Cablegate: Thich Quang Do Under "Administrative

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

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000475

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL/IRF

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: KIRF PGOV PHUM VM HUMANR RELFREE
SUBJECT: THICH QUANG DO UNDER "ADMINISTRATIVE
SURVEILLANCE" UNTIL SEPTEMBER 3, 2003

REF: A) 01 HANOI 1340 B) FBIS SEP 20010608000100

1. (U) The Most Venerable Thich Quang Do remains
under "administrative surveillance," based on a
decree, which although dated June 1, 2001, in fact has
an effective time period of September 3, 1998 until
September 3, 2003. Post has seen at least one press
release denouncing Thich Quang Do's continued "pagoda
arrest" past June 1, but wishes to clarify that
according to the refs and recent confirmation from
Thich Tue Sy, September 3, 2003 has always been the
correct expiration date.

2. (SBU) A junior monk whose duties have included
looking after Thich Quang Do, related to Thich Tue Sy
that Thich Quang Do is in good health and looks
forward to being freed from administrative
surveillance on September 3. Thich Tue Sy attributed
any confusion over the expiration date to overlapping
decisions that were issued upon Thich Quang Do's
release from prison in September 1998 under a special
amnesty, and subsequently on May 31 and June 1, 2001.

3. (U) Thich Quang Do was originally sentenced to
five years' imprisonment and five years'
administrative surveillance in 1995. Upon his release
in September 1998, he was still subject to the five-
year administrative surveillance requirement until
September 3, 2003.

4. (U) After Thich Quang Do's failed attempt to
"rescue" The Most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang from his
pagoda in Quy Nhon and return with him to HCMC in May
2001, two other decisions were issued on May 31 and
June 1, 2001. These decisions reaffirmed that the
original five-year administrative surveillance period
was still in effect until September 3, 2003.

5. (U) Post will continue to keep in contact with
those close to Thich Quang Do and monitor the
situation.

YAMAUCHI

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