US embassy cable - 05HANOI4

UNCLAS HANOI 000004 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, VM, CNARC 
SUBJECT:  GVN PROVIDES INFO, ASKS FOR AID AGAINST 
"TERRORIST" 
 
REF: 12/31 ZARING-ADAMS TELCON AND EMAIL 
 
1. (SBU) On December 31, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
(MFA) delivered a written demarche, translated below, to 
Poloff (who provided it soon after to EAP/BCLTV (ref)).  The 
document recounts the plan of a Vietnamese American group 
called the Provisional Government of Vietnam (a.k.a the 
Government of Free Vietnam in Exile), led by Nguyen Huu 
Chanh, to hold a national convention in Anaheim, California, 
on January 2, 2005.  Included with the demarche were a copy 
of a brochure for the convention and a registration form. 
The note points out specifically that, according to the 
convention brochure, a "representative of the President of 
the United States" would be an event speaker.  Furthermore, 
in the note, the GVN requests that the USG take steps to 
"prevent the convention." 
 
2. (SBU) Comment: This is the second request we have 
received from the GVN for assistance with Nguyen Huu Chanh 
and the Government of Free Vietnam in Exile.  Chanh and his 
group are seen as a serious threat by some in the GVN, and 
clearly monitored closely.  Embassy believes that any 
information we can provide to the GVN on Chanh and his group 
would be well received in Hanoi.  End Comment. 
 
3. Unofficial Embassy translation of December 31, 2004, GVN 
note: 
 
//Begin Unofficial Translation// 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam greets the Embassy of the United States of America 
in Hanoi and requests to present the following information: 
 
According to information we have received, Nguyen Huu Chanh 
and a number of hostile elements plan to organize a so- 
called "National Convention" on January 2, 2005, in the 
Anaheim Convention Center, 800 West Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 
92802, in order to reveal the "National Leader" and the 
"Leadership Committee" of a group called the "Provisional 
Government of Free Vietnam," and at the same time to create 
plans against the country of Vietnam.  According to the 
proposed program, a representative of the President of the 
United States will also participate in this "Convention." 
(see attached) 
 
Vietnam has many times presented the case of Nguyen Huu 
Chanh to the Americans.  Nguyen Huu Chanh not only has 
undertaken many terrorist activities against the Socialist 
Republic of Vietnam, but also is being sought by the 
international office Interpol for the smuggling of arms and 
terrorism.  The issue of Nguyen Huu Chanh and his 
collaborators, who are planning to organize a "National 
Convention" and to "establish a Government" on January 2, 
2005, on United States territory, is a provocation that 
cannot be accepted by Vietnam.  This activity not only aims 
at undermining the Government of the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam -- an autonomous nation, having diplomatic relations 
with the United States -- but also aims to divide the ethnic 
unity that Vietnam is working hard to develop.  At the same 
time this activity goes against the direction of growing 
positive relations between Vietnam and the United States. 
 
Consequently, Vietnam proposes to the United States to take 
appropriate measures to prevent Nguyen Huu Chanh and his 
collaborators from organizing this so called "National 
Convention" mentioned above as well as other activities of a 
hostile nature against Vietnam, and at the same time 
requests that the United States collaborate with Vietnam to 
arrest Nguyen Huu Chanh and render him to Vietnam for trial. 
 
On this occasion the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the 
Socialist Republic of Vietnam presents its sincere 
salutations to the Embassy of the United States. 
 
Hanoi, December 31, 2004. 
 
//End Unofficial Translation// 
 
BOARDMAN