Cablegate: Twelve-Year Sentence for Nguyen Khac Toan

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

230321Z Dec 02

UNCLASSIFIED PTO8272

PAGE 01 HANOI 03046 230404Z
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INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DINT-00
DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00
H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01
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FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8439
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS HANOI 003046

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PINS PGOV VM HUMANR
SUBJECT: TWELVE-YEAR SENTENCE FOR NGUYEN KHAC TOAN

REF: HANOI 3034

1. (U) "NHAN DAN" NEWSPAPER ON DECEMBER 21 REPORTED THE
PROSECUTION AND CONVICTION ON DECEMBER 20 UNDER ARTICLE 80,
SECTION C, CLAUSE 1 OF THE SRV CRIMINAL CODE OF NGUYEN KHAC
UNCLASSIFIED

TOAN ON THE CHARGE OF "SPYING." THE HANOI PEOPLE'S COURT
HANDED DOWN A TWELVE-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE, TO BE FOLLOWED BY
THREE YEARS OF ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION AT HOME.

2. (U) ACCORDING TO THE PRESS ACCOUNT, TOAN BETWEEN
NOVEMBER 2001 AND JANUARY 6, 2002 (NOTE: WHEN HE WAS
DETAINED IN HANOI END NOTE) HAD "RECEIVED DIRECTIONS AND
INFORMATION" FROM "REACTIONARY VIETNAMESE PEOPLE LIVING IN
FRANCE," HAD SPREAD "INCORRECT INFORMATION" ABOUT THE
"POLITICAL SITUATION OF OUR NATION," AND HAD "VILIFIED
CADRES OF THE PARTY AND STATE." THE "NHAN DAN" ACCOUNT
ADDED THAT TOAN HAD A PRIOR CONVICTION FOR "THEFT OF CIVIL
PROPERTY" AS WELL AS TWO OTHER SIMILAR "CASE HISTORIES."

3. (U) COMMENT: IT APPEARS THAT THE TRIAL ON DECEMBER 20
LASTED LESS THAN A DAY, AS EXPECTED (REFTEL), AND THAT THERE
WERE NO FOREIGN OBSERVERS PRESENT, DESPITE EMBASSY'S
REPEATED EFFORTS. THE WILLINGNESS OF "NHAN DAN" TO
PUBLICIZE THE OUTCOME OF THE CASE IS SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL, BUT
ALSO SERVES TO ATTEMPT TO SCARE OFF OTHER WOULD-BE ACTIVISTS
WHO MAY HAVE LINKS TO FOREIGN INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS
WITH EVEN A REMOTELY ANTI-SRV AGENDA.
BURGHARDT

UNCLASSIFIED

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