Cablegate: Gvn Calls in Ambassador to Protest Hr 2601's

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

UNCLAS HANOI 001379

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT PASS TO EAP/BCLTV; EAP/RSP; CA; DRL; PRM; H

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM OVIP VM HUMANR
SUBJECT: GVN CALLS IN AMBASSADOR TO PROTEST HR 2601's
VIETNAM PROVISIONS

Ref: Hanoi 1235

1. (SBU) MFA Acting America's Desk Director General Pham Van
Que, at the request of Vice Foreign Minister Vu Dzung,
called in the Ambassador to convey the GVN's concerns about
the Vietnam provisions in the State Department Authorization
Bill submitted by House International Relations Committee
Vice Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ). The MFA provided the
following nonpaper:

BEGIN VERBATIM TEXT:

To: Ambassador Michael W. Marine

We have learnt that on June 8th, 2005 the United States
House of Representatives Committee on International
Relations discussed and marked up the FY 2006 International
Affairs Budget Bill. One amendment to the bill draft,
sponsored by Congressman Christopher Smith, is indeed the
new version of the Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2004.

We would like to express our deep concern over the re-
appearance of the issue and urge that the U.S. Government to
take necessary and timely measures to prevent the passage of
this legislation of any form for the betterment of the
bilateral relationship and particularly, for the conducive
atmosphere of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations and the upcoming visit to the U.S. of
Vietnam's Prime Minister.

9/6/2005

END VERBATIM TEXT.

The Ambassador noted that a bill introduced is not
necessarily a bill passed, and that any Member of Congress
has the freedom and ability to enter virtually any piece of
legislation for consideration.

2. (U) Mr. Que also passed over the latest copies of the
Vietnamese proposed joint statement, the Prime Minister's
schedule in the United States and the official delegation
list (all forwarded to the Vietnam Desk by email and fax).

3. (SBU) The Ambassador took the opportunity to raise
several points of U.S. interest, including the cases of
H'Jol Siu (attempting to return to Vietnam from the United
States) and Pastor Than Van Truong, involuntarily committed
to a mental institution in Dong Nai province. "Using mental
health facilities to try to control the activities of
healthy individuals does not reflect well on Vietnam," the
Ambassador said. He asked for an update on the case
promised by Vice Foreign Minister Le Van Bang on May 25
(reftel). Que said he has no further information on the
case.

4. (SBU) The Ambassador reviewed the status of the various
deliverables for the Prime Minister's visit, including the
areas of disagreement in the Adoptions Agreement. Que had
no additional comment on any of the agreements or planned
activities.

MARINE

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