US embassy cable - 02HANOI652

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 000652 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/PD/MSPEER 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR PRM 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR DRL/IRF 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2012 
TAGS: PHUM, PREF, PGOV, PINS, SOCI, PREL, KIRF, VM, CB, ETMIN, HUMANR, RELFREE 
SUBJECT: CENTRAL HIGHLANDS: NO PUNISHMENT FOR MOST 
RETURNEES, BUT SOME QINSTIGATORSQ ARRESTED 
 
 
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PAGE 02        HANOI  00652  01 OF 03  201147Z 
REF:  HO CHI MINH CITY 263 
 
1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY CONSUL GENERAL EMI LYNN YAMAUCHI, 
HO CHI MINH CITY, FOR REASONS 1.5 (D). 
 
2. (C) SUMMARY: A RELATIVELY MODERATE PASTOR FROM THE 
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS SAID THE GVN IS WORKING TO IMPROVE 
THE SITUATION FOR ETHNIC MINORITIES, ALTHOUGH PROBLEMS 
REMAIN.  HE BELIEVES THE OVERWHELMING CAUSE OF 
WIDESPREAD TENSIONS IS THE ECONOMIC DISPARITY BETWEEN 
ETHNIC MINORITIES AND THE KINH VIETNAMESE MAJORITY. 
HE CRITICIZED U.S. MONTAGNARD GROUPS WHO ENCOURAGE 
PEOPLE TO LEAVE VIETNAM.  RETURNEES FROM THE REFUGEE 
CAMPS IN CAMBODIA HAVE GENERALLY NOT BEEN PUNISHED, 
EXCEPT FOR A FEW QINSTIGATORSQ WHO CONVINCED OTHERS TO 
LEAVE.  HE STRESSED THE MEETING AND HIS IDENTITY 
SHOULD BE KEPT SECRET.  SEPTEL REPORTS ON A BRIEF 
SEPARATE DISCUSSION WITH HIS BROTHER.  END SUMMARY. 
 
ECONOMIC DISPARITIES CAUSE TENSIONS 
----------------------------------- 
3. (C) DPO AND CONOFF DISCUSSED CONDITIONS IN THE 
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS MARCH 19 WITH A PROTESTANT PASTOR 
FROM GIA LAI PROVINCE.  HE BELIEVES THE GVN'S CURRENT 
POLICIES TOWARD ETHNIC MINORITIES ARE GENERALLY BENIGN 
AND WELL INTENTIONED.  THE POLICIES DEMONSTRATE THAT 
THE GVN IS FINALLY INTERESTED IN PAYING ATTENTION TO 
MINORITIES.  SOME LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE NOT ABIDED BY 
THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES, BUT THE 
OVERWHELMING CAUSE OF WIDESPREAD TENSIONS IS THE 
ECONOMIC DISPARITY BETWEEN ETHNIC MINORITIES AND THE 
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PAGE 03        HANOI  00652  01 OF 03  201147Z 
KINH (VIETNAMESE) MAJORITY. 
 
4. (C) THE GVN'S BASIC RELIGIOUS POLICIES ARE QUITE 
GOOD.  INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS CAN PRACTICE THEIR 
RELIGION FREELY.  SOME PROBLEMS, HOWEVER, PERSIST. 
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS NO CHURCH IN THE PASTORQS 
VILLAGE, ALTHOUGH THE BOARD HOPES TO BUILD A CHURCH IN 
GIA LAI SOON. BELIEVERS ALSO FACE PROHIBITIONS ON 
GATHERING TO DISCUSS THEIR FAITH OR TO PRAY TOGETHER. 
THE REALITY OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, THEREFORE, IS THAT 
ACTIVITIES ARE LIMITED TO THEIR HOMES.  BUT THE PASTOR 
BELIEVES SUCH PROBLEMS ARE NOT SO EGREGIOUS THAT 
ETHNIC MINORITY PROTESTANTS MUST LEAVE VIETNAM. 
 
5. (C) THE REAL COMPLAINT OF ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THE 
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS IS ECONOMIC, NOT RELIGIOUS, 
ACCORDING TO OUR SOURCE.  SPECIFICALLY, ETHNIC 
MINORITIES ARE UPSET THAT THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS ARE 
MUCH WORSE THAN THE KINH MAJORITY.  FREQUENTLY THERE 
ARE LAND DISPUTES BETWEEN MINORITIES AND KINH, AND THE 
REALITY IS THAT THE MINORITIES, BECAUSE THEY ARE POOR 
AND NOT WELL CONNECTED, ALMOST ALWAYS LOSE IN LAND 
DISPUTES WITH KINH.  THOSE MINORITIES WHO CAN STAND 
SUCH SUFFERING REMAIN IN VIETNAM, WHILE OTHERS SEEK A 
BETTER LIFE ELSEWHERE.  THIS LATTER GROUP IS EASY TO 
EXPLOIT WITH PROMISES OF RESETTLEMENT TO THE U.S. OR A 
FIGHT TO REGAIN THEIR LANDS. 
 
6. (C) ETHNIC MINORITIES WHO LEFT VIETNAM FOR 
CAMBODIAN CAMPS FALL INTO FOUR CATEGORIES: (1) 
POLITICAL ACTIVISTS; (2) RELIGIOUS ACTIVISTS; (3) 
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PAGE 04        HANOI  00652  01 OF 03  201147Z 
OPPORTUNISTS WHO HOPE TO RESETTLE IN THE U.S.; AND (4) 
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DUPED BY INDIVIDUALS BELONGING TO 
CATEGORIES ONE AND TWO.  THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO 
LEFT VIETNAM BELONG IN CATEGORY FOUR, AS DO ALMOST 
EVERYONE WHO HAS RETURNED TO VIETNAM THUS FAR. 
 
7. (C) THE REASON MANY PEOPLE LEFT VIETNAM IS THAT 
THEY HEARD PROMISES FROM ETHNIC MINORITIES LIVING IN 
THE U.S.--SPECIFICALLY SUPPORTERS OF KOK KQSOR, KQSOR 
TAR AND KQSOR BLIK--OR THEIR ASSOCIATES IN VIETNAM. 
THE PASTOR SAID IT IS DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER 
THE PROMISES MADE ARE TRUTHFUL.  HE BELIEVES THE U.S. 
GROUPS QHAVE CAUSED DISORDER FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE 
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS.Q  ONE OF THE VIETNAMESE 
"MALEFACTORS" LINKED TO THE U.S.-BASED GROUP, A MR. 
NGOL, TRIED TO CONVINCE OUR SOURCE TO LEAVE HIS 
VILLAGE.  NGOL CLAIMED THAT IF MANY VILLAGERS FLED TO 
CAMBODIA, THE U.S. AND UNHCR WOULD QHELP THE FIGHT TO 
REGAIN LANDS TAKEN OVER BY THE KINH AND ESTABLISH AN 
INDEPENDENT STATE.Q  (NOTE: WE CLARIFIED THAT QFIGHTQ 
IN THIS CONTEXT MEANS AN ARMED UPRISING.)  HE ALSO 
PROMISED MONEY AND A BETTER LIFE IN THE U.S. 
 
8. (C) LIFE IS NORMAL FOR MOST OF THOSE WHO HAVE 
RETURNED FROM CAMBODIA.  IF THEY WERE DUPED, THEY ARE 
 
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                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ8559 
 
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ACTION EAP-00 
 
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      DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00   SWCI-00    /011W 
                  ------------------77E77F  201147Z /38 
O 201116Z MAR 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5888 
INFO USMISSION GENEVA 
AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 
NSC WASHDC 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HANOI 000652 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/PD/MSPEER 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR PRM 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR DRL/IRF 
 
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PAGE 02        HANOI  00652  02 OF 03  201147Z 
NOT PUNISHED OR DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.  A FEW PEOPLE 
HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, BUT QTHEY DESERVE TO BE IN 
DETENTION BECAUSE THEY LURED MANY PEOPLE TO LEAVE 
THEIR VILLAGES.  THEIR DECEPTIONS CAUSED SOCIAL 
DISHARMONY FOR THOSE WHO REMAINED BEHIND.Q  AT LEAST 
ONE SUCH DECEIVER IS STILL IN CAMBODIA. 
 
9. (C) OUR SOURCE CONSIDERS IT NORMAL TO HAVE DISPUTES 
WHEN DIFFERENT GROUPS LIVE TOGETHER.  THE SITUATION 
BECAME MUCH MORE SERIOUS WHEN FULRO CALLED FOR AN 
UPRISING TO TAKE BACK THE LAND.  THE RECENT SHIFT TO A 
MARKET ECONOMY HAS MADE THINGS WORSE.  IN THE PAST 
EVERYTHING WAS SUBSIDIZED.  NOW, THE MINORITIES ARE 
BEING LEFT FARTHER BEHIND AND FEEL THEY CANQT CATCH 
UP.  THE GVN HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE, BUT IT 
IS NOT ENOUGH YET. 
 
IMPROVEMENTS FOR PROTESTANTS, BUT PROBLEMS REMAIN 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
10. (C) OUR SOURCE THINKS QNON-BELIEVERSQ  (NON- 
CHRISTIANS) GET MORE HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAN 
BELIEVERS.  THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR EDUCATION.  HE 
ASKED THE HEAD OF THE GIA LAI PEOPLEQS COMMITTEE WHY 
THERE WERE NO PROTESTANT STUDENTS IN ETHNIC MINORITY 
BOARDING SCHOOLS.  HE WAS TOLD THE SCHOOLS WERE 
DESIGNED TO TRAIN FUTURE OFFICIALS FOR THE ETHNIC 
MINORITY COMMUNITY.  OTHER LOCAL OFFICIALS TOLD HIM 
THAT AS LONG AS RESOURCES WERE SO SCARCE, THE SCHOOLS 
WOULD FAVOR THE CHILDREN OF LOCAL MINORITY OFFICIALS. 
 
11. (C) CONDITIONS FOR PROTESTANTS HAVE IMPROVED SINCE 
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PAGE 03        HANOI  00652  02 OF 03  201147Z 
THE PROTESTANT CHURCH OF VIETNAM (SOUTH) (PCVS) WAS 
RECOGNIZED.  BEFORE PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED FOR PRAYING 
(INCLUDING OUR SOURCE IN 1992).  AS RECENTLY AS 1999, 
THEY WERE OFTEN QINVITEDQ TO SPEAK WITH THE LOCAL 
POLICE.  OUR SOURCE KNEW OF NO SUCH HARASSMENT IN 2001 
OR THIS YEAR.  ALTHOUGH THE LOCAL COMMUNIST PARTY AND 
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT HAVE SHOWN MORE UNDERSTANDING 
LATELY, THEY HAVE ONLY ALLOWED A SMALL NUMBER OF 
OFFICIAL PASTORS AND PARISHES/DIOCESES TO BE 
ESTABLISHED SINCE THE PCVS WAS RECOGNIZED.  QWE 
EXPECTED A LOT BUT HAVE ONLY BEEN ALLOWED A LITTLE.Q 
THE SITUATION VARIES BY PROVINCE: GIA LAI IS A QLITTLE 
BITQ BETTER THAN DAK LAK.  KON TUM IS THE MOST 
DIFFICULT.  LAM DONG, THE FOURTH CENTRAL HIGHLAND 
PROVINCE, IS QTOTALLY DIFFERENT,Q WITH OVER 100 
PASTORS. 
 
IS IT SAFE TO RETURN? 
--------------------- 
12. (C) DURING THE MEETING, OUR SOURCE RECEIVED A 
PHONE REPORT REGARDING TWO PASTORS AND THE WIFE OF A 
PASTOR WHO WERE PART OF A DELEGATION THAT ACCOMPANIED 
A GROUP OF RETURNEES FROM THE MONDOLKIRI CAMP TO DAK 
LAK PROVINCE.  THEY SAID LIFE WAS VERY DIFFICULT IN 
THE CAMP AND THAT MANY MORE PEOPLE THERE WANTED TO 
RETURN.  OUR SOURCE SAID HE HAD PERSONALLY SPOKEN WITH 
MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD ALREADY RETURNED.  THOSE WHO CAME 
BACK IN AN QORDERLYQ FASHION HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS. 
SOME WHO RETURNED ON THEIR OWN -- BEFORE THE 
TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED -- HAD BEEN ARRESTED 
BY CAMBODIAN SOLDIERS AND TURNED OVER TO VIETNAMESE 
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PAGE 04        HANOI  00652  02 OF 03  201147Z 
SOLDIERS.  THEY WERE BEATEN BY THE SOLDIERS ON BOTH 
SIDES, BUT WERE NOT BEATEN AGAIN ONCE THEY RETURNED 
HOME. 
 
13. (C) OUR SOURCE HAD BEEN ASKED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES 
TO GO TO THE CAMPS TO URGE PEOPLE TO RETURN, BUT HE 
REFUSED BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY 
FOR THEIR DECISION TO RETURN.  HAD HE GONE, HE WOULD 
HAVE TOLD THE REFUGEES TO FOLLOW THE BIBLE BUT ALSO BE 
GOOD CITIZENS AND FOLLOW THE GOVERNMENT'S LAWS.  HE 
MIGHT TELL THEM ABOUT THE TRUE SITUATION AT HOME -- 
THAT EVERYTHING IS BASICALLY NORMAL -- BUT HE WOULD 
NOT TELL THEM WHAT TO DO.  THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT'S 
SAFE TO RETURN AND HE WOULD NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT 
BEING UNSAFE. 
 
14. (C) ASKED HOW IT MIGHT BE UNSAFE, HE REPLIED THAT 
THOSE WHO CROSSED THE BORDER CAUSED INSTABILITY.  WHEN 
THEY RETURN, HE THINKS THAT THEY WILL BE WATCHED 
CLOSELY.  AS FOR THOSE WHO CONVINCED OTHERS TO LEAVE, 
HE BELIEVES THE AUTHORITIES WILL DEAL WITH THEM 
QAPPROPRIATELY.Q  HE IS ALSO CONCERNED THAT OTHER 
VILLAGERS WILL BE PREJUDICED AGAINST THOSE WHO LEFT, 
COMPARING THIS TO A WOUND THAT LEAVES A SCAR BUT HEALS 
AFTER A SHORT TIME.  IT WOULD BE WORSE IF PEOPLE 
 
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                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ8561 
 
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ACTION EAP-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  DINT-00 
      DODE-00  DOEE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    ED-01    FBIE-00 
      VC-00    HHS-01   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    L-00 
      VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00 
      PC-01    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    SSO-00 
      STR-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00  ECA-00   PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00 
      DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00   SWCI-00    /011W 
                  ------------------77E788  201147Z /38 
O 201116Z MAR 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5889 
INFO USMISSION GENEVA 
AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 
NSC WASHDC 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HANOI 000652 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/PD/MSPEER 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR PRM 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR DRL/IRF 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  00652  03 OF 03  201147Z 
SETTLED IN THIRD COUNTRIES, SINCE THIS WOULD CAUSE 
MORE PEOPLE TO LEAVE AND CREATE FURTHER INSTABILITY. 
IN HIS OPINION, IT WOULD BE BEST FOR PEOPLE TO COME 
HOME. 
 
GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT RHETORIC OUTPACES REFORM 
--------------------------------------------- 
15. (C) OUR SOURCE SAID HE HAD CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS 
WITHOUT INCIDENT.  ABOUT 150 BELIEVERS CAME TO HIS 
HOUSE TO PRAY.  SOME LOCAL POLICE ARRIVED, BUT THEY 
STAYED OUTSIDE AND DID NOT INTERFERE.  WHEN HE HAD A 
CHRISTMAS PARTY, HE MADE A POINT OF INVITING SOME OF 
THE LOCAL OFFICIALS INSIDE.  THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. 
THE SITUATION VARIED ACCORDING TO LOCALITY.  HE KNEW 
OF ONE VILLAGE WHERE PEOPLE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO 
GATHER AT CHRISTMAS.  IT WAS IN AN AREA WHERE THERE 
HAD BEEN DEMONSTRATIONS IN FEBRUARY OF 2001, AFTER 
WHICH SOME RESIDENTS HAD GONE TO CAMBODIA.  HE HAS 
HEARD STORIES OF PROTESTANTS WHO WERE FORCED TO DRINK 
PIG'S BLOOD WITH WINE, BUT HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THE 
SOURCES AND NEVER WITNESSED SUCH TREATMENT HIMSELF. 
HE THINKS THE PEOPLE THAT SPREAD THESE RUMORS HAVE 
ULTERIOR MOTIVES. 
 
16. (C) OUR SOURCE CONCLUDED THAT, IN HIS VIEW, THE 
GVN IS TRYING TO IMPROVE ITS POLICIES TOWARDS ETHNIC 
MINORITIES AND PROTESTANTS.  BUT RHETORIC OUTPACES 
ACTUAL REFORMS.  HE THINKS RELIGIOUS LEADERS, WHEN 
CONFRONTED WITH PROBLEMS, SHOULD SIT DOWN WITH 
OFFICIALS TO WORK THINGS OUT.  THERE ARE TOO MANY 
POLITICIANS, AND NOT ENOUGH FARMERS AND BUSINESSMEN, 
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IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.  THE MINORITIES IN THE CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDS HAVE BEEN IGNORED SINCE BEFORE 1975.  EVEN 
NOW THERE IS ALMOST NO WORK FOR THEM IN FACTORIES OR 
ON THE COFFEE AND RUBBER PLANTATIONS.  THEY ARE LESS 
EFFICIENT THAN ETHNIC KINH AND USUALLY GET FIRED FOR 
THIS.  INSTEAD, THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN TRAINING.  AS FOR 
EDUCATION, UNTIL THINGS CHANGE, PROTESTANTS SHOULD 
QFAKE ITQ AND CHECK QNONBELIEVERQ ON THE ENTRANCE 
FORMS. 
 
17. (C) HE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE U.S.-BASED ETHNIC 
MINORITIES BE MORE HELPFUL.  THEY SHOULD NOT TELL 
ETHNIC MINORITIES THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WILL HELP THEM 
FIGHT TO REGAIN LAND FOR A DEGA STATE, WHICH CANNOT BE 
ACHIEVED.  INSTEAD, THE U.S.-BASED GROUPS SHOULD 
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP THE ECONOMY AND IMPROVE 
LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE ETHNIC MINORITIES STILL IN 
VIETNAM. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
18. (C) IT IS DIFFICULT TO ASSESS INFORMATION ON THE 
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS.  IT IS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT TO 
GENERALIZE FROM ANY SINGLE SOURCE SINCE LOCAL 
CONDITIONS VARY WIDELY.  EVEN NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES 
OFTEN DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT EACH OTHER.  THIS 
SOURCE IS PART OF THE RECENTLY RECOGNIZED PCVS AND 
CLEARLY FAVORS WORKING WITH THE GVN.  HE IS NOT 
UNCRITICAL, HOWEVER, AND HE IS WELL PLACED TO PROVIDE 
FIRST-HAND REPORTING.  HIS BASIC POINTS SEEM TO BE IN 
LINE WITH OTHER CREDIBLE SOURCES.  ETHNIC MINORITIES 
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IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS, MOST 
OF THEM ECONOMIC.  THE GVN IS SUSPICIOUS OF ANY 
ORGANIZED RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY, PARTICULARLY IF IT IS 
TIED TO A FULRO PAST AND A DEGA STATE PRESENT.  YET 
THERE IS CONSIDERABLE PERSONAL FREEDOM TO WORSHIP. 
THERE ARE CASES OF INDIVIDUAL ABUSES, BUT SO FAR WE 
HAVE NOT SEEN EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD FEAR OR SYSTEMIC 
WHOLESALE REPRESSION. 
BURGHARDT 
 
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