US embassy cable - 01HANOI2962

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NHAN DAN ON FATHER LY'S SENTENCE

Identifier: 01HANOI2962
Wikileaks: View 01HANOI2962 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Hanoi
Created: 2001-11-14 01:19:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Tags: PHUM SOCI PINS VM HUMANR RELFREE
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

140119Z Nov 01

 2001HANOI02962 - UNCLASSIFIED
 
 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTO7492

PAGE 01        HANOI  02962  140144Z 
ACTION EAP-00   

INFO  LOG-00   AID-00   AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  INL-00   DINT-00  
      DODE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    ED-01    EUR-00   FBIE-00  
      UTED-00  HHS-01   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    L-00     
      NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   OPIC-01  PC-01    PRS-00   P-00     
      SP-00    SS-00    STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  SNIS-00  
      NISC-00  DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00   
        /009W
                  ------------------3DDF39  140144Z /38    
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4657
INFO AMEMBASSY VATICAN
AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
UNCLAS HANOI 002962 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL/RF 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, SOCI, PINS, VM, HUMANR, RELFREE 
SUBJECT:  NHAN DAN ON FATHER LY'S SENTENCE 
 
REF:  A.  HANOI 2884     B. HANOI 2789 
 
1.  (U) A SIGNED COMMENTARY UNDER THE HEADLINE OF "NO ONE 
HAS THE RIGHT TO INTERFERE" IN NHAN DAN, THE LEADING PARTY 
DAILY NEWSPAPER, ON NOVEMBER 13 DENOUNCED FOREIGN MEDIA 
COVERAGE, ESPECIALLY BY RFI AND BBC, REGARDING THE 15 YEAR 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  02962  140144Z 
CUMULATIVE SENTENCES GIVEN TO FATHER NGUYEN VAN LY ON 
OCTOBER 19.  IT INCLUDED SOME QUOTES FROM INTERNATIONAL 
COVERAGE SUCH AS "CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM TO 
RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND REJECT THE 
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 31/CP REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE 
DETENTION" 
 
2.  (U)  THE COMMENTARY DESCRIBED THE "TRUTH" AS BEING THAT 
FATHER LY HAD VIOLATED THE LAW BY "CAUSING DIVISIONS AMONG 
RELIGIOUS BELIEVERS, WITH AN AFFECT ON ORDER, SECURITY AND 
THE PEACEFUL LIFE OF THE PEOPLE," BY "TWISTING THE TRUTH" 
AND BY "DAMAGING THE POLICY OF SOLIDARITY AMONG THE ENTIRE 
POPULATION."  IT REITERATED THE "CONSISTENT POLICY" OF THE 
PARTY AND STATE WAS TO RESPECT FREEDOM OF BELIEF AND NON- 
BELIEF, BUT WARNED THAT ANY INSTANCE OF VIOLATING THE LAW 
WILL BE "DEALT WITH BY THE LAW." 
 
3.  (SBU)  COMMENT:  THE GVN CONTINUES TO TRY TO PORTRAY 
FATHER LY'S CASE AS A LAW AND ORDER ISSUE, RATHER THAN A 
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY ISSUE.  OFFICIAL SENSITIVITY TO EXTERNAL 
CRITICISM IS APPARENT IN THE INCLUSION IN THIS SEMI- 
DEFINITIVE COMMENTARY OF DIRECTLY CRITICAL COMMENTS MADE BY 
OUTSIDE OBSERVERS;  THEY ARE PROBABLY WELL AWARE THAT 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS PROGRAMS ARE POPULAR AND FELT THEY NEEDED 
TO REACT TO SUCH CRITICISM FACE-ON. 
PORTER 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 


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