Cablegate: Dissident Hoang Minh Chinh Returns to Vietnam

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 001202

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV VM HUMANR
SUBJECT: DISSIDENT HOANG MINH CHINH RETURNS TO VIETNAM

REF: HCMC 1155

1. (SBU) Early on November 13 democracy activist Tran Khue called
us to report that fellow dissident Hoang Minh Chinh and his wife
had just returned from the United States. Khue said airport
police were trying to confiscate Chinh's passport and other
personal documents, but Chinh refused, arguing that such a request
was illegal. Khue, democracy activist Do Nam Hai (aka Phuong
Nam), and Chinh's son-in-law were at the airport to welcome the
Chinhs.

2. (SBU) Later on Sunday, Hai called us to report that after 3
hours of discussion with the airport police, Chinh and his wife
were released without surrendering their documents. They will
stay in HCMC for some time with their daughter's family.
According to Hai, Chinh appeared much healthier after medical
treatment in the U.S. and was "full of energy for fighting."
Chinh is supposed to go back to the U.S. for a check-up in six
months.

3. (SBU) Comment: Post will monitor the status of Chinh through
contacts in the HCMC dissident community, but has no immediate
plans to call on Chinh -- unless the authorities step-up their
harassment. A visit by USG officials shortly after his return to
Vietnam might be construed as a provocation by hardliners -- who,
per reftel, already are clamoring for Chinh's scalp -- and weaken
the hand of moderates who argue that the best way for Vietnam to
deal with Chinh is to ignore him.

WINNICK

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