US embassy cable - 04HANOI2208

UNCLAS HANOI 002208 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV and DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PGOV, AS, VM, HUMANR, RELFREE 
SUBJECT: GVN PROVIDES AUSTRALIA UPDATES ON DETAINEES 
 
Ref:  A) Hanoi 1615, B) Hanoi 1780 
 
1. (SBU) During its annual human rights dialogue with the 
Government of Australia (Ref. A), the GVN provided 
information and case details about every individual on a 
list of prisoners of concern previously delivered by the 
Australian Embassy in Hanoi.  An Australian diplomat 
recently provided a copy to Poloff.  The list largely 
confirms already known details about imprisoned activists; 
however some new information on certain detainees follows, 
with relevant case details noted. 
 
2. (U) Le Quang Liem: sentenced to a second consecutive two- 
year term of administrative detention for "continued illegal 
acts."  Liem's sentence is due to finish on March 17, 2005, 
although the GVN notes, "he is expecting an early release 
from probation."  [Note: Liem is an independent Hoa Hao 
Buddhist leader. End note] 
 
3. (U) Ho Van Trong: released from prison on June 11, 2004, 
six months before the end of his four-year prison term. 
[Note: Truong is a Hoa Hao believer arrested December 20, 
2000, after an incident in which a group of persons attacked 
Hoa Hao believers led by Le Quang Liem at a festival.  End 
note] 
 
4. (U) Dinh Troi: sentenced to six months imprisonment "for 
slander" on July 23, 1999, and released 23 January 2000. 
[Note: Troi is an ethnic Hre Protestant house church leader. 
Mission had heard of his detention, but received no response 
from the GVN to requests for information about his status. 
End note] 
 
5. (SBU) Tran Van Luong: sentence commuted to 15 years 
imprisonment.  [Note: Luong is a former ARVN soldier who was 
arrested on December 12, 1985, while distributing human 
rights leaflets.  He had originally been sentenced to death, 
but this was later commuted to life imprisonment.  Not to be 
confused with another individual with the same name arrested 
June 2004 for having "slandered leaders of the party, 
government, and central bodies." (Ref. B) End note]  As 
Luong has already served more than 15 years, the GOA plans 
to inquire as to why he remains imprisoned. 
 
6. (SBU) Thich Tien Minh: originally arrested March 26, 
1979.  [Note: Thich Tien Minh is an UBVC monk originally 
sentenced to life imprisonment for "activities to overthrow 
the government."  In previous information, the GVN stated he 
had been arrested on March 21, 1987.  On December 27, 1999, 
his sentence was reduced to 20 years imprisonment. End Note] 
Given the new information about Thich Tien Minh's original 
date of arrest, it is not clear why he remains in prison. 
The GOA intends to seek a clarification of his sentencing. 
 
7. Comment: More notable than the information provided, is 
that the GVN prepared such a formal and comprehensive 
response to the GOA's inquiry.  In November, the GVN 
provided similar responses to a list of detainees presented 
by the European Union during its own human rights dialogue 
with the GVN.  Lists given the GVN by Embassy and other USG 
officials have led to partial responses at best, however, 
and usually none at all.  Embassy speculates that the GVN is 
waiting for the "appropriate forum" - the resumption of our 
bilateral human rights dialogue, which it desires - to reply 
to our inquiries. 
BURGHARDT