US embassy cable - 02HANOI2694

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 002694 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, SOCI, VM, ETMIN 
SUBJECT:  ETHNIC MINORITIES MINISTER ON LAND, US NGOS 
 
REF:  HANOI 2678 
 
1.  (U)  SUMMARY.  THE MINISTER FOR ETHNIC MINORITIES DENIED 
HAVING SEEN ANY DRAFT BANNING US NGOS FROM THE CENTRAL 
HIGHLAND, BUT INDIRECTLY ADMITTED THAT THE GVN DID NOT AGREE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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WITH SUCH ACTIVITIES, WHILE WELCOMING US BUSINESSES THERE. 
HE DESCRIBED ONGOING EFFORTS TO ENSURE HIGHLANDERS HAVE 
ENOUGH LAND, INCLUDING A NEW PROGRAM AIMED ESPECIALLY AT 
THOSE WHO HAD EARLIER "SOLD" OR CONTRIBUTED THEIR LAND TO 
CREATE PLANTATIONS.  HE ADMITTED THAT MIGRATION FROM OTHER 
AREAS OF VIETNAM INTO THE CENTRAL HIGHLAND WAS SEEN AS 
NECESSARY TO OVERCOME POPULATION PRESSURES AND ENSURE EQUAL 
ACCESS TO LAND, WHILE CLAIMING ETHNIC MINORITIES STILL 
RECEIVED PRIORITY ALLOCATIONS.  HE AND AMBASSADOR REVIEWED 
POSSIBILITIES FOR A VISIT TO THE U.S. BY THE MINISTER AND/OR 
HIS STAFF IN EARLY 2003.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (U)  AMBASSADOR, ACCOMPANIED BY POL/C, MET ON NOVEMBER 6 
WITH NEW CHAIRMAN OF ETHNIC MINORITIES COMMISSION, KSOR 
PHUOC.  (THIS POSITION WAS EXPLICITLY UPGRADED TO 
MINISTERIAL-LEVEL DURING THE AUGUST 11TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 
INAUGURAL MEETING.)  A NATIVE OF GIA LAI PROVINCE AND AN 
ETHNIC JRAI, HE GREW UP IN NORTHERN VIETNAM (HIS FATHER 
MOVED TO THE NORTH IN MARCH 1955).  HIS EDUCATION WAS IN THE 
PUBLIC SECURITY SECTOR, IN WHICH HE WORKED MOST OF HIS 
CAREER, EVENTUALLY RISING TO PUBLIC SECURITY CHIEF FOR GIA 
LAI, TO WHICH HE HAD RETURNED IN AUGUST 1980.  HIS MOST 
RECENT JOB WAS AS GIA LAI PARTY SECRETARY. HE HAS SERVED AS 
A NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DELEGATE FROM GIA LAI FOR ITS 10TH AND 
11TH (CURRENT) SESSIONS.  COMMENT:  WHILE WELL-INFORMED ON 
ALL ISSUES, INCLUDING THE COMPLICATED LAND ISSUE, KSOR PHUOC 
STUCK FAITHFULLY TO THE CPV LINE.  THAT LINE INCLUDES A 
POLICY OF POPULATION REDISTRIBUTION THAT IS BOUND TO 
CONTINUE TO AGGRAVATE ETHNIC TENSIONS.  END COMMENT. 
 
US ROLE IN CENTRAL HIGHLANDS 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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---------------------------- 
 
3.  (U)  AMBASSADOR POINTED TO HIS OWN TRAVELS TO ETHNIC 
MINORITY AREAS INCLUDING THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, QUANG TRI, 
AND AN UPCOMING TRIP TO THE NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS AS EXAMPLES 
OF US EFFORTS BETTER TO UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION OF THESE 
GROUPS AND TO WITNESS GVN EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. 
HE NOTED THAT USG HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS NOW 
UNDERWAY ELSEWHERE IN VIETNAM, AS WELL AS PROJECTS BY US 
NGOS, COULD BE HELPFUL IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS.  HE ASKED 
ABOUT RECENT REPORTS (REF A) OF A RECENT GVN DECREE 
FORBIDDING US NGOS FROM OPERATING IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS; 
IF ACCURATE, THIS WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE, GIVEN THE HIGH 
QUALITY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR PROJECTS, AS WELL AS 
THEIR GENUINELY GOOD INTENTIONS.  IT WOULD ALSO INDICATE A 
DISTRUST OF THE USG AND AMERICAN CITIZENS, WHICH WOULD BE 
UNHELPFUL AS BOTH GOVERNMENTS STRIVE TO IMPROVE RELATIONS. 
 
4.  (U)  KSOR PHUOC INITIALLY CLAIMED THAT "UP UNTIL THIS 
MINUTE," HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANY DRAFT OF SUCH A DECREE.  HE 
SAID THAT THE GVN WAS READY TO "CREATE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS" 
FOR US BUSINESSES TO OPERATE IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, WHILE 
NOT DIRECTLY REFERRING TO NGOS.  HE COMMENTED, HOWEVER, THAT 
THE US AND VIETNAM HAD DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDINGS AND 
DIFFERENT WAYS OF THINKING.  VIETNAM THEREFORE "DID NOT YET 
AGREE" WITH HAVING US NGOS IN THESE AREAS.  HE CRITICIZED 
COMMENTS BY CERTAIN AMERICAN INDIVIDUALS -- NOTABLY, THE 
FORMER US AMBASSADOR IN CAMBODIA. 
 
5.  (U)  AMBASSADOR NOTED THAT HE AND DAS DALEY HAD MADE 
CLEAR REPEATEDLY THAT THE USG DOES NOT ENCOURAGE OR SUPPORT 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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THE DIVISION OF VIETNAM OR THE INDEPENDENCE OF ANY PART OF 
IT.  HE HIGHLIGHTED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OPINIONS FREELY 
EXPRESSED BY US CITIZENS AND OFFICIAL USG POLICY.  HE 
REITERATED THE USEFUL ROLE THAT US NGOS COULD PLAY IN THE 
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AND URGED THE GVN ALLOW THEM ACCESS. 
 
LAND RIGHTS AND MIGRANTS 
------------------------ 
 
6.  (U)  AMBASSADOR ASKED KSOR PHUOC TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM 
OF LAND USE AND COMPENSATION, WHICH EVEN LOCAL OFFICIALS IN 
THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ADMITTED HAD NOT ALWAYS BEEN HANDLED 
WELL.  THE MINISTER SAID THAT LAND IN VIETNAM BELONGED TO 
"ALL THE PEOPLE," UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE STATE. 
INDIVIDUALS HAVE ONLY LAND USE RIGHTS, NOT ACTUAL OWNERSHIP. 
CPV AND GVN POLICY IS THAT FARMERS MUST HAVE ENOUGH LAND TO 
SURVIVE, AND TO GIVE PRIORITY ON PROVISION OF LAND TO ETHNIC 
MINORITIES.  SINCE 1985, WHEN LAND VALUES BEGAN TO RISE WITH 
THE ADVENT OF DOI MOI, MANY ETHNIC MINORITIES HAD SOLD THEIR 
LAND USE RIGHTS TO MIGRANTS TO THESE NEW ECONOMIC ZONES, OR 
TO CREATE PLANTATIONS, AND MOVED FURTHER INTO THE FORESTS TO 
CULTIVATE NEW LAND, HE ADDED. 
 
7.  (U)  THE MINISTER NOTED THAT THE GVN HAD DECIDED TO 
"SOLVE" THE LAND PROBLEM OVER THE 2002/2003 TIME PERIOD, 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ0901 
 
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ACTION EAP-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  DODE-00  DOEE-00 
      SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    ED-01    E-00     FBIE-00  UTED-00 
      VC-00    HHS-01   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01 
      L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01 
      OPIC-01  PA-00    PER-00   PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00 
      SP-00    STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  ECA-00   PMB-00 
      DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00     /011W 
                  ------------------042C42  061043Z /38 
R 061028Z NOV 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8040 
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 HANOI 002694 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
ALLOCATING 500 BILLION DONG (USD 33 MILLION) TO A PROGRAM 
UNDER WHICH EACH HOUSEHOLD WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO EITHER 1/3 
OF A HECTARE IN AREAS WHERE TWO CROPS PER YEAR ARE POSSIBLE, 
OR 1/2 OF A HECTARE IN SINGLE CROP AREAS.  IF THEY HAD 
ALREADY SOLD THEIR LAND, THEY WILL BE ENTITLED TO 4 MILLION 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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DONG (USD 270) IN COMPENSATION.  THOSE WHO RECEIVE NEW LAND 
-- WHICH WILL BE TAKEN FROM UNPROFITABLE PLANTATIONS -- WILL 
BE BARRED FROM SELLING THESE LAND USE RIGHTS FOR TEN YEARS. 
SELLERS WHO VIOLATE THIS PROVISION WILL LOSE THEIR LAND, AND 
THE BUYERS WILL LOSE THEIR MONEY, HE CLAIMED. 
 
8.  (U)  AMBASSADOR ASKED ABOUT HOW THE GVN HAD FACTORED IN 
TRADITIONAL COMMUNAL LANDS WHEN IMPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAM. 
KSOR PHUOC AGREED THAT THE TRADITION IN THE CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDS WAS FOR VILLAGES TO ALLOCATE LAND HELD COMMUNALLY 
BY THE VILLAGE TO FAMILIES, WITHOUT PROVIDING DOCUMENTS.  HE 
SAID THAT THE GVN, WHILE RESPECTING THAT TRADITION, HAD 
ORIGINALLY ASKED THESE HOUSEHOLDS TO "CONTRIBUTE" THEIR 
LANDS TO CREATE PLANTATIONS IN THE INTEREST OF ECONOMIC 
DEVELOPMENT AND OF CHANGING THEIR "NOMADIC" LIFESTYLE.  SOME 
HAD STAYED ON THE PLANTATIONS, OTHERS HAD NOT.  THE GVN'S 
GOAL NOW WAS TO IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF PRODUCTIVITY OF THESE 
LANDS, WITH WHICH IT WAS HAVING SOME SUCCESS, HE ADDED. 
 
9.  (U) THE MINISTER DESCRIBED HOW THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS HAD 
ONLY 4 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING ON 5 MILLION HECTARES OF LAND, 
WHEREAS IN OTHER AREAS PEOPLE HAD NO LAND AT ALL.  THE GVN 
HAS TRIED TO DISTRIBUTE THE POPULATION MORE EQUITABLY TO 
OVERCOME THESE DISPARITIES AND TRY TO PROMOTE MORE EQUAL 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.  HE CLAIMED THAT PRIORITY FOR LAND USE 
RIGHTS IN THE HIGHLANDS REMAINED FOR THE NATIVE ETHNIC 
MINORITIES (REITERATING DISTRIBUTION CRITERIA DESCRIBED IN 
PARA 7).  HE PREDICTED ADOPTION OF A NEW GVN DECREE IN 
NOVEMBER THAT WOULD ADDRESS ASSISTANCE IN ENSURING LAND AND 
LIVING QUARTERS FOR ALL. 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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TRIP TO U.S. 
------------ 
 
10.  (U)  AMBASSADOR NOTED THAT THE MINISTER'S STAFF HAD 
BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE EMBASSY'S POLITICAL AND PUBLIC 
AFFAIRS SECTIONS REGARDING AN EARLY 2003 TRIP BY THE 
MINISTER TO STUDY US PRACTICES REGARDING MINORITIES AND TO 
EXCHANGE VIEWS.  THE MINISTER DENIED ANY PLANS YET FOR HIM 
TO MAKE SUCH A TRIP, ADMITTING ONLY THAT HE HAD ASKED HIS 
STAFF TO "RESEARCH" CONDITIONS IN THE U.S. AND OBTAIN 
MATERIALS ON US PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP AN "EFFECTIVE AGENDA" 
FOR SUCH A TRIP.  HE AND THE AMBASSADOR AGREED THAT THEIR 
TWO STAFFS SHOULD CONTINUE TO WORK OUT POSSIBLE OPTIONS, 
WHICH WOULD INCLUDE NOT ONLY MEETINGS WITH USG OFFICIALS IN 
WASHINGTON BUT OTHER SITE VISITS SUCH AS TO INDIAN 
RESERVATIONS, VIETNAMESE MONTAGNARD CENTERS IN NORTH 
CAROLINA, AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS IN APPALACHIA.  THE 
MINISTER NOTED THAT VIRTUALLY EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WAS 
NOW MULTI-ETHNIC, AND THAT VIETNAM COULD LEARN FROM 
EXPERIENCES ELSEWHERE, INCLUDING THE U.S., FOR WHICH HE 
EXPRESSED ADMIRATION. 
 
11.  (U)  THE MINISTER CONCLUDED BY NOTING THAT VIETNAM HAD 
DECIDED TO "FORGET" THE PAST AND CONCENTRATE ON THE FUTURE. 
HE NONETHELESS WARNED THAT THE US MUST STILL WORK TO "SOLVE" 
PAST PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE WAR AND THAT, WHEN EMBOFFS 
TRAVELED, THEY WOULD STILL FIND "MILLIONS" OF PEOPLE WHO 
STILL THOUGHT ABOUT THE PAST.  HE URGED AMBASSADOR AND 
EMBOFFS TO INTERACT WITH VIETNAMESE "HONESTLY" AND TO BUILD 
TRUST BY BOTH WORDS AND ACTIONS.  AMBASSADOR STRESSED THAT 
US POLICY TOWARD VIETNAM WAS VERY SIMPLE:  WE WANT TO BUILD 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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GOOD RELATIONS BY HELPING VIETNAM GET RICHER, WHICH IS ALSO 
IN THE INTEREST OF THE U.S. 
BURHGARDT 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED