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 07HOCHIMINHCITY1192, USCIRF MEETS HCMC GVN: CITY COUNCIL CHAIR MADAME THAO

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. #07HOCHIMINHCITY1192.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07HOCHIMINHCITY1192 2007-12-04 10:46 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
VZCZCXRO3010
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHNH
DE RUEHHM #1192/01 3381046
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041046Z DEC 07
FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3388
INFO RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI PRIORITY 2323
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 3605
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HO CHI MINH CITY 001192 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF, DRL/AWH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KIRF VM
SUBJECT: USCIRF MEETS HCMC GVN: CITY COUNCIL CHAIR MADAME THAO 
 
 
HO CHI MIN 00001192  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
1. (SBU) During the US Commission on International Religious 
Freedom (CIRF) delegation's meeting with HCMC People's Council 
Chairwoman Pham Phuong Thao on October 25, Commissioners cited 
outstanding issues that marred the GVN's record of progress on 
religious freedom, including limitations with the GVN's legal 
framework on religion, harassment and surveillance of religious 
groups and the failure of the GVN to return church properties. 
Chairwoman Thao pointed out the positive, citing examples of GVN 
initiatives that support Vietnam's largest population of 
religious followers. She also said that HCMC's government was 
striving to balance rapid economic growth with its citizen's 
social welfare and quality of life needs--including the freedom 
to practice their faith.  Thao also welcomed a broader dialogue 
with religious groups, encouraged them to report specific 
problems via the Council's public hotline, and invited CIRF to 
send a list of groups with specific concerns directly to her 
office.  End summary. 
 
The USCIRF Position 
------------------- 
2. (SBU) While the USCIRF delegation acknowledged positive 
developments since the GVN adopted a policy of religious 
freedom, they also told Madame Thao, that restrictions on 
religious groups--some of which they attribute to the legal 
framework on religion-- overshadow the progress made thus far. 
The Commissioners said that religious freedom must be expanded 
by returning confiscated church property, removing restrictions 
on religious groups' involvement in vocational, educational, 
medical, and other charitable activities and addressing 
harassment of religious leaders and practitioners. 
 
HCMC's Leadership Role 
---------------------- 
3. (U) Chairwoman Thao said HCMC's government took a very 
dynamic and creative approach to fostering economic development, 
which has made the city a leader in terms of Vietnam's 
integration into the global economy and international community. 
 As the largest city in the country with highest growth rate 
(averaging ten-plus percent over the past decade with an 
expected rate of 12% for this year), Thao acknowledged the 
challenge of maintaining social stability and improving living 
conditions for HCMC's residents while promoting further growth. 
Thao said expanding the city's infrastructure, restructuring the 
economy around technology rather than more labor intensive 
industries, and streamlining government procedures through 
public administration reform were all major challenges the HCMC 
government grapples with daily. 
 
4. (U) Thao affirmed that effective implementation of the legal 
framework on religion is an important part of HCMC's ongoing 
development, as Ho Chi Minh City has the largest number of 
religious followers in Vietnam, with roughly one-third of the 
city's 8.5 million residents practicing a religion.  The 
Chairwoman described a thriving religious community consisting 
of approximately 2,000 congregations and 1,500 places of 
worship.  She added that permission was granted for 68 new 
religious sites to be constructed in the past year alone. 
Madame Thao said HCMC authorities do everything in their power 
to guarantee and safeguard the freedom of religion and gave 
examples of government support for religious festivals during 
Christmastime and the various Buddhist festivals held throughout 
the year.  Thao also said the GVN provides support for opening 
religious training institutes, gives incentives and "favorable 
treatment" to religious institutions looking for land (citing 
the example of a 20 hectare plot recently set aside for the 
building of a Buddhist temple), and facilitates the upgrade of 
existing places of worship.  Thao also noted the importance of 
the more than 200 faith-based educational and training 
institutions playing an active role in charitable activities. 
 
Chairwoman Thao's Vow 
--------------------- 
5. (SBU) Commissioner Gaer raised concerns that the legal 
framework on religion was being used by the Vietnamese 
government to control religious groups, citing instances where 
GVN authorities have delayed or denied registration of new 
religious groups as well as reports of surveillance by local 
officials after churches provided the names of their followers. 
(Note: While providing names of followers is not required by 
law, several house church leaders have said GVN authorities 
request lists of practitioners as part of the registration 
process.  End note.) Gaer asked whether the GVN had given any 
consideration to establishing a hotline for religious groups to 
report problems with the authorities. 
 
6. (SBU) Chairwoman Thao said the Vietnamese government is doing 
its utmost to implement the ordinance but acknowledged some 
 
HO CHI MIN 00001192  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
shortcomings in execution will always occur, as matters often 
unfold much differently in reality than in theory.  Thao said 
the GVN has organized training seminars for civil servants to 
teach them about the religious ordinance in order to facilitate 
its implementation.  Thao said HCMC is limited in its ability to 
directly influence what goes on in other provinces and can only 
seek to persuade officials by sharing its own positive 
experiences.  That said, Thao believes the dialogue between the 
government and the public on numerous issues--including 
religion--has grown over the past few years.  In HCMC, citizens 
can communicate with city officials via telephone hotline, 
email, or post, as well as at town hall meetings held several 
times a year. 
 
7. (SBU) Thao said while there was no separate religious issues 
hotline, groups could report issues via the public hotline and 
reports of religious abuses would be given priority.  Thao 
offered to sit down and discuss specific concerns with any 
religious groups facing problems and invited the USCIRF to send 
a list of groups reporting problems to her office so that she 
could look into their cases directly (Note:Consul General 
Fairfax gave Madame Thao USCIRF's letter and list on November 
30. End note). Thao also expressed surprise over Commissioner 
Gaer's comment regarding GVN surveillance and said that 
organizations and individuals should not be surveilled if they 
are undertaking "normal religious activities."  She also said 
that no one in HCMC should be asking for lists of the members of 
churches. 
 
The UBCV Question 
----------------- 
8. (SBU) Commissioner Bansal asked Councilwoman Thao whether 
government would consider opening a dialogue with other Buddhist 
groups like the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) and 
allow them to organize independently and operate legally in Ho 
Chi Minh City.  Chairwoman Thao said the UBCV was one of nine 
Buddhist denominations integrated into the Vietnamese Buddhist 
Sangha in 1981 and therefore no longer an independent legal 
entity in Vietnam.  Thao said UBCV members are free to practice 
their religion and participate in charitable activities, but not 
under the banner of the UBCV.  Chairwoman Thao gave examples of 
two other officially recognized religions with Buddhist 
underpinnings--the Hoa Hao and the Cao Dai.  Thao said HCMC's 
500 Hoa Hao leaders and followers have their own temple and the 
city is currently considering a request from Hoa Hao 
headquarters in An Giang province to open a representative 
office in Ho Chi Minh City.  Thao said the Cao Dai currently 
have eleven different congregations located around the city, and 
ordained the largest number of church leaders ever over the past 
year.  In addition, city authorities provided assistance for 
training clergy and registered two new Cao Dai denominations 
this year. 
 
Church Property: Borrowed vs. Given 
----------------------------------- 
9. (SBU) Addressing CIRF's questions about church property taken 
by the government shortly after 1975, Chairwoman Thao made a 
distinction between "borrowed" properties and "given" 
properties.  Thao said properties that had been formally "given" 
to the government will not be returned, but assured the 
Commission the land was being used for purposes consistent with 
the intentions of the religious organizations who gave the 
government the land.  Thao said former church property that had 
been "borrowed" by the government is now being returned. 
 
10. (SBU) COMMENT:  While towing the GVN company line on issues 
like the UBCV and GVN church property, Thao was frank in 
acknowledging uneven implementation of the legal framework 
throughout Vietnam and open to reviewing specific instances of 
unfair treatment experienced by churches in Ho Chi Minh City. 
CIRF noted Thao's responsiveness and offer to review specific 
cases of religious freedom violations and expressed their 
intention to follow-up on this offer.  Post will work with the 
CIRF and church leaders to assist in compiling a list of cases 
of for a follow up letter to Chairwoman Thao.  End comment. 
 
11. (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassy Hanoi. 
FAIRFAX