US embassy cable - 05HOCHIMINHCITY127

UNCLAS  HO CHI MINH CITY 000127 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, SOCI, PREL, PGOV, KIRF, VM 
SUBJECT: GVN WISEMAN THANH ON CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AND USG RELATIONS 
 
REF:  A) Hanoi 254; B) Hanoi 215; C) 04 HCMC 1400; D) 04 HCMC 1587 
 
E) 04 HCMC 1491 and previous 
 
1. (SBU) Vo Viet Thanh, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister for 
the South, told us on February 1 that the GVN is determined to 
resolve problems related to the Montagnards in the Central 
Highlands despite opposition from some provincial officials and 
"conservative elements" in Hanoi.  The GVN's tripartite MOU with 
the UNHCR and Government of Cambodia on Montagnard cross-border 
flight is part of this effort.  More broadly, Thanh said that GVN 
efforts in the Central Highlands, its recent amnesty of prisoners 
of conscience, the facilitation of follow-to-join cases of 
Montagnards in Gia Lai province and other initiatives are part of 
an overall approach of the GVN to bridge differences and to 
develop a "strategic partnership" with the U.S. as a counterweight 
to China.   End Summary. 
 
Central Highlands and UNHCR 
--------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) Poloff met February 1 for a pre-Tet call with Special 
Advisor to the Prime Minister for the South, Vo Viet Thanh 
(protect). Thanh spoke at length about developments in the Central 
Highlands, the GVN's MOU with UNHCR on Montagnards in Cambodia and 
the direction of U.S.-Vietnam relations.  (CG and Poloff last met 
him in early November - ref C).  He said that he makes regular 
"inspection tours" of the Central Highlands on behalf of Deputy 
Prime Minister and Politburo member Nguyen Tan Dung.  Thanh 
emphasized that the Dung -- as the GVN's point person for the 
Highlands -- is committed to implementing a GVN decision to 
resolve socio-economic and religious issues affecting Montagnards. 
However, local officials in the hardline provinces of Dak Lak and 
Dak Nong are resistant to follow the GVN's guidelines.  Thanh 
explained that this hardline stance stems in part from Dak Lak's 
and Dak Nong's history as the center of armed anti-GVN resistance 
among Montagnards.  (Note:  Armed Montagnards resistance in 
Vietnam ended in 1992.  End Note.)  He said that prejudice, 
parochial and personal interests of local leaders in the two 
provinces also affect how Montagnards policies are implemented. 
 
3. (SBU) Thanh observed that during a visit to the Central 
Highlands in late November, the Chairman of Gia Lai province 
complained that his more flexible approach to Montagnard issues 
left him politically vulnerable among his colleagues in the region 
and in Hanoi.  Thanh said that he sought to reassure the 
provincial leader, a colleague of DPM Dung from the Mekong Delta, 
that his more progressive approach is not putting his political 
career at risk.  This led Thanh to observe that conservative 
elements in Hanoi (which he would not further identify) also 
obstruct progress in the Central Highlands.  Thanh said that these 
officials intentionally draft ambiguous guidance, giving 
provincial leadership the leeway to avoid implementing reforms. 
 
4. (SBU) Thanh said that DPM Dung recently has begun to tighten 
GVN guidance to the Central Highlands.  Concurrently, DPM Dung is 
planning a review of the Highlands in the near future.  Any 
provincial official that is determined not to be complying with 
Hanoi's directives will be transferred, Thanh said.  Thanh 
welcomed increased USG attention to the Central Highlands and said 
that he would do what he can to facilitate our access to the 
region as well as to resolve outstanding "Visas 93" cases of 
Montagnards seeking to join their families already in the United 
States. 
 
5. (SBU) Thanh said that the GVN, after "internal debate" in late 
2004, decided that it was in Vietnam's interest to work with UNHCR 
to deal with Montagnard cross-border migration to Cambodia. 
Shortly thereafter the GVN inked a tripartite MOU with the 
Government of Cambodia and UNHCR (ref B).  Thanh did not offer any 
s