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Viewing cable 02HANOI3055, THE DILEMMA OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
02HANOI3055 2002-12-23 09:36 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Hanoi
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

230936Z Dec 02

                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ1265

PAGE 01        HANOI  03055  01 OF 04  231019Z 
ACTION EAP-00   

INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  DINT-00  
      DODE-00  DOEE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    ED-01    FBIE-00  
      UTED-00  VC-00    HHS-01   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    
      L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    DCP-01   NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   
      OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     
      SP-00    SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  PMB-00   
      DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00     /011W
                  ------------------1BB286  231019Z /38    
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8448
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 HANOI 003055 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PINS PREL SOCI VM HUMANR ETMIN RELFREE
SUBJECT:  THE DILEMMA OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS 
 
REF:  HANOI 2975 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  03055  01 OF 04  231019Z 
 
1.  (U) THIS IS A JOINT EMBASSY/CONGEN MESSAGE. 
 
2.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  THE REAL STORY OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS 
IS A LONG-TERM STRUGGLE FOR MODERNIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN 
A REGION DEFINED BY ETHNIC RESENTMENT, ECONOMIC IMBALANCE, 
POVERTY AND ISOLATION, LAND ISSUES, RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES, 
INTOLERANCE OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY, AND AN ALMOST XENOPHOBIC 
FEAR OF OUTSIDE INFLUENCE.  BY THE STANDARDS OF THE GVN AND 
CPV, THIS DEVELOPMENT HAS NECESSITATED AND WILL CONTINUE TO 
INVOLVE TOP-DOWN CONTROL, FORCED ECONOMIC DECISIONS THAT ARE 
SOMETIMES UNWISE, AND HEAVY-HANDED ORGANIZATIONAL EFFORTS 
THAT LEAVE TOO LITTLE SCOPE FOR TRADITIONAL PRACTICES AND 
VALUES, AS WELL AS FOR RELIGIOUS WORSHIP OUTSIDE THE CONTEXT 
OF "LEGAL" RELIGIOUS BODIES. 
 
3.  (SBU) HOWEVER, WE DO NOT/NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANY 
SYSTEMATIC EFFORT TO PERSECUTE THE ETHNIC MINORITIES IN 
THESE AREAS, NOR TO WIPE OUT RELIGIOUS BELIEF, INCLUDING THE 
PROTESTANT FAITH.  PERIODIC UNREST, ONGOING ALLEGATIONS OF 
POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION OF ETHNIC MINORITIES, 
AND NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF BAD GOVERNANCE IN THE CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDS CONTINUE TO RAISE CONCERNS WITHIN THE USG AND 
AMONG INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS, BUT ARE NOT ALL THAT 
DIFFERENT FROM SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE 
COUNTRY.  GVN OFFICIALS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE DEEP 
SUSPICIONS OF THE SEPARATIST GOALS OF SOME INDIVIDUALS AND 
GROUPS, NOTABLY THE "DEGAS," AND ARE NOT ENTIRELY OFF THE 
MARK WHEN DESCRIBING "PLOTS" BY OUTSIDE AGITATORS.  WHILE 
USG INFLUENCE MAY BE LIMITED, WE MUST CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR 
HOLDING GVN AND CPV OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR CREDIBLE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  03055  01 OF 04  231019Z 
INSTANCES OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND FOR GREATER 
INTERNATIONAL ACCESS.  ACCURATE INFORMATION IS OFTEN 
LOGISTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO OBTAIN.  THE BOTTOM LINE WILL 
REMAIN THAT NOT MUCH IS LIKELY TO CHANGE VERY QUICKLY IN THE 
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE.  END SUMMARY. 
 
4.  (U) THE 2001 AND 2002 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS AND 
INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORTS FOR VIETNAM 
HIGHLIGHT THE EXTENT TO WHICH PROBLEMS IN THE CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDS REMAIN A KEY ISSUE OF CONCERN BOTH FOR THE USG AND 
FOR THE GVN.  SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMS INCLUDE THE 
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2001 DEMONSTRATIONS AND SUBSEQUENT FLIGHT OF 
ABOUT 1,000 MONTAGNARDS TO CAMBODIA, THE COLLAPSE OF A UNHCR- 
BROKERED PROGRAM OF VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION IN FEBRUARY 2002, 
CONTINUED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE ALLEGATIONS (PHYSICAL 
MISTREATMENT, DEPRIVATION OF POLITICAL RIGHTS, FORCED 
RENUNCIATION OF RELIGIOUS FAITH, CLOSURE OF CHURCHES, ETHNIC 
DISCRIMINATION), CREDIBLE REPORTS OF CORRUPTION AND BAD 
GOVERNANCE BY GVN OFFICIALS, AND DISPUTES OVER LAND.  TO A 
LARGE DEGREE, HOWEVER, TODAY'S PROBLEMS ARE NOT ENTIRELY 
NEW, BUT RATHER REFLECT THE HISTORICAL STRAINS OF DAILY LIFE 
IN FOUR OF THE POOREST, MOST ISOLATED PROVINCES IN VIETNAM: 
DAK LAK, GIA LAI, KON TUM, AND LAM DONG. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
A COMPLEX MIX OF HISTORY, CULTURE, AND ECONOMICS 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
5.  (SBU) CONDITIONS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DO NOT LEND 
THEMSELVES TO A SNAPSHOT APPROACH.  THE ETHNIC MINORITIES 
ARE NOT MONOLITHIC, DESPITE THE MISLEADING APPELLATION OF 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  03055  01 OF 04  231019Z 
"MONTAGNARDS" TO THESE VARIOUS GROUPS.  THEIR INTERACTIONS 
WITH THE GVN VARY, AS DO THEIR LEVELS OF INTEGRATION, THEIR 
WILLINGNESS TO SIGN ON TO THE GVN'S AND CPV'S CAMPAIGNS AND 
EFFORTS, THEIR DEGREE OF RELIGIOUS FAITH AND TYPE OF BELIEF, 
ETC.  NOR ARE ACROSS-THE-BOARD CHARACTERIZATIONS OF GVN 
PERFORMANCE POSSIBLE.  THERE ARE MANY WELL-MEANING, 
COMPETENT OFFICIALS WORKING TO BETTER THE LIVES OF THESE 
CITIZENS UNDER VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS AND WITH TOO FEW 
RESOURCES, JUST AS THERE ARE ILL INFORMED, PREJUDICED, 
AND/OR CORRUPT OFFICIALS WHO CAN ALL TOO EASILY EXERCISE 
ARBITRARY POWER TO MAKE THE LIVES OF THESE CITIZENS EVEN 
MORE DIFFICULT. 
 
6.  (SBU) CURRENT CONDITIONS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ARE 
FUELED BY LONG-STANDING RESENTMENTS BETWEEN THE ETHNIC 
MINORITIES AND THE MAJORITY KINH, AS WELL AS BY POVERTY, 
ISOLATION, INADEQUATE PUBLIC SERVICES, AND A GENERAL LACK OF 
OPPORTUNITY AND CHOICE.  COMPLICATING THE MIX ARE RELIGIOUS 
FACTORS, PROPERTY ISSUES, LOCAL CORRUPTION, AND OUTSIDE 
INFLUENCES.  THESE FOUR PROVINCES ARE AMONG THE POOREST IN 
VIETNAM AND HAVE NEVER IN HISTORY BEEN FULLY INTEGRATED INTO 
THE BODY POLITIC.  ISOLATED BY DISTANCE, AND INCREASINGLY IN 
TERMS OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON EVENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS 
OUTSIDE THE REGION, THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS CONTINUE TO LAG 
BEHIND MOST OF THE REST OF VIETNAM.  THE DRAMATIC DECLINE IN 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ1266 
 
PAGE 01        HANOI  03055  02 OF 04  231019Z 
ACTION EAP-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  DINT-00 
      DODE-00  DOEE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    ED-01    FBIE-00 
      UTED-00  VC-00    HHS-01   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00 
      L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    DCP-01   NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02 
      OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00 
      SP-00    SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  PMB-00 
      DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00     /011W 
                  ------------------1BB29B  231019Z /38 
O 230936Z DEC 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8449 
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 HANOI 003055 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL 
 
 
 
WORLD COMMODITY PRICES, SUCH AS COFFEE AND PEPPER, HAS 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  03055  02 OF 04  231019Z 
DASHED WHAT HAD BEEN RISING EXPECTATIONS VIS--VIS LOCAL 
ECONOMIC PROSPECTS.  TENSIONS BETWEEN THE LOWLAND VIETNAMESE 
KINH AND MANY ETHNIC MINORITY HIGHLANDERS ARE ANOTHER 
HISTORICAL FACT, PREDATING WESTERN INVOLVEMENT IN VIETNAM. 
 
7.  (SBU) EXACERBATING THAT VOLATILE MIX OF ISSUES ARE 
PERCEIVED THREATS TO CULTURAL IDENTITY AND MAJORITY STATUS 
BORNE OF INTERNAL MIGRATION PATTERNS, AS ECONOMIC MIGRANTS 
HAVE MOVED INTO THE REGION FROM PROVINCES IN THE NORTH AND 
ALONG THE CENTRAL COAST SINCE 1975.  RIGHTLY OR NOT, CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDERS OFTEN VIEW THE VIETNAMESE KINH AS COMPETITORS IN 
A ZERO SUM GAME.  TRANSFORMATION OF TRADITIONAL COMMUNAL 
LANDS (ALMOST NEVER WITH ANY FORMAL TITLE DEEDS) INTO 
DESIGNATED PLOTS FOR THE MIGRANTS FURTHER CREATED 
ANIMOSITIES, BOTH AGAINST THE NEW ARRIVALS AND AGAINST THE 
SOMETIMES CORRUPT GVN OFFICIALS IMPLEMENTING THESE PROGRAMS. 
MANY OF THESE CONFLICTS WERE PROBABLY UNAVOIDABLE BY- 
PRODUCTS OF AN OFTEN BADLY RUN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROCESS 
GRAPPLING WITH SOMETIMES PRE-MODERN ETHNIC GROUPS.  IN THE 
VIEW OF SOME OF THE ETHNIC GROUPS, HOWEVER, SUCH PROCESSES 
ARE ILL-DISGUISED ATTEMPTS TO ELIMINATE MINORITY CULTURE. 
 
------------------- 
THE RELIGIOUS ANGLE 
------------------- 
 
8.  (SBU) THE MAJORITY OF GVN AND CPV OFFICIALS PROFESS NO 
RELIGIOUS BELIEF, WHILE PERHAPS MOST VIETNAMESE KINH ARE AT 
LEAST NOMINALLY BUDDHIST.  MANY OF THE ETHNIC MINORITIES IN 
THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS -- PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO FLED TO 
CAMBODIA IN THE AFTERMATH OF LAST YEAR'S UNREST -- ARE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  03055  02 OF 04  231019Z 
PROTESTANT, WHILE OTHERS ARE CATHOLIC AND SOME REMAIN 
ANIMIST.  IN RECENT DISCUSSIONS WITH EMBASSY OFFICERS, GVN 
OFFICIALS HAVE CONTENDED THAT THESE ANIMIST BELIEFS ARE A 
"TRADITIONAL CULTURE" THAT MUST BE SAFEGUARDED AGAINST 
"FOREIGN" INTRUSIONS OF PROTESTANTISM. 
 
9.  (SBU)  MANY OF THE PROTESTANTS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS 
ARE FAIRLY RECENT CONVERTS, AS EVANGELISTS -- SOME LOCAL, 
SOME BASED OVERSEAS -- INCREASINGLY CANVASS THE AREA.  THESE 
PROTESTANTS USUALLY WORSHIP IN "HOUSE CHURCHES" THAT ARE NOT 
AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE OFFICIAL GVN-RECOGNIZED RELIGIOUS 
BODIES.  AS SUCH, THEIR ACTIVITIES ARE TECHNICALLY ILLEGAL. 
ALTHOUGH THE GVN OFTEN TACITLY TOLERATES THEIR ACTIVITIES, 
OFFICIALS MAY ABRUPTLY LOWER THE BOOM IN REACTION TO 
SPECIFIC EVENTS OR INDIVIDUAL WHIM.  THE GVN AND CPV TEND TO 
ASSUME THAT SUCH "ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES" MAY HAVE A COVERT 
POLITICAL AGENDA, SUCH AS UNDERMINING STATE AUTHORITY OR 
"DESTROYING NATIONAL SOLIDARITY."  THE LINKS OF SOME OF 
THESE GROUPS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS WITH FOREIGN RELIGIOUS 
INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS ONLY HEIGHTEN SUCH SUSPICIONS, AS 
RELIGION IS OFTEN SEEN BY THE GVN AS PARTICULARLY 
SUSCEPTIBLE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. 
 
10.  (SBU) ONE DILEMMA GVN OFFICIALS FACE IS HOW TO 
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE AUTONOMY/INDEPENDENCE-MINDED "DEGA" 
PROTESTANTS AND MORE MAINSTREAM PROTESTANTS SEEKING MERELY 
TO PRACTICE THEIR RELIGION AND ORGANIZE THEMSELVES FREELY 
INTO RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES.  REPORTS OF DEGA PROTESTANTS 
INFILTRATING THEMSELVES INTO MAINSTREAM CONGREGATIONS 
COMPLICATE THE SITUATION THAT MUCH FURTHER.  AGAIN, THERE 
APPEAR CLEARLY TO BE FOREIGN AGITATORS ENCOURAGING THE DREAM 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  03055  02 OF 04  231019Z 
OF A "DEGA" STATE AS WELL AS RESISTANCE TO ANYTHING SMACKING 
OF INTEGRATION WITH OTHER ETHNIC MINORITIES, MUCH LESS THE 
MAJORITY KINH.  THE GVN IS NOT ENTIRELY OFF THE MARK IN 
MAKING THESE CLAIMS. 
 
11.  (SBU) WE HAVE NO CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF A SUSTAINED OR 
SYSTEMATIC GOVERNMENT EFFORT INTENDED TO PERSECUTE EITHER 
ETHNIC MINORITIES IN GENERAL OR PROTESTANTS MORE 
SPECIFICALLY.  MOREOVER, WE BELIEVE MORE SCRUTINY MUST BE 
GIVEN TO VERIFY OF THE AUTHENTICITY OF DOCUMENTS IN 
CIRCULATION BOTH IN VIETNAM AND OVERSEAS THAT PURPORT TO 
DESCRIBE SUCH FORMAL GVN CAMPAIGNS.  WE ARE PARTICULARLY 
CONCERNED THAT MANY OF THE ALLEGATIONS OF PERSECUTION WE 
RECEIVE MAY BE EXAGGERATED, OR GENERATED BY A SMALL NUMBER 
OF INDIVIDUALS IN A CIRCULAR FASHION. 
 
----------------------- 
WHAT DOES THE GVN WANT? 
----------------------- 
 
12.  (SBU) AS ELSEWHERE IN VIETNAM, INCLUDING OTHER AREAS 
WITH SIGNIFICANT ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS (REFTEL), THE 
GVN AND CPV FIRST AND FOREMOST WANT TO ASSERT THEIR CONTROL, 
ENSURE THEIR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP MONOPOLY, AND CREATE 
CONDITIONS OF "POLITICAL STABILITY."  THEY ARE -- AT LEAST 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ1270 
 
PAGE 01        HANOI  03055  03 OF 04  231020Z 
ACTION EAP-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  DINT-00 
      DODE-00  DOEE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    ED-01    FBIE-00 
      UTED-00  VC-00    HHS-01   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00 
      L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    DCP-01   NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02 
      OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00 
      SP-00    SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  PMB-00 
      DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00     /011W 
                  ------------------1BB2AC  231020Z /38 
O 230936Z DEC 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8450 
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 HANOI 003055 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL 
 
 
 
SINCE 1986 THROUGHOUT VIETNAM AND ESPECIALLY SINCE 2001 IN 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  03055  03 OF 04  231020Z 
THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS IN PARTICULAR -- ALSO COMMITTED TO 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MODERNIZATION, AND INTEGRATION OF 
VIETNAM INTO THE REGION AND THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY. 
THEIR PROGRAMS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS REFLECT THESE GOALS, 
BUT EMPLOY A HEAVY COMPONENT OF REPRESENTATION FROM THE CPV, 
THE PUBLIC SECURITY FORCES, AND THE ARMED FORCES TO CREATE 
AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC ORDER AND COMMUNIST RULE. 
 
13.  (SBU) AT THE SAME TIME, NEWER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS -- 
INCLUDING THE OFTEN ILL-CONCEIVED EFFORTS TO CREATE LARGE 
PLANTATIONS FOR CASH-CROPS AS WELL AS NEW POTS OF MONEY 
AVAILABLE FOR MOUNTAINOUS AREAS UNDER PROGRAM 135 -- ARE 
WELL-INTENTIONED (IF NOT ALWAYS WELL-IMPLEMENTED) EFFORTS 
AIMED AT PROMOTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVING THE 
LIVES OF THESE CITIZENS.  SOME WORK BETTER THAN OTHERS. 
INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN IMPROVED, ALTHOUGH NEW ROADS OFTEN 
BRING NEW MIGRANTS, NEW COMPETITION FOR LAND, AND NEW 
ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS.  NEW SCHOOLS AND HEALTH CLINICS 
PROVIDE BETTER LIVING STANDARDS, BUT OFTEN WORK TOWARD 
ASSIMILATION, NOT THE PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE. 
ELECTRIFICATION AND CLEAN WATER PROGRAMS ARE PART AND PARCEL 
WITH SIMILAR GVN EFFORTS ELSEWHERE, BUT IN THESE REMOTE 
LOCATIONS ALSO SOMETIMES CREATE NEW FINANCIAL BURDENS FOR 
ALREADY POOR FAMILIES.  THE GVN DESERVES SOME CREDIT FOR 
WHAT IT IS TRYING TO DO, EVEN IF RESULTS ARE UNEVEN.  STILL, 
MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS RELY ON TRADITIONAL COMMUNIST TOP- 
DOWN TACTICS THAT RARELY LEAD TO SUSTAINED SUCCESS. 
 
---------------------- 
CENTER VS. LOCAL NEXUS 
---------------------- 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  03055  03 OF 04  231020Z 
 
14.  (SBU) ONE OF THE KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING THE CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDS IS WHETHER THE CRUCIAL DECISIONS ARE MADE AT THE 
NATIONAL OR LOCAL LEVEL.  THE REALITY PROBABLY LIES 
SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN, WITH DECISIONS MADE BY EITHER OR BOTH, 
DEPENDING ON THE MATTER TO BE DECIDED.  CLEARLY, OVERALL 
POLICY -- GOOD OR BAD -- IS SET IN HANOI.  ALSO CLEARLY, 
OFFICIALS ON THE GROUND IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS FREQUENTLY 
IMPLEMENT POLICY BADLY.  IN OTHER CASES, THEY UNDERTAKE 
ACTIONS THAT MAY GO AGAINST NATIONAL POLICY.  WE DO NOT 
BELIEVE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT IT IS GVN POLICY TO BEAT PEOPLE 
UP (ALTHOUGH WE KNOW IT HAPPENS, AND NOT ONLY IN THE CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDS) OR HARASS RELIGIOUS BELIEVERS (NOT ONLY IN THE 
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS), BUT THIS HAPPENS, TOO.  WE DO NOT 
BELIEVE IT IS GVN POLICY TO DISPOSSESS CITIZENS OF THEIR 
LAND, BUT IT HAPPENS (AND AGAIN, NOT ONLY IN THE CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDS).  IT APPEARS THAT PROVINCIAL LEADERSHIP STYLES -- 
AND MISSION REPORTING HAS NOTED THE SOMETIMES MARKEDLY 
DIFFERENT ATTITUDES AND COMPETENCE OF OFFICIALS OF THESE 
FOUR PROVINCES -- MAY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE CONDUCT OF 
LOCAL OFFICIALS AND LEVELS OF ETHNIC TENSION.  THIS 
HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING TO BUILD 
CONSTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PROVINCIAL AND DISTRICT 
AUTHORITIES. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
THE U.S. ROLE: HAVING AN IMPACT -- OR NOT 
------------------------------------------ 
 
15.  (SBU) IN VIETNAM, IT IS EASY TO FALL INTO THE TRAP OF 
DWELLING ON THE PAST.  GIVEN THE DEGREE TO WHICH SO MANY OF 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  03055  03 OF 04  231020Z 
THE DISTORTIONS AND SUSPICIONS ON BOTH THE AMERICAN AND 
VIETNAMESE SIDES ARE ROOTED IN THE WAR, THIS IS ESPECIALLY 
TRUE IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS.  THE CLOSE LINKS OF THE 
"MONTAGNARDS" WITH US FORCES AND THE CONTINUED STRONG 
SUPPORT THEY ENJOY FROM US-BASED INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS HAVE 
BEEN MAJOR FACTORS IN HEIGHTENING THE SUSPICIONS WITH WHICH 
THE GVN AND CPV VIEW THESE MINORITY GROUPS IN THEIR OWN 
COUNTRY.  YET THIS IS A NEW GENERATION OF MONTAGNARDS, NOT 
THE GENERATION THAT, IN MANY CASES, FOUGHT SIDE BY SIDE WITH 
US FORCES.  REPEATED ITERATIONS BY USG OFFICIALS AT SENIOR 
LEVELS THAT THE USG DOES NOT SUPPORT THE DEGA MOVEMENT AND 
THAT THE USG EXPLICITLY RECOGNIZES THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY 
OF VIETNAM DO NOT SEEM TO GET THROUGH TO MANY IN THE GVN AND 
CPV, UNFORTUNATELY.  IT IS A MESSAGE WE NEED TO REPEAT 
OFTEN. 
 
16.  (SBU)  CONTINUED INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION HAS MADE THE 
GVN AND CPV (AT LEAST AT THE CENTRAL LEVEL) ACUTELY AWARE OF 
THE NEED TO DEAL WITH THEIR IMAGE PROBLEMS IN THE CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDS, ALTHOUGH LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE SOMETIMES SEEMINGLY 
OBLIVIOUS TO INTERNATIONAL OPINION.  THE GVN AND CPV WILL -- 
NOT SURPRISINGLY -- CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT THEY KNOW BEST 
(ALTHOUGH THEY INCREASINGLY ADMIT PAST "MISTAKES"), THAT 
THEY HAVE THE WELFARE OF THESE POPULATIONS AT HEART, AND 
THAT "HOSTILE FOREIGN FORCES" HAVE SINISTER ULTERIOR 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ1271 
 
PAGE 01        HANOI  03055  04 OF 04  231020Z 
ACTION EAP-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  DINT-00 
      DODE-00  DOEE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    ED-01    FBIE-00 
      UTED-00  VC-00    HHS-01   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00 
      L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    DCP-01   NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02 
      OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00 
      SP-00    SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  PMB-00 
      DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00     /011W 
                  ------------------1BB2B0  231020Z /38 
O 230936Z DEC 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8451 
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 HANOI 003055 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL 
 
 
 
MOTIVES.   WE MUST NONETHELESS CONTINUE TO HOLD THE GVN 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  03055  04 OF 04  231020Z 
ACCOUNTABLE FOR CREDIBLE INSTANCES OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN 
THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS -- AS ELSEWHERE IN VIETNAM -- AND TO 
PRESS FOR GREATER ACCESS, INCLUDING ROLES FOR HUMANITARIAN 
ASSISTANCE BY FOREIGN NGOS.  WHEN WE LEARN OF SPECIFIC CASES 
OF ABUSE BY LOCAL OFFICIALS, WE MUST URGE THE GVN TO 
INVESTIGATE AND DISCIPLINE THOSE FOUND GUILTY AND TAKE STEPS 
TO ADDRESS THE LOCAL GRIEVANCES. 
 
17.  (SBU) AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER, WE MUST BE CAREFUL TO 
AVOID A HEAVY-HANDED APPROACH THAT SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT 
THE LARGER US-VIETNAM RELATIONSHIP HINGES ONLY ON WHAT 
HAPPENS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS.  THE BILATERAL 
RELATIONSHIP IS TOO IMPORTANT, IN AND OF ITSELF, TO BE HELD 
HOSTAGE TO ANY ONE ISSUE. 
 
18.  (SBU) AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS WILL 
REMAIN LESS WELL DEVELOPED THAN ELSEWHERE IN VIETNAM AND 
ETHNIC TENSIONS ARE UNLIKELY TO DISAPPEAR ENTIRELY. 
FURTHERMORE, NEW ALLEGATIONS -- OF VARYING DEGREES OF 
CREDIBILITY -- OF NEW HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES WILL CONTINUE TO 
SURFACE, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO WARRANT OUR BEST EFFORTS TO 
VERIFY OR DISPROVE THEM. WHILE WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS IN 
BUILDING TRUST WITH SPECIFIC LOCAL LEADERS, WE SHOULD EXPECT 
CONTINUING SUSPICION AND SOMETIMES EVEN OPPOSITION FROM SOME 
GVN OFFICIALS, WHO WILL ALWAYS REMAIN CONVINCED THAT WE ARE 
STIRRING UP TROUBLE OR ACTING UNDER DUBIOUS MOTIVES. 
BURGHARDT 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED