Cablegate: Gvn Agrees to Let Diplomats Watch Father Ly Trial On

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RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #0585 0861044
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 271044Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4998
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 2813
RUEHZS/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS HANOI 000585

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
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STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL/AWH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV VM
SUBJECT: GVN AGREES TO LET DIPLOMATS WATCH FATHER LY TRIAL ON
CLOSED-CIRCUIT TV

1. (SBU) On March 28, Poloffs met with America's Desk Deputy
Director Nguyen Hoang Nam at his invitation to discuss developments
in the upcoming trial of Father Nguyen Van Ly. In addition to
reiterating standard GVN points that Ly is being prosecuted for
violations of Vietnamese law, Nam confirmed that Ly will be tried on
March 30 in Hue city.

2. (SBU) Nam also stated that Western diplomats, including an
officer from ConGen Ho Chi Minh City, will be allowed to observe the
trial by closed-circuit television. This is the first time that
anyone has been allowed to observe a Vietnamese trial, he said.
This opportunity should not be assumed as a precedent for future
trials, he added.

3. (SBU) Nam refused to comment on other human rights cases
including Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan.

ALOISI

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