US embassy cable - 02HANOI2394

C O N F I D E N T I A L HANOI 002394 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR PRM/A (LEWIS) AND EAP/BCLTV (STROTZ) 
BANGKOK FOR INS (KAISER) AND RMA (ROCK) 
HQINS FOR IAO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/07 
TAGS: PREF, PHUM, PREL, VM, HUMANR 
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION OF REFUGEE 
-        PROCESSING FOR BUI DON DUONG 
 
REF:  A. STATE 86409   B. HANOI 2392 
 
1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY A/DCM SCOTT BELLARD,  REASON: 1.5 
(D) 
 
2. (C)  IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF A INSTRUCTIONS, POST 
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SEEKS DEPARTMENT APPROVAL FOR REFUGEE PROCESSING FOR 
VIETNAMESE NATIONAL BUI DON DUONG, DPOB 27 AUGUST 1957, 
VIETNAM.  THE PRINCIPAL APPLICANT IS MARRIED TO VO, 
SANH THI, DPOB 15 JANUARY 1964, VIETNAM.  THEY HAVE TWO 
CHILDREN: A DAUGHTER, BUI, LONG VO, DPOB 01 SEPTEMBER 
1985, VIETNAM; AND, A 12 YEAR OLD SON WHOSE NAME AND 
DETAILED BIODATA ARE NOT AT PRESENT AVAILABLE TO POST. 
THE FAMILY WAS PREVIOUSLY THE BENEFICIARIES OF AN F-4 
PETITION FILED BY BUI'S US CITIZEN SISTER -- BUI, 
TRUONG THI -- BUT THE FILE (ODP1996243091) WAS CLOSED 
AND PURGED IN 1999 DUE TO THE FAMILY'S FAILURE TO 
PURSUE THE CASE. 
 
3.  (C)  AS DESCRIBED AT LENGTH IN REF B, BUI HAS 
RECENTLY FACED A SHRILL MEDIA CAMPAIGN AGAINST HIM 
PERSONALLY, MOSTLY FOR HIS ROLE IN THE US FILM "WE WERE 
SOLDIERS" BUT ALSO FOR EARLIER ROLES IN INTERNATIONAL 
FILMS "THREE SEASONS" AND "GREEN DRAGON."  HE HAS BEEN 
ACCUSED INFORMALLY OF "BETRAYING THE FATHERLAND," A 
SERIOUS ACCUSATION IN VIETNAM, WHERE "PROTECTING 
NATIONAL SOLIDARITY" IS A CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT OF 
ALL CITIZENS.  BUI'S PASSPORT HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM HIM, 
HE APPARENTLY HAS ALREADY BEEN BARRED FROM BEGINNING A 
NEW FILM OVERSEAS IN NOVEMBER, AND THERE ARE EFFORTS TO 
BAN HIM FROM ACTING -- HIS SOLE LIVELIHOOD -- FOR AT 
LEAST THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.  HE HAS BEEN HARASSED BY 
NIGHTLY PHONE CALLS FROM SECURITY OFFICIALS, HAS BEEN 
SUBJECT TO SURVEILLANCE WHEN HE LEAVES HIS HOME, AND 
REPORTS INCREASING ISOLATION FROM HIS FORMER FRIENDS 
AND NEIGHBORS.  HE WAS QUESTIONED BY POLICE ON OCTOBER 
2, AND HAS EXPRESSED FEAR OF IMMINENT DETENTION AND/OR 
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ARREST, ALTHOUGH THE EXACT GROUNDS FOR ANY EVENTUAL 
CHARGES HAVE NOT BEEN MADE CLEAR TO HIM OTHER THAN THE 
ABOVE-MENTIONED REFERENCE.  HE HAS BEEN CALLED A 
"TRAITOR" IN STATE- AND/OR COMMUNIST PARTY-RUN 
NEWSPAPERS. 
 
4.  (C)  PLEASE ADVISE WHAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, IF 
ANY, IS NEEDED TO PROCEED WITH CONSIDERATION OF THIS 
APPLICATION. 
BURGHARDT 
 
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