US embassy cable - 05HOCHIMINHCITY846

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000846 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV, DRL/IRF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, SOCI, PREL, KIRF, PGOV, VM, Human Rights, Religious Freedom 
SUBJECT: TENSIONS CONTINUE BETWEEN HOA HAO AND MEKONG DELTA 
AUTHORITIES 
 
REF:  A) HANOI 2073 B) HCMC 825 C) HCMC 600 D) HCMC 433 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: Tensions between Hoa Hao activists and 
authorities in An Giang and Dong Thap provinces remain high a week 
after two activists self-immolated in response to police raids on 
their homes.  Police remain camped outside the homes of select Hoa 
Hao leaders, and as many as 25 more followers have threatened self- 
immolation.  We continue to urge all parties to exercise 
restraint.  End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) A week following the self-immolation of two Hoa Hao 
activists and the arrest of eight others, tension continues to 
mount between Hoa Hao and authorities in An Giang and nearby 
provinces.  According to Hoa Hao dissident leader Le Quang Liem, 
more than 25 of his followers in An Giang, Vinh Long and Dong Thap 
have publicly proclaimed they will self-immolate if authorities do 
not release those detained in the raids of August 5.  Truong Van 
Duc, another dissident leader, told us he remains holed up in his 
home in An Giang, with "50 or 60" police and other officials "on 
guard" outside.  Duc continued to threaten self-immolation if 
authorities attempted to enter his house.  Neither Liem nor Duc 
had any information about the welfare or whereabouts of the 
activist who attempted self-immolation August 5. 
 
3. (SBU) Acting PolOff spoke to Liem August 12 and once again 
urged restraint, continuing to emphasize that the USG does not 
regard self-immolation as a constructive form of protest.  Liem 
said he had been urging restraint to his followers and claimed 
there would have been more acts of self-immolation had he not 
spoken out against it.  He asked for U.S. intervention and claimed 
that the problems between Hoa Hao and authorities were "purely 
religious" (i.e., not political).  Acting CG telephoned Le Hung 
Quoc, First Vice Director, HCMC External Relations Office (ERO), 
emphasizing the need for restraint on the part of local 
authorities in dealing with Hoa Hao adherents, and noting that we 
had also told Hoa Hao members that the USG does not condone 
violent acts like self-immolation.  Quoc invited Acting CG to meet 
him August 15 and said he would provide information about the 
situation. 
 
4. (SBU) Comment:  In the August 15 meeting, ERO will likely 
present details and arguments similar to the information sheet and 
comments provided by MFA to Pol/C in Hanoi on August 12 (Ref A). 
The apparent unwillingness or inability of either side to back 
down increases the danger of further violence, including self- 
immolations.  Given the political coloration of his previous 
activities and his disdain for the Communists (reftels), Liem's 
claim that this is a "purely religious" matter seems 
oversimplified.  End Comment. 
 
CHERN