US embassy cable - 02HOCHIMINHCITY719

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HO CHI MINH CITY 000719 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/PD/KFOSTER 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR DRL/IRF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, KIRF, VM, RELFREE, HUMANR 
SUBJECT: DISSIDENT HOA HAO MONKS UNDER HEAVY POLICE 
SURVEILLANCE 
 
REF: A. HCMC 0695 
     B. HCMC 1255 (01) 
     C. HANOI 2924 (01) 
     D. HCMC 0755 (99) 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HO CHI  00719  01 OF 02  190741Z 
 
1. SUMMARY:  PROVINCIAL PLAINCLOTHES POLICE PREVENTED 
POLOFF FROM MEETING WITH A DISSIDENT HOA HAO MONK IN AN 
GIANG PROVINCE IN THE MEKONG DELTA.  POLICE SAT IN ON 
POLOFF'S MEETING WITH ANOTHER DISSIDENT MONK IN THE 
SAME PROVINCE, BUT FAILED TO INTIMIDATE HIM OR STOP HIM 
FROM SPEAKING HIS MIND.  END SUMMARY. 
 
THE MAN WHO CLIMBED THE TREE 
---------------------------- 
 
2. ON JUNE 24, POLOFF ATTEMPTED TO VISIT HOA HAO MONK 
NAM LIEM (VO THANH LIEM) AT HIS RESIDENCE IN CHO MOI 
DISTRICT, AN GIANG PROVINCE.  NAM LIEM HAD GAINED LOCAL 
CELEBRITY IN 1994, WHEN HE CLIMBED A TALL PINE TREE IN 
HIS BACKYARD TO ESCAPE POLICE WHO HAD COME TO ARREST 
HIM.  AFTER FOUR DAYS, HE CAME DOWN FROM THE TREE, WAS 
ARRESTED, AND SPENT THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IN PRISON. 
POLOFF HAD VISITED HIM AFTER HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON IN 
1999 (REF D). 
 
3. IN NOVEMBER 2001, LOCAL POLICE CAME TO TEAR DOWN HOA 
HAO FLAGS THAT LIEM HAD DISPLAYED INSIDE HIS PRIVATE 
PAGODA.  WHILE POLICE WERE INSIDE, LIEM LOCKED THE DOOR 
FROM THE OUTSIDE.  MORE POLICE CAME TO ASSIST, AND LIEM 
WENT UP THE TREE AGAIN.  UPON HIS DESCENT THIS TIME, 
ACCORDING TO HOA HAO SOURCES, THE POLICE GAVE HIM A 
STERN LECTURE, BUT DID NOT ARREST HIM.  DOZENS OF 
LIEM'S PERSONAL FOLLOWERS CONTINUE TO VISIT HIS PRIVATE 
PAGODA EACH DAY (REFS B AND C). 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HO CHI  00719  01 OF 02  190741Z 
4. WHEN POLOFF ARRIVED AT THE BRICK ENTRYWAY LEADING TO 
NAM LIEM'S PAGODA ON JUNE 24, THREE YOUNG MEN BLOCKED 
THE WAY.  SEVERAL OTHER MEN WHO APPEARED TO BE WITH 
THEM STOOD ON THE LAWN OF A NEIGHBORING TEA SHOP.  ONE 
OF THE YOUNG MEN WAS HIGHLY AGITATED AND WARNED POLOFF 
TO GO AWAY.  HE SAID THE PEOPLE IN THE AREA DID NOT 
WELCOME AMERICANS AND "DID NOT WANT ANY AMERICANS TO 
DISTURB THE MONK AT THE PAGODA."  POLOFF SAID HE HAD 
VISITED AND HAD BEEN WELCOMED THERE THREE YEARS AGO, 
AND FOUND THE PEOPLE OF THE AREA TO BE FRIENDLY. 
POLOFF INDICATED HE WOULD TURN BACK, HOWEVER, IF 
AUTHORITIES OFFICIALLY HAD PLACED THE LIEM UNDER HOUSE 
ARREST OR OFFICIALLY RESTRICTED VISITORS TO THE PAGODA. 
THE YOUNG MAN, NOW ANGRY AND USING VULGAR LANGUAGE, 
DENIED HE WAS A POLICE OFFICER AND SAID THE MONK WAS 
NOT UNDER ANY RESTRICTIONS.  HE REPRESENTED THE 
COMMUNITY, HE SHOUTED, AND THE COMMUNITY DID NOT WANT 
ANY AMERICANS IN THE VICINITY. 
 
5. POLOFF NOTICED MORE PEOPLE APPROACHING AS THE 
EXCHANGE CONTINUED.  SEVERAL HOA HAO FOLLOWERS 
(DISTINCTIVE BY THEIR HAIR BEING TIED BACK IN A BUN AND 
THEIR WEARING OF PLAIN BLACK OR GRAY TUNICS) LISTENED 
INTENTLY, THEN SOME OF THEM BEGAN ARGUING WITH THE 
YOUNG MEN WHO HAD BLOCKED THE ROAD.  BECAUSE A PHYSICAL 
ALTERCATION APPEARED TO BE IN THE WORKS, POLOFF DECIDED 
TO RETURN TO HIS VEHICLE AND DRIVE AWAY.  POLOFF DROVE 
BY SIX HOURS LATER AND SAW THE SAME GROUP OF YOUNG MEN 
LYING IN WAIT. 
 
6. ONE WEEK LATER, A HOA HAO ELDER IN HO CHI MINH CITY 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HO CHI  00719  01 OF 02  190741Z 
WENT TO VISIT NAM LIEM.  HE LATER TOLD POLOFF THAT LIEM 
WAS MORTIFIED AT THE LOCAL POLICE TREATMENT OF POLOFF 
AND ASSURED HIM HE WOULD WELCOME VISITS BY POLOFF OR 
ANY OTHER AMERICAN DIPLOMAT.  THE HOA HAO ELDER ALSO 
SAID THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WAS INFURIATED WHEN THEY 
DISCOVERED THE PLAINCLOTHES POLICE HAD SAID AMERICANS 
WERE UNWELCOME THERE.  RELATIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND 
THE COMMUNITY WERE NOW VERY TENSE. 
 
COURAGEOUS EX-PRISONER 
---------------------- 
 
7. AFTER BEING TURNED BACK AT THE HOME OF NAM LIEM, 
POLOFF WENT TO TRY TO VISIT ANOTHER DISSIDENT HOA HAO 
MONK, TU TRIET (LE MINH TRIET).  IN OCTOBER 1993, 
AUTHORITIES IN AN GIANG PROVINCE'S CHO MOI DISTRICT HAD 
ORDERED TU TRIET TO DEMOLISH HIS HOME BECAUSE HE HAD 
BUILT IT IN A PAGODA STYLE WITHOUT GOVERNMENT 
PERMISSION.  HE REFUSED, BUT THEY DEMOLISHED THE HOUSE 
AND CAME TO ARREST HIM.  AS A FUGITIVE, HE WROTE TO THE 
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA AND TO THE OVERSEAS HOA HAO 
COMMUNITY SEEKING ASSISTANCE.  FINALLY ARRESTED IN 
MARCH 1994, HE WAS CHARGED AND FOUND GUILTY OF 
"CONTEMPT FOR THE LAW" AND OF "COOPERATING WITH FOREIGN 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ5110 
 
PAGE 01        HO CHI  00719  02 OF 02  190741Z 
ACTION DRL-02 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  DODE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00 
      EAP-00   EB-00    UTED-00  H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00 
      LAB-01   L-00     NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   OPIC-01  PER-00 
      PRS-00   P-00     SCT-00   SP-00    SS-00    STR-00   TEST-00 
      TRSE-00  USIE-00  DSCC-00  PRM-00   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00 
        /007W 
                  ------------------CD664C  190742Z /38 
R 190629Z JUL 02 
FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6537 
INFO AMEMBASSY HANOI 
USMISSION GENEVA 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 HO CHI MINH CITY 000719 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/PD/KFOSTER 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR DRL/IRF 
 
AGENTS WITH THE PURPOSE OF HARMING THE NATIONAL 
INTEREST."  HE WAS SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS 
IMPRISONMENT; HE COMPLETED HIS TERM AND WAS RELEASED AT 
THE END OF MARCH 2002. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HO CHI  00719  02 OF 02  190741Z 
 
8. POLOFF HAD DIRECTIONS TO TU TRIET'S BROTHER'S HOME 
WHERE TRIET CURRENTLY RESIDES, BUT HAD TO ASK FOR 
SPECIFICS AFTER ARRIVING IN THE GENERAL VICINITY. 
RECEIVING CONTRADICTORY DIRECTIONS FROM DIFFERENT 
PERSONS IS NOT UNUSUAL IN RURAL VIETNAM.  HOWEVER, WITH 
FOUR PLAINCLOTHES POLICE FOLLOWING CLOSELY ON 
MOTORCYCLES, POLOFF WAS CONVINCED THAT NEIGHBORS HAD 
BEEN INSTRUCTED TO GIVE THE WRONG DIRECTIONS.  POLOFF 
HAD ALMOST GIVEN UP WHEN HE NOTICED ONE POLICEMAN WHO 
HAD BEEN FOLLOWING HIM SITTING ON A PORCH NEXT TO A MAN 
CLAD IN WHITE.  THE MAN IN WHITE WAS TRIET. 
 
9. TU TRIET SMILED BROADLY AS POLOFF SAT DOWN.  THREE 
PLAINCLOTHES POLICEMEN SAT DOWN WITH THEM.  THEY 
LISTENED, BUT DID NOT INTERFERE IN THE CONVERSATION. 
TRIET RECOUNTED THE STORY OF HOW AND WHY HE HAD BEEN 
ARRESTED.  HE SAID HE HAD BEEN ALLOWED VISITORS WHILE 
IN PRISON AND HAD BEEN TREATED NO WORSE THAN THE OTHER 
PRISONERS.  HE IS CURRENTLY UNDER A TWO-YEAR 
ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION AND IS NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE 
THE VILLAGE WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE LOCAL POLICE. 
 
10. TU TRIET SAID THAT AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF PRISON, THE 
THING THAT MOST SURPRISED HIM WAS THE DEGREE OF FREEDOM 
OF WORSHIP ENJOYED BY HOA HAO BELIEVERS. (REF A 
DESCRIBES IMPROVEMENTS FOR HOA HAO FREEDOM OF WORSHIP 
SINCE THE GVN RECOGNIZED THE SECT IN 1999.)  TRIET SAID 
HE HOPED TO SEE CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS, BUT GLANCING AT 
THE POLICEMAN WHO SAT AT ARM'S LENGTH AWAY, HE SAID HE 
WAS NOT OPTIMISTIC. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HO CHI  00719  02 OF 02  190741Z 
 
11. TRIET SAID HE OPPOSED THE GVN-SANCTIONED HOA HAO 
REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEE BECAUSE HE BELIEVED ITS 
OFFICERS WERE SELECTED IN A SHAM ELECTION AT A HOA HAO 
CONGRESS THAT WAS DOMINATED BY THE GOVERNMENT.  NOTING 
HIS OWN PAGODA HAD BEEN DESTROYED IN 1994, HE DOUBTED 
HE WOULD RECEIVE PERMISSION TO REBUILD.  POLOFF HAD 
JUST VISITED A NEWLY-CONSTRUCTED HOA HAO PAGODA (REF A) 
AND SUGGESTED TRIET MIGHT TRY MEETING WITH THE 
REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEE, EXPLAIN HIS CASE, AND SEE IF 
THEY WOULD SUPPORT HIS BUILDING A NEW PAGODA.  TRIET 
LAUGHED AT FIRST, THEN SEEMED INTRIGUED BY THE IDEA. 
 
12. ASKED IF THERE WAS A MESSAGE TO CONVEY TO THE USG, 
TRIET REPLIED THAT HE GREATLY APPRECIATED U.S. EFFORTS 
ON HIS BEHALF AND "FOR ALL PERSONS WHO HAVE SUFFERED 
ILL-TREATMENT AT THE HANDS OF THE GVN."  HE SAID THE 
U.S. WAS A MODEL OF FREEDOM AND THAT THE VIETNAMESE 
WOULD DO WELL TO LOOK AT AMERICA AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE 
POTENTIAL OF A FREE SOCIETY.  (COMMENT: POLOFF FELT 
THAT TU TRIET'S REMARKS -- IN FRONT OF THREE SULLEN 
POLICEMEN -- WERE THEMSELVES A MODEL OF BRAVERY IN THE 
FACE OF REPRESSION.) 
 
MESSAGE TO THE POLICE 
--------------------- 
 
13. POLOFF ALSO HAD A MESSAGE TO DELIVER, REPEATED 
TWICE DURING THE CONVERSATION.  POLOFF TOLD TRIET HE 
WAS GLAD "OTHERS" PRESENT WERE LISTENING.  NOW THEY 
WOULD KNOW THIS WAS NOT A DANGEROUS/SUBVERSIVE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HO CHI  00719  02 OF 02  190741Z 
CONVERSATION.  POLOFF WOULD REPORT ON HIS MEETING WITH 
TRIET AND ON THE IMPROVEMENTS SEEN OVER THE YEARS IN 
THE HOA HAO SITUATION.  HE WOULD ALSO REPORT THAT 
POLICE HAD PREVENTED HIM FROM MEETING WITH DISSIDENT 
HOA HAO MONK NAM LIEM.  THERE WAS NOTHING LIEM COULD 
HAVE SAID THAT WOULD MAKE THE GVN LOOK WORSE THAN THE 
POLICE THUGS PHYSICALLY BLOCKING THE ROAD TO HIS HOUSE. 
POLOFF SAID HE WAS WORRIED THAT ANY INCREMENTAL 
IMPROVEMENTS THE GVN WAS MAKING IN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 
WOULD BE OVERSHADOWED BY ITS CONTINUED HARASSMENT OF 
PERSONS WITH DIFFERING VIEWS.   YAMAUCHI 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED