US embassy cable - 05HOCHIMINHCITY142

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000142 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, SOCI, PREL, PGOV, VM, HUMANR, RELFREE 
SUBJECT: AMENESTIED PRISONERS RETURN HOME; MENNONITE PASTOR 
REJECTS EARLY RELEASE 
 
REF: A) HANOI 254; B) HANOI 249; C) HCMC 106; D) 04 HCMC 1422 
 
1. (SBU) Summary.  ConGen HCMC has confirmed that amnestied 
prisoners Nguyen Van Ly (Father Ly), Nguyen Dan Que (Dr. Que), 
Nguyen Dinh Huy, Truong Van Duc, and Huynh Van Ba (aka Thich Thien 
Minh or Thich Thien Tu) were released from prison as part of the 
2005 Tet Amnesty (Refs A, B).  Imprisoned Mennonite pastor Nguyen 
Hong Quang reportedly refused a GVN offer of early release for 
himself and amnesty for two other associates, including the 
mentally ill Le Thi Hong Lien (Refs C, D).  End Summary. 
 
AMNESTIED PRISONERS RELEASED 
---------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) Post has confirmed that five prisoners on the USG list of 
persons of concern were released from prison this week as a part 
of the 2005 Tet Amnesty, including the high profile cases of Dr. 
Nguyen Dan Que and Father Nguyen Van Ly.  Dr. Que's spouse, Nguyen 
Thi Mai, told us he returned to his home in HCMC on the morning of 
February 3, after traveling by train from Thanh Hoa province in 
northern Vietnam.  According to his wife, Dr. Que must register 
with police within seven days of release but will have "complete 
freedom." 
 
3. (SBU) Father Ly's nephew told us Father Ly was released from 
prison on February 1 and is currently in Hanoi.  He has already 
called on the Archbishop's office in Hanoi and will be returning 
to his home in Hue on February 5.  He plans to travel to HCMC to 
visit family after the Tet holiday. 
 
4. (SBU) According to Nguyen Dinh Huy's wife, Huy returned to his 
home in HCMC on February 2.  Huy, age 73, is currently in good 
health and feels well, although his wife said he had been ill 
several times while in prison.  He has been receiving visitors and 
expects his Amcit daughter to visit soon. 
 
5. (SBU) According to Le Quang Liem (strictly protect), leader of 
the unrecognized Hoa Hao Central Buddhist Church of Vietnam 
(HHCBC), Truong Van Duc returned to his home in An Giang province 
on February 1.  He was released unconditionally and has "total 
freedom," said Liem.  Duc has been able to receive visitors and 
plans to travel to Dong Thap province on February 12 where he 
plans to meet Liem and other HHCBC followers. 
 
6. (SBU) Huynh Van Ba, a monk from the unrecognized Unified 
Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV), was released from prison on 
February 2 in HCMC.  On February 3, he gave an interview to Radio 
Free Asia in which he called on the GVN to rebuild a UBCV pagoda 
in Bac Lieu that was confiscated and destroyed after 1975.  During 
the interview, he said he intends to travel to his brother's home 
in Bac Lieu province before returning to HCMC to meet UBCV 
Secretary General Thich Quang Do and seek medical treatment. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
MENNONITE PASTOR QUANG REFUSES EARLY RELEASE, AMNESTY OFFER 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
7. (SBU) Ms. Le Thi Phu Dung (strictly protect), wife of 
imprisoned Mennonite pastor Nguyen Hong Quang, told us her husband 
is appealing his November 12 conviction (Ref D).  The first 
hearing of his appeal, originally scheduled for February 5, has 
been postponed until after the Tet holiday.  According to Dung, 
the authorities offered to reduce Quang's prison sentence and 
release two of his associates as part of the 2005 Tet Amnesty -- 
including Ms. Le Thi Hong Lien, who was arrested with Quang in 
March 2004 and subsequently suffered a mental breakdown (Ref C) -- 
if he would drop his appeal.  Quang refused the offer and will 
proceed with the appeal, said Dung.  Le Thi Hong Lien remains in 
prison. 
 
WINNICK