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 04HOCHIMINHCITY1554, SHRIMP, DEVELOPMENT AND MINORITY RIGHTS IN SOC

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. #04HOCHIMINHCITY1554.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
04HOCHIMINHCITY1554 2004-12-17 03:46 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 001554 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAID EAGR PREL SOCI PHUM PGOV KIRF VM ETMIN HUMANR HIV AIDS
SUBJECT: SHRIMP, DEVELOPMENT AND MINORITY RIGHTS IN SOC 
TRANG 
 
REF:  03 HCMC 001100 
 
SUMMARY 
 
1. (SBU) Shrimp farming in the coastal Mekong Delta province 
of Soc Trang is driving economic growth and poverty 
eradication.  Beneficiaries include the large ethnic Khmer 
minority.  Reports from exile groups of disenfranchisement 
and oppression of the Khmer appear out of date.  The GVN 
began a long-term effort to improve the conditions for the 
Khmer in 1998, and the rapid growth of aquaculture has made 
provided cash to the Khmer community as evidenced by 
construction and rehabilitation of Khmer temples and 
pagodas.  Soc Trang leadership appeared both more confident 
and more open than neighboring provinces and was frank about 
both recent successes and ongoing challenges including a 
growing HIV/AIDS problem.   End Summary 
 
A RISING TIDE OF SHRIMP 
 
2. (U) Consul General, Econoff, Conoff and Pol/Econ 
specialist traveled through the coastal Mekong Delta, 
visiting Soc Trang on December 4.  A historically poor 
coastal province, Soc Trang's population of over 1.2 million 
includes majority ethnic Kinh (65 percent) as well as Khmer 
(29 percent) and Chinese (6 percent) minorities.  Per capita 
income remains low at USD433, but GDP has been growing at 
close to ten percent per year over the past four years as 
marginal, salinized rice paddies have been turned into 
highly productive small-holder shrimp farms.  In 2003 alone, 
aquaculture grew by 30 percent, with 11,000 additional 
hectares converted to shrimp ponds, producing over USD300 
million in export revenue.  By 2010, provincial leaders plan 
to have 80,000 hectares of aquaculture land. 
 
REDUCED ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES WELCOMED 
 
3. (U) Saota Foods Joint-Stock Company (FIMEX VN) reported 
that the sharp reductions in antidumping duties announced by 
the US Department of Commerce on December 1 had an immediate 
impact in Soc Trang.  One of Vietnam's largest seafood 
exporters, FIMEX processed and exported USD78 million in 
shrimp from Soc Trang and neighboring provinces to the U.S., 
Japan and the E.U. in 2003.  Preliminary antidumping duties 
imposed by the USG at midyear cut 2004 exports to the US by 
half to about USD 15 million.  In the final determination, 
FIMEX and other exporters representing over half of 
Vietnam's production received a sharply reduced "separate" 
rate of between four and five percent.  Local shrimp prices 
in Soc Trang immediately rose by five percent according to 
FIMEX director Ho Quoc Luc, who is also the chairman of the 
Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers 
(VASEP).  Luc anticipated a sharp rise in export volume and 
prices paid to producers during the remaining month of 2004. 
FIMEX operates six individual processing lines on a large 
modern site in Soc Trang.  The firm directly employs 3200 
workers, 70 percent of whom are women, who earn USD40 to 
USD65 per month, jobs which did not exist in the province 
prior to the advent of aquaculture. 
 
KHMER ALSO RIDING THE TIDE 
 
4. (U) According to official Vietnamese history, Soc Trang's 
ethnic Khmer population and ethnic Kinh both appeared in the 
region at about the same time in the early 17th century. 
For their part, the Khmer claim to have been there much 
longer.  Whatever the case, the Khmer minority makes up a 
distinct community organized around Theravada Buddhist 
temples and pagodas that date back nearly 400 years.  In our 
first meetings with provincial officials, they claimed that 
Khmer and ethnic Kinh are highly integrated today. 
Subsequent discussions, including with the head of the 
Provincial Committee on Minority Affairs (himself a Khmer) 
indicated that the province is a salad bowl rather than a 
melting pot.  Ethnic Khmer and Chinese maintain their 
respective languages but learn Vietnamese as well.  The 
Chinese continue to concentrate in commerce, while the Khmer 
are mostly small farmers. Aquaculture is dominated by ethnic 
Kinh, many of whom employ Khmer workers.  We were told that 
some of the most prosperous Khmer owned shrimp ponds 
themselves.  At FIMEX, Director Luc was proud to point out 
the diversity of the firm.  He is ethnic Kinh, the Vice 
General Director was Chinese while his assistant/interpreter 
was Khmer. 
 
5. (U) First Vice-Chairman Nguyen Duy Tan and the heads of 
the Religious Affairs and Minority Affairs Committees stated 
that the Khmer had historically been disadvantaged and 
impoverished.  They credited the GVN's 1998 Program 135 with 
changing the situation.  Under this program the central 
government provided sustained financing to build schools and 
clinics, develop bilingual education and provide credit and 
employment opportunities.  The growth of aquaculture has 
also contributed significantly to the welfare of this 
community and the province.  Poverty in Soc Trang has 
decreased, with 19 percent of households falling under the 
poverty line, compared with 65 percent in 1992. Poverty 
among Khmer households is higher at 28 percent, but has 
declined significantly from 42 percent as recently as 2001. 
 
6. (U) To complement official meetings, CG and party took an 
unannounced and unescorted lunchtime drive through two 
heavily Khmer districts along the coast.  Vinh Chau district 
is home to over half of Soc Trang's Khmer population.  The 
majority Khmer province had extensive shrimp ponds in 
paddies that formerly grew a single rice crop per year. 
Crossing into the district, we drove over a large bridge 
just completed on December 1, 2004.  Roadwork is under way 
and new power lines stretched from Soc Trang town to the 
shore. Vinh Chau seemed representative of the rest of the 
province - still poor, but developing quickly. 
 
7. (SBU) We also visited two Khmer pagodas.  The first visit 
to Cha Tim Giua or Chrui Tum Kandal pagoda was unannounced 
and unescorted.  The Venerable Ly Huong was cautious in his 
answers on ethnic relations but made clear that his 
community has good access to bilingual education through the 
high school level and to health clinics.  The early 17th 
century main temple is in excellent condition and the pagoda 
is clearly active and a center of community life.  A large 
new temple hall is nearly complete and already in use for 
services.  The construction was funded entirely by 
contributions from the community and young monks were busy 
working with local contractors when we arrived. 
 
8.  (U) Soc Trang has 92 Khmer pagodas with an additional 36 
worshipping houses. We later met officially with the Most 
Venerable Duong Nhon and other members of the Executive 
Board of the provincial Buddhist Sangha.   While the meeting 
was kept at a formal level, the picture of economic 
development, religious life and ethnic relations was 
consistent with what we had heard and seen elsewhere.   We 
asked about the Khmer Buddhists ties outside of Vietnam. 
They said they had few contacts with Cambodia.  Prior to the 
Cambodian genocide, monks went to Cambodia for advanced 
religious training.  Since the genocide, some Cambodian 
Buddhists have trained in Vietnam.  The monks also said that 
they had no contact with exile Khmer groups in the US or 
Canada.  Both the Vietnamese authorities and the monks told 
us that they did not use the term "Khmer Krom," which they 
said was a Cambodian and/or exile term with separatist 
implications. 
 
SOME ROADBLOCKS TO GROWTH 
 
9. (U) Despite Soc Trang's recent solid growth, First Vice- 
Chairman Nguyen Duy Tan said the province continued to face 
problems mobilizing investment resources. He expressed 
concern about the sustainability of growth due to the 
general poverty of the province and shortcomings in 
education, training, health care and infrastructure. The Soc 
Trang authorities generally seemed eager to attract foreign 
investment and development assistance 
 
10. (U) HIV/AIDS is also a growing problem in Soc Trang. 
Officials of the provincial Women's Union stated that since 
1992 perhaps 10,000 women from the province have worked in 
the sex trade in Cambodia or other cities in Vietnam and 
neighboring countries or gone to Taiwan as brides.  Some of 
the women have returned to Soc Trang with HIV/AIDS and 
spread the disease locally, they said. Women in Soc Trang 
are now contracting HIV more frequently than men, and the 
1,300 known HIV-positive cases may only be the tip of the 
iceberg. The Women's Union was eager for assistance and 
support for HIV/AIDS education and programs. 
 
COMMENT 
 
11. (SBU) Wealth from aquaculture is not equally distributed 
in Soc Trang, but the rising shrimp tide is raising most 
boats.  As in 2003 (reftel), reports from overseas sources 
of widespread discrimination and repression were not 
supported by anything we saw on this visit.  In fact, Khmer 
Buddhist culture appears to be doing well, thanks to the 
revenues from raising shrimp for American tables. 
 
WINNICK