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Viewing cable 07HANOI273, THE GVN REPORTS ON TWO YEARS OF THE NEW FRAMEWORK ON

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07HANOI273 2007-02-13 03:26 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Hanoi
VZCZCXRO5495
RR RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #0273/01 0440326
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 130326Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4599
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 2525
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 HANOI 000273 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM VM
SUBJECT: THE GVN REPORTS ON TWO YEARS OF THE NEW FRAMEWORK ON 
RELIGION 
 
REF: 06 Hanoi 582 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (SBU) On February 1, the GVN issued its second report on the 
implementation of its new framework on religion.  Comments at the 
official unveiling were largely desultory, though the GVN did make 
an unusual acknowledgement that it has faced difficulties 
implementing its policies at the local level.  The report itself is 
silent on many sensitive aspects of religious practice here and 
almost completely ignores the influence and importance of unofficial 
religious groups.  It is also weak on hard details concerning 
developments since the promulgation of the new framework on 
religion, but builds on recent GVN efforts to establish that 
religion is a traditional, constructive and necessary part of 
Vietnamese society.  The unusually matter-of-fact treatment of 
Protestantism may reflect a more nuanced GVN approach on this issue, 
and may bode well for continued movement in this area.  We will 
continue to monitor closely the registration of Protestant 
congregations across the country, with a particular emphasis on the 
Northwest Highlands. End Summary. 
 
Presentation 
------------ 
 
2. (SBU) On February 1, the GVN's Committee on Religious Affairs 
presented its second "White Paper on Religious Freedom" to members 
of the international press and the diplomatic community (the 
report's full 96-page text is available at www.vietnamembessy.us as 
a .pdf file).  Comments made by MFA Spokesman Le Dzung and CRA 
Chairman Ngo Yen Thi largely dealt with the drafting mechanics of 
the report; however, in response to a question posed by the BBC, Thi 
acknowledged that the GVN has had difficulty implementing the new 
framework on religion at the district level in remote parts of the 
country.  He stated that "implementation (of religious laws) is a 
practical question in many countries, and Vietnam is attempting to 
address its development gap through providing substantial training 
and workshops."  In the last three years, the CRA has conducted over 
3,000 training courses and 10,000 training workshops to instruct 
officials at the local level in the new policy, Thi added. 
 
Introduction 
------------ 
 
3. (SBU) Compared with last year's report (reftel), the 2006 white 
paper takes a much more historical approach to its subject.  The 
report's introduction states that "Vietnam is committed to 
respecting and safeguarding the citizens' effective right to freedom 
of belief and religion, and at the same time constantly improves the 
legal system related to belief and religion to meet the citizens' 
basic spiritual and religious needs while simultaneously promoting 
the strength and great unity of the entire nation and building the 
country so that Vietnam becomes increasingly more developed, 
democratic, equitable, and cultured." The report goes on to note, 
"however, both inside and outside of the country, because of 
inadequate information and certain prejudices, there are those who 
do not yet have a complete and accurate understanding of the 
situation of religion and the State's policies on religion in 
Vietnam."  The CRA adds that the report is intended to help readers, 
researchers and those interested inside and outside of the country 
so that they have a clearer understanding about the situation of 
religion in Vietnam and about the Vietnamese State's policies on 
religion." 
 
Chapter I - Religious History 
----------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU) Chapter I is a long dissertation on the history of religion 
in Vietnam, which is notable mainly for the CRA's effort to 
demonstrate that religious believers of all stripes have contributed 
to the defense of Vietnamese independence and unity throughout the 
centuries. 
 
Buddhism 
-------- 
 
5. (SBU) The section on Buddhism includes a long description of the 
development of the officially recognized Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha 
(VBS).  Its revisionist historical approach implies that  the 
outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) was a faction of 
the southern branch of the VBS, which separated in 1964 for the 
purpose of exploitation by foreigners for political purposes. 
"However, the majority of the clergy and followers remained loyal to 
the nation, were patriotic, and participated in the liberation of 
the South and in national unification," the CRA adds. The report 
makes no further mention of the UBCV. 
 
Catholicism 
 
HANOI 00000273  002 OF 004 
 
 
----------- 
 
6. (SBU) In the section on Catholicism, the report largely glosses 
over the 1954-1975 period, but acknowledges that  "during the 
process of evangelization and Church development in Vietnam, 
Catholicism contributed to the enrichment of Vietnamese culture: 
with the distinctive architectural designs of its 
churches...festivals, such as Noel and the La Vang Festival in Quang 
Tri Province in 
Central Vietnam...display the country's fine cultural attributes." 
 
Islam 
----- 
 
7. (SBU) The section on Islam is concerned chiefly with explaining 
the dogmatic and doctrinal differences between the two main 
divisions among Cham Muslim believers in the southern part of the 
country. 
 
Protestantism 
------------- 
 
8. (SBU) The section on Protestantism begins with an explicit 
acknowledgment that, "after the Geneva Agreement (1954), 
Protestantism developed differently in the North and the South," and 
that "the majority of followers and clergy in the North fled to the 
South."  There remained only about 1,000 followers and a dozen 
pastors and preachers in the North in 1954.  Between 1954 and 1975, 
the evangelical Christian Missionary Alliance "took advantage of the 
political situation in the South...to advance its missionary work by 
investing money, providing facilities, and sending clergy to help 
the Vietnamese General Confederation of Evangelical Churches...build 
up an organizational system and expand its religious, economic, and 
social establishments," especially in ethnic communities in the 
Central Highlands. 
 
9. (SBU) The report further asserts that, "after the liberation of 
the South," the religious establishments of the Southern Evangelical 
Church (SECV), the Seventh-Day Adventists, United World Mission, 
Baptists and some other denominations were allowed to operate as 
usual.  However, the GVN "did not yet accept the legal status of the 
Southern Church for several reasons, including the fact that some 
Protestants, especially those in the Central Highlands, were allied 
with reactionaries from FULRO (Front Unifie de Lutte des Races 
Opprimees - the United Front for the Liberation of Oppressed 
Races)."  (Note:  FULRO was the ethnic minority separatist group 
that conducted an armed guerilla campaign against GVN control of the 
Central Highlands from 1975 to 1992.  End Note.) 
 
Cao Dai 
------- 
 
10. (SBU) The report explains the rise of the Cao Dai in the latter 
portion of the 19th century as a peasant reaction to repressive 
economic policies.  It ignores the present political discord within 
the Cao Dai community, but acknowledges some of the dogmatic 
differences.  "During resistance wars against foreign aggression, a 
majority of leaders and adherents of the various Cao Dai sects 
actively assisted the revolution and contributed their efforts and 
wealth to the cause of national liberation and unification," the 
report notes. 
 
Hoa Hao 
------- 
 
11. (SBU) The report explains the rise of the Hoa Hao as a reaction 
to French reprisals against the 1940 uprising in An Giang Province. 
There is no mention of current religious or political disputes 
within Hoa Hao. 
 
Chapter II - Religious Developments 
----------------------------------- 
 
12. (SBU) Following its lengthy historical section, the white paper 
outlines the development of the GVN's policies on religion.  It 
concludes with the April 2006 10th Party Congress resolution on 
religion, which states that "followers of different religions are an 
integral part of Vietnam's great national unity...The Party 
consistently implements policies of respect and guarantees the 
people's right to freedom of belief, the right of citizens to follow 
or not to follow a religion, and the right to take part in normal 
religious activities according to the law...It encourages 
development of cultural values and strong ethics of religions."  The 
Congress recommended that "constructive programs in socio-economic 
development should be implemented to improve the material and 
cultural lives of religious followers; training and upgrading of 
cadre dealing with religious affairs should be enhanced; 
superstitious activities and behaviors that take advantage of belief 
and religion in order to harm the common welfare of the country or 
 
HANOI 00000273  003 OF 004 
 
 
to violate the citizens' freedom of religion should be prevented," 
the report states. 
 
13. (SBU) There is an extensive explanation of the current legal 
framework on religion, including the Ordinance on Religion and 
Belief and the Prime Minister's Instruction on Protestantism.  Both 
are broken down in detail, addressing in familiar terms issues like 
the transfer and training of clergy and the registration of 
congregations. 
 
Implementation of the New Framework 
----------------------------------- 
 
14. (SBU) The report claims that there have been a number of 
developments in the GVN's religion policies over the last 20 years, 
including 1) recognition of 16 religious organizations emanating 
from six religions to operate in accordance with the detailed 
framework of the law, 2) growth in the training of religious clergy 
(i.e., the VBS has three institutes, six colleges and 31 
intermediate training schools that have trained 5,090 Buddhist monks 
and nuns; the Catholic Church has six seminaries and 1,236 Catholic 
priests; and the SECV has two training courses for 150 trainees) and 
3) publication of several million religious books.  The report also 
stresses that in 2006, the Tu An Hieu Nghia, Tinh Do Cu Si Phat Hoi 
and the Missionary Christian Church organizations were granted 
certificates for operational registration of religious activities 
and will soon be recognized as organizations, 2) the SECV 
inaugurated construction of a new Institute of Bible and Theology in 
Ho Chi Minh City in August, 3) Buddha's 2550th Birthday was 
celebrated to honor the 25th anniversary of the Vietnamese Buddhist 
Sangha and 4) the Religious Publishing House printed 130 new 
religious titles in the first six months of the year. 
 
Registrations 
------------- 
 
15. The report states that two years after the promulgation of the 
new framework, religious activities of Protestant followers in the 
Central Highlands have "received due attention and their rights have 
been guaranteed according to provisions of the law."  Some 718 SECV 
places of worship have registered and 67 congregations have been 
recognized and are engaged in regular activities. Also, 71 SECV 
pastors and newly appointed pastors have been recognized.  The 
report also asserts that in the Northwest Highlands, "local 
governments have created favorable conditions for Protestants to 
practice their religion at home and have developed guidelines for 
religious assembly groups to register their activities with local 
authorities."  In all, 27 Evangelical Church of Vietnam (ECVN) 
"assembly groups" in nine provinces received pilot registrations in 
2006.  The report asserts that this pilot program was "a necessary 
step to avoid possible contradictions and complications in families 
and clans that might negatively affect the stable life of ordinary 
people," but states that "results secured in the provinces...of 
northern Vietnam have guided and will continue to guide religious 
people and assembly groups to register their religious activities in 
accordance with the Prime Minister's Instruction." 
 
Commitment to National Unity 
---------------------------- 
 
16. (SBU) Chapter II concludes with a lengthy section that further 
expounds on individual religions' contributions to the unity and 
independence of Vietnam, 
 
Chapter III - Foreign Relationships 
----------------------------------- 
 
17. (SBU) Chapter III relates developments in the relationship 
between Vietnam's individual religious organizations and foreign 
organizations and exchanges of delegation, as well as the GVN's own 
relations with foreign organizations and exchanges with governments, 
academia and religious organizations.  The Chapter does not address 
relationships with religious organizations outside Vietnam. 
 
Statistical Appendices 
---------------------- 
 
18. (SBU) The report concludes with an extended list of statistics 
on each religion in Vietnam.  The CRA states that there are ten 
million Buddhists, 5.9 million Catholics, 2.27 million Cao Dai, 1.2 
million Hoa Hao, 500,000 Southern Protestants, 110,000 Northern 
Protestants and 66,695 Muslims in the country. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
19. (SBU) As with last year's report, the 2006 White Paper on 
Religion is silent on many sensitive aspects of religious belief in 
Vietnam.  The report almost completely ignores the influence and 
 
HANOI 00000273  004 OF 004 
 
 
importance of the UBCV, as well as the schisms in the Cao Dai and 
Hoa Hao churches.  Furthermore, the CRA's estimates of the number of 
believers belonging to each organization in the country are much 
lower than most independent observations.  The report is also 
surprisingly weak on hard details concerning developments since the 
promulgation of the new framework on religion.  That said, the 
report is interesting for its attempt to provide a historical 
background for most of the issues surrounding religion, especially 
its efforts to show that all important religions have served the 
causes of Vietnamese independence and national unity - in essence, a 
refutation of past Party beliefs that religions are 
anti-revolutionary.  In this sense, the report builds on recent GVN 
efforts to establish that religion is a traditional, constructive 
and necessary part of Vietnamese society. 
 
20. (SBU) Of particular note is the CRA's unusually matter-of-fact 
explication of the rise of Protestantism in South Vietnam after most 
northern Protestants fled there in 1954.  This may reflect a more 
nuanced GVN approach on this issue resulting from the international 
community's perceived focus on Protestantism in the last year, which 
may bode well for continued movement in this area.  We are also 
encouraged that the CRA's estimate of the number of ethnic minority 
Protestants in the northern Vietnam is not far below the northern 
church's own estimates, and that the CRA publicly acknowledges the 
difficulties it has encountered in enforcing the GVN's policies in 
this region.  We will continue to monitor closely the registration 
of Protestant congregations across Vietnam, with a particular 
emphasis on the north.  End comment. 
 
ALOISI