US embassy cable - 01HANOI2740

C O N F I D E N T I A L HANOI 002740 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL/RF 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL 10/18/2011 
TAGS: PHUM, PINS, PREL, PGOV, VM, RELFREE, HUMANR, ETMIN, BTA 
SUBJECT:  POTUS VISIT AND BTA STIMULATED PROTESTANT 
-     REGISTRATION PROCESS 
 
REF:  HANOI 2591 
 
1.  (U)  CLASSFIED BY POLITICAL COUNSELOR SCOTT D. 
BELLARD, REASON 1.5 (D) 
 
2.  (C )  THEN-PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VISIT TO VIETNAM IN 
NOVEMBER 200 CAUSED THE SRV TO FACILITATE PROTESTANT 
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CHURCH EFFORTS TO REGISTER, ACCORDING TO PASTOR TINH, 
WHO DESCRIBED HIMSELF AS THE CHAIRMAN OF VIET NAM GOOD 
NEWS MISSIONS (STRICTLY PROTECT).  TINH, WHO MET WITH 
POLOFF ON OCTOBER 11 IN HANOI, SAID THAT GVN RELIGION 
OFFICIALS LAST YEAR BEGAN TRAVELLING AROUND THE 
COUNTRYSIDE ENCOURAGING AND ASSISTING PROTESTANT GROUPS 
IN BEGIN LEGALIZING THEIR STATUS.  HE CLAIMED THAT A 
SYMPATHETIC OFFICIAL OF THE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE ON 
RELIGION TOLD HIM RECENTLY THAT THE SRV HAD LAST YEAR 
DIRECTED THE COMMITTEE TO SEEK OUT PROTESTANT GROUPS 
AND TRY TO REGISTER THEM IN ORDER TO "HAVE SOMETHING TO 
SHOW THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT" AND TO INFLUENCE FAVORABLE 
CONSIDERATION OF THE BTA.  TINH ADDED THAT WHEN IT 
BECAME CLEAR THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON WOULD NOT SIGN THE 
BTA DURING HIS VISIT, GOVERNMENT INTEREST IN CHURCH 
REGISTRATION TAPERED OFF. 
 
3.  (C )  AT LEAST TWO PROTESTANT CHURCHES ARE STILL IN 
THE REGISTRATION PROCESS, INCLUDING HIS, TINH SAID. 
HOWEVER, GVN OFFICIALS ARE NO LONGER GOING OUT OF THEIR 
WAY TO FACILITATE THE PROCESS, HE ADDED.  TINH 
EXPRESSED A GENERAL BELIEF THAT A "HOLD" ON THE BTA 
MIGHT HAVE HAD SOME FURTHER BENEFICIAL INFLUENCE ON 
CHURCH REGISTRATION.  PASTOR TINH SAID THAT HE BELIEVED 
THAT CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF THE VIETNAM HUMAN 
RIGHTS ACT (VHRA) COULD SIMILARLY INDUCE PROGRESS ON 
NEW CHURCH REGISTRATION, ADDING A HOPE THAT THE VHRA BE 
APPROVED. 
 
4.  (C )  COMMENT:  MUCH AS THE GVN DECRIES FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN ITS INTERNAL AFFAIRS, IT REMAINS 
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SENSITIVE TO OUTSIDE PRESSURE AND CONCERN.  REFTEL 
NOTED THE IMPACT OF THE VHRA VOTE ON THE BAPTIST 
REGISTRATION PROCESS.  WHILE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO LINK 
DIRECTLY THE MARCH 2001 OFFICIAL REGISTRATION OF THE 
SOUTHERN EVANGELICAL CHURCH TO THE POTUS VISIT OR BTA 
CONSIDERATION, GVN POLICY TOWARD A MORE INCLUSIVE 
APPROACH TO UNAUTHORIZED RELIGIOUS GROUPS IS CLEARLY 
NOT IMMUNE TO THE EBBS AND FLOWS OF POLICY 
DELIBERATIONS ABROAD, ESPECIALLY IN WASHINGTON. 
PORTER 
 
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