US embassy cable - 05HANOI1379

UNCLAS HANOI 001379 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT PASS TO EAP/BCLTV; EAP/RSP; CA; DRL; PRM; H 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, OVIP, VM, HUMANR 
SUBJECT: GVN CALLS IN AMBASSADOR TO PROTEST HR 2601's 
VIETNAM PROVISIONS 
 
Ref: Hanoi 1235 
 
1. (SBU) MFA Acting America's Desk Director General Pham Van 
Que, at the request of Vice Foreign Minister Vu Dzung, 
called in the Ambassador to convey the GVN's concerns about 
the Vietnam provisions in the State Department Authorization 
Bill submitted by House International Relations Committee 
Vice Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ).  The MFA provided the 
following nonpaper: 
 
BEGIN VERBATIM TEXT: 
 
To: Ambassador Michael W. Marine 
 
We have learnt that on June 8th, 2005 the United States 
House of Representatives Committee on International 
Relations discussed and marked up the FY 2006 International 
Affairs Budget Bill.  One amendment to the bill draft, 
sponsored by Congressman Christopher Smith, is indeed the 
new version of the Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2004. 
 
We would like to express our deep concern over the re- 
appearance of the issue and urge that the U.S. Government to 
take necessary and timely measures to prevent the passage of 
this legislation of any form for the betterment of the 
bilateral relationship and particularly, for the conducive 
atmosphere of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of 
diplomatic relations and the upcoming visit to the U.S. of 
Vietnam's Prime Minister. 
 
9/6/2005 
 
END VERBATIM TEXT. 
 
The Ambassador noted that a bill introduced is not 
necessarily a bill passed, and that any Member of Congress 
has the freedom and ability to enter virtually any piece of 
legislation for consideration. 
 
2. (U) Mr. Que also passed over the latest copies of the 
Vietnamese proposed joint statement, the Prime Minister's 
schedule in the United States and the official delegation 
list (all forwarded to the Vietnam Desk by email and fax). 
 
3. (SBU) The Ambassador took the opportunity to raise 
several points of U.S. interest, including the cases of 
H'Jol Siu (attempting to return to Vietnam from the United 
States) and Pastor Than Van Truong, involuntarily committed 
to a mental institution in Dong Nai province.  "Using mental 
health facilities to try to control the activities of 
healthy individuals does not reflect well on Vietnam," the 
Ambassador said.  He asked for an update on the case 
promised by Vice Foreign Minister Le Van Bang on May 25 
(reftel).  Que said he has no further information on the 
case. 
 
4. (SBU) The Ambassador reviewed the status of the various 
deliverables for the Prime Minister's visit, including the 
areas of disagreement in the Adoptions Agreement.  Que had 
no additional comment on any of the agreements or planned 
activities. 
 
MARINE