDRESS THE VARIOUS PROBLEMS 
OF THE ETHNIC MINORITIES.  AT THE SAME TIME, A FEW OF 
THEM WERE DISCOURAGED THAT SOME OF THE GOVERNMENTQS 
EFFORTS APPEARED INSINCERE.  ONE STUDENT RECOUNTED THAT 
IN GIA LAI PROVINCE, LOCAL TELEVISION CREWS FILMED 
PROVINCIAL OFFICIALS DISTRIBUTING MOSQUITO NETS, BAGS 
OF SALT AND OTHER PROVISIONS IN A MINORITY VILLAGE, BUT 
WHEN THE CAMERAS WERE TURNED OFF, THE OFFICIALS 
REQUESTED PAYMENT FOR THE ITEMS. 
 
16. (C) THE SEVEN STUDENTS CONCURRED THAT THE MOST 
SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE STEP THE CENTRAL AND LOCAL 
GOVERNMENTS HAVE TAKEN IS TO STEP UP EFFORTS TO CONDUCT 
PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION IN MINORITY LANGUAGES.  THE 
STUDENTS ALL AGREED THAT ETHNIC MINORITY STUDENTS HAVE 
LAGGED BEHIND EDUCATIONALLY OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE 
CLASSES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED IN VIETNAMESE Q A NON- 
NATIVE LANGUAGE TO THEM.  (NOTE: THEIR CONVERSATION 
WITH STAFFDEL WAS NONETHELESS IN VIETNAMESE WITH 
ENGLISH INTERPRETATION.  END NOTE.)  THEY APPLAUDED THE 
GOVERNMENTQS EFFORTS TO CONDUCT PRIMARY EDUCATION IN 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  02152  04 OF 04  310910Z 
LOCAL LANGUAGES WHILE TEACHING VIETNAMESE AS A SEPARATE 
SUBJECT.  SEVERAL STUDENTS ALSO SAID THERE HAS BEEN A 
CAMPAIGN SINCE FEBRUARY THAT ALL LOCAL OFFICIALS (WHO 
GENERALLY ARE ETHNIC VIETNAMESE KINH SENT TO ETHNIC 
MINORITY AREAS) SHOULD LEARN THE LANGUAGES OF THE 
COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY WORK.  THIS HAS LED TO SOME 
JOB CREATION FOR MINORITY PEOPLE BEING HIRED AS 
LANGUAGE TEACHERS.  IN APRIL, LAM DONG PROVINCE HIRED 
SEVERAL MINORITY PEOPLE TO TEACH MINORITY LANGUAGES TO 
THE PROVINCIAL POLICE, ACCORDING TO ONE OF THE 
STUDENTS. 
 
17. (C) SEVERAL STUDENTS ADDED THAT, IN ADDITION TO 
LANGUAGE PROGRAMS, THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT HAS SENT 
REPRESENTATIVES INTO MINORITY COMMUNITIES TO LISTEN TO 
GRIEVANCES AND CALM PEOPLE DOWN.  THESE STUDENTS ALSO 
SAID THEY NOTICED A REAL EFFORT ON THE PART OF 
PROVINCIAL OFFICIALS TO IDENTIFY AND FIND EMPLOYMENT 
FOR ETHNIC MINORITY UNIVERSITY GRADUATES.  (TWO OF THE 
STUDENTS REMARKED THAT THEY HAD ALREADY COMPLETED THEIR 
OWN UNIVERSITY COURSES BUT CONTINUED TO TAKE CLASSES 
BECAUSE OF A LACK OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, 
HOWEVER.) 
 
THE STUDENTS SAY NO FORCED STERILIZATIONS 
----------------------------------------- 
 
18. (C) REESQS FINAL QUESTION WAS ABOUT CONTINUING 
ALLEGATIONS THAT ETHNIC MINORITY WOMEN IN THE CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDS ARE MADE TO UNDERGO ABORTIONS OR 
STERILIZATIONS AGAINST THEIR WILL.  THE STUDENTS 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  02152  04 OF 04  310910Z 
(INCLUDING ONE FEMALE STUDENT) REPLIED UNANIMOUSLY THAT 
THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE BEING SUBJECTED TO 
FORCED ABORTION OR STERILIZATION.  THE CENTRAL 
GOVERNMENT HAD A FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM THAT 
ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO USE IUDQS OR OTHER METHODS OF 
BIRTH CONTROL, BUT THE STUDENTS DID NOT BELIEVE ANY 
COERCION WAS INVOLVED.  IN A DISCUSSION AMONG 
THEMSELVES, ONE STUDENT SAID THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN 
ISOLATED INCIDENTS IN THE PAST, BUT THE OTHERS 
DISAGREED. 
 
19. (U) THE STAFFDEL DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO 
CLEAR THIS MESSAGE BEFORE DEPARTURE. 
 
PORTER 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL