Cablegate: Nhan Dan On Father Ly's Sentence

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

140119Z Nov 01

2001HANOI02962 - UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTO7492

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FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4657
INFO AMEMBASSY VATICAN
AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY

UNCLAS HANOI 002962

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL/RF

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PINS VM HUMANR RELFREE
SUBJECT: NHAN DAN ON FATHER LY'S SENTENCE

REF: A. HANOI 2884 B. HANOI 2789

1. (U) A SIGNED COMMENTARY UNDER THE HEADLINE OF "NO ONE
HAS THE RIGHT TO INTERFERE" IN NHAN DAN, THE LEADING PARTY
DAILY NEWSPAPER, ON NOVEMBER 13 DENOUNCED FOREIGN MEDIA
COVERAGE, ESPECIALLY BY RFI AND BBC, REGARDING THE 15 YEAR
UNCLASSIFIED

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CUMULATIVE SENTENCES GIVEN TO FATHER NGUYEN VAN LY ON
OCTOBER 19. IT INCLUDED SOME QUOTES FROM INTERNATIONAL
COVERAGE SUCH AS "CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM TO
RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND REJECT THE
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 31/CP REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE
DETENTION"

2. (U) THE COMMENTARY DESCRIBED THE "TRUTH" AS BEING THAT
FATHER LY HAD VIOLATED THE LAW BY "CAUSING DIVISIONS AMONG
RELIGIOUS BELIEVERS, WITH AN AFFECT ON ORDER, SECURITY AND
THE PEACEFUL LIFE OF THE PEOPLE," BY "TWISTING THE TRUTH"
AND BY "DAMAGING THE POLICY OF SOLIDARITY AMONG THE ENTIRE
POPULATION." IT REITERATED THE "CONSISTENT POLICY" OF THE
PARTY AND STATE WAS TO RESPECT FREEDOM OF BELIEF AND NON-
BELIEF, BUT WARNED THAT ANY INSTANCE OF VIOLATING THE LAW
WILL BE "DEALT WITH BY THE LAW."

3. (SBU) COMMENT: THE GVN CONTINUES TO TRY TO PORTRAY
FATHER LY'S CASE AS A LAW AND ORDER ISSUE, RATHER THAN A
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY ISSUE. OFFICIAL SENSITIVITY TO EXTERNAL
CRITICISM IS APPARENT IN THE INCLUSION IN THIS SEMI-
DEFINITIVE COMMENTARY OF DIRECTLY CRITICAL COMMENTS MADE BY
OUTSIDE OBSERVERS; THEY ARE PROBABLY WELL AWARE THAT
INTERNATIONAL NEWS PROGRAMS ARE POPULAR AND FELT THEY NEEDED
TO REACT TO SUCH CRITICISM FACE-ON.
PORTER

UNCLASSIFIED

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