Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 04HOCHIMINHCITY255, HO CHI MINH CITY OPENS THE DOOR TO CATHOLIC CHARITABLE

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #04HOCHIMINHCITY255.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
04HOCHIMINHCITY255 2004-03-09 13:12 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HO CHI MINH CITY 000255 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/BCLTV, DRL/IRF, INR/B 
HANOI FOR CDC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PGOV PREL KIRF VM HIV AIDS RELFREE
SUBJECT: HO CHI MINH CITY OPENS THE DOOR TO CATHOLIC CHARITABLE 
WORK IN HIV/AIDS CARE 
 
REF:  A)  HCMC 0075    B) HCMC 0153    C) 02 HCMC 0963    D) 03 
HANOI 1257 
 
1. (SBU) In a small dinner on March 1 at his 100-year-old 
residence, Cardinal Pham Minh Man, Archbishop of HCMC, told the 
Consul General that he had just received a letter from Ho Chi Minh 
City authorities seeking assistance in dealing with the growing 
HIV/AIDS problem.  The letter, signed by the Director of the HCMC 
Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (DOLISA), asked 
the Cardinal to provide 150 nuns to staff four HIV/AIDS treatment 
centers.  The Cardinal was clearly pleased at this sudden 
softening of the government's stance on social welfare activities, 
but planned to approach the DOLISA proposal with caution, 
particularly concerning the matter of training.  In meetings with 
several staffdels and other U.S. visitors over the past few 
months, the Cardinal had lamented government limitations on 
charitable works, matters he felt the Church should be able to 
manage on its own.  He had said it was sometimes easier for 
Catholics to simply take on charitable activities than to have the 
Church officially seek permission.  One example he had provided to 
Staffdel McCormick in January was that of an HIV/AIDS hospice run 
by nuns in Cu Chi District (ref A).  While he had helped the nuns 
acquire a vehicle, he was not otherwise officially involved. 
(Note:  During one of Staffdel McCormick's other meetings in HCMC, 
HIV/AIDS officials had actually mentioned the hospice as a 
positive development.  End note.) 
 
2.  (SBU) In a steady series of meetings with USG visitors since 
his elevation to Cardinal in September 2003, Cardinal Man had been 
generally positive on the growth of the church - approximately 
7000 new converts each year since 1998.  Government-imposed 
restrictions on the numbers of seminarians and priests remained a 
primary concern, as evidenced by the fact that only 19 seminarians 
would be graduating from the seminary this year to fill over 50 
vacancies in the Achdiocese, while another 250 young men waited 
for places in an incoming class.  Confiscated properties were 
another item high on the agenda, as the Cardinal announced his 
intention to continue seeking the return of former churches, 
schools, and other buildings.  He did not expect the GVN to return 
all of the 200 properties confiscated in the years since 1975, but 
expressed resentment that in some cases the GVN was still 
utilizing properties it had officially returned to the Church. 
The Cardinal told the Consul General over dinner that he was 
excited at the prospect of regaining an old HCMC seminary property 
in June 2004, and said he was laying the groundwork for the 
government to allow the building to be converted into a "museum of 
(Catholic) faith." 
 
3. (SBU) Meeting with Staffdel Eikenberg in January, Cardinal Man 
said he had repeatedly told the GVN that limited freedom was not 
true freedom and that freedom of religion meant more than just 
going to church.  He stressed the need to find those who were 
blocking positive change within the Communist Party and help them 
overcome their objections.  Still, he did not blame national 
policies for the repression, but rather "the system".  He thought 
that some Communists in the South, at least, were good people who 
would like to make changes but were not part of the system. 
Others, however, feared losing power and authority if the people 
were allowed more freedom.  He noted that many Communist cadre 
children were enrolled in a popular Catholic kindergarten run by 
nuns in HCMC, and hoped those children would teach their parents 
about religion.  He also saw the increase in wealth and contact 
with the outside world as positive changes in Vietnam, which would 
stimulate change.  Cardinal Man expressed his appreciation to 
several visitors for the support he had received from the 
Consulate General and the USG. 
 
4. (SBU) Cardinal Man also spoke of reconciliation and dialogue 
with the GVN during his meeting with a delegation from the U.S. 
Commission on International Religious Freedom (CIRFDEL) in January 
(ref B).  While he said there were differences of opinion within 
the Catholic community on how much to accommodate the GVN, he 
thought very few would support the use of force to achieve their 
objectives.  To demonstrate the many small steps religious groups 
could take to protect their interests, he mentioned a meeting he 
had organized to discuss the Fatherland Front's patriotic 
association for priests.  After warning the priests in his 
Archdiocese of the dangers of getting involved in political 
activities of any sort without permission from their bishops, many 
priests had left the fledgling group.  In an interesting aside, he 
advised the CIRFDEL to focus on China, noting that changes in 
China would bring change to Vietnam as well.  The Cardinal told 
the group he foresaw a negative reaction from the GVN to Country 
of Particular Concern (CPC) designation in the short-term, but 
thought it might be beneficial in the long-term.  (Note:  Well- 
known activist and Redemptorist priest, Father Chan Tin, 
criticized the Cardinal in his own meeting with the CIRFDEL for 
not supporting Father Ly and for sending out a pastoral letter 
warning of "false prophets," but thought the Cardinal had recently 
started to work harder for religious freedom.  End note.) 
 
5. (SBU) The Cardinal recounted for Staffdel McCormick his meeting 
in late December 2003 with Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan.  He 
said he had utilized the meeting to encourage the GVN to ensure 
that the new law on religion authorized religious groups to open 
schools and take a more active role in combating "social evils." 
He was clearly dissatisfied with the present system of "asking and 
receiving," but did not seem hopeful the Church would be given the 
green light to engage freely in charitable works in any new 
legislation.  Man also briefed Staffdel McCormick on meetings in 
the U.S. in September 2003 with Catholic leaders from several 
educational institutions, including Boston College and Loyola 
University of Chicago, to discuss overseas training opportunities. 
On the night of the Consul General's dinner, a Vice President of 
Boston College happened to be visiting as well, exploring 
opportunities for sponsoring nuns to receive nursing training in 
the U.S.  The Cardinal also introduced the Consul General to two 
priests whom he hoped to send to the U.S. for studies related to 
pastoral music. 
 
6. (SBU) Note:  Cardinal Pham Minh Man received his MBA from 
Loyola Marymount University in 1971.  Before his investiture as 
Archbishop of HCMC in April 1998, he served as the Bishop of My 
Tho Diocese in the Mekong Delta.  The Vatican appointed Archbishop 
Man to the rank of Cardinal on September 28, 2003, and he was 
officially elevated in Rome on October 21.  Then-Bishop Man was a 
compromise choice for HCMC Archbishop back in 1998, when the 
Vatican attempted to appoint the Bishop of Phan Thiet, Huynh Van 
Nghi, as Apostolic Administrator to the city over the objections 
of the GVN, which insisted on Father Huynh Cong Minh, one of the 
founders of the Patriotic Committee for Catholic Solidarity.  The 
GVN may have believed that the Vatican was trying to appoint 
Bishop Nghi as Apostolic Administrator to allow them to name 
exiled priest Nguyen Van Thuan (the now-deceased Cardinal Francis 
Xavier Thuan -- reftel C) as Archbishop in absentia.  End note. 
 
7. (SBU) COMMENT:  Cardinal Man is generally willing to speak 
openly about Church issues, his dealings with the GVN, and his 
assessment of the situation for Catholics in Vietnam.  While he 
uses coded language on occasion, his often pointed remarks make 
clear his dissatisfaction with GVN controls on the social and 
educational activities of the Church.  For now, at least, it does 
not appear that any sense of compromise with the GVN over his 
recent elevation  has led him to temper his views, or his 
willingness to discuss them (reftel D).  His measured response to 
the request from the city to take on a very visible charitable 
function is in keeping with his general approach, but this is 
clearly a major step forward for the Church in HCMC under his 
stewardship.  He was clearly pleased to have been "invited" to 
provide assistance, but he also noted that providing care for 
HIV/AIDS patients was something "nobody else really wanted to do." 
Should the Cardinal decide to provide the "nunpower" for this 
project, Post will work with Embassy CDC Office to find training 
opportunities to offer him and the city. 
YAMAUCHI