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 08HANOI657, Vietnam Fatherland Front Discusses Religious Freedom

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. #08HANOI657.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08HANOI657 2008-06-04 09:15 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Hanoi
VZCZCXRO0758
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #0657/01 1560915
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 040915Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7939
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4799
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000657 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL/IRF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PGOV PREL VM
SUBJECT:  Vietnam Fatherland Front Discusses Religious Freedom 
 
REFS: A. HANOI 0278; B. HANOI 0442 
 
HANOI 00000657  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  Poloff and DRL/IRF officer met with Mr. Tran Dinh 
Phung, Permanent member of the Central Vietnam Fatherland Front 
(VFF) Presidium and Head of its Board for Ethnicity and Religious 
Affairs (Vice Minister rank), on May 28 to discuss the VFF role in 
the promotion of religious freedom in Vietnam. After explaining the 
VFF's role, Mr. Phung shared that there is currently a review of the 
implementation of the legal framework on religion underway, and 
highlighted the VFF's support to upgrade the Ordinance on Religion 
to a law as well as expand freedom for religious groups to undertake 
social and charitable activities.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) The VFF is a political alliance of social organizations, 
political groups, professional associations, ethnic groups, 
religious groups, and groups of Vietnamese living overseas, all 
underpinned by the Communist Party of Vietnam.  The VFF is an 
umbrella organization, Mr. Phung explained, intended to unite all 
social groups and mobilize the people to continue social and 
economic development.  The VFF also participates in drafting laws, 
recommending revisions when necessary.  After passage of 
legislation, the VFF collects feedback and may provide 
recommendations to government and state offices to improve 
implementation of laws.  The VFF is led by a central office in Hanoi 
and maintains executive committees at the provincial level, as well 
as representatives at the district and commune levels. 
 
3. (SBU) Mr. Phung underscored that the VFF takes the implementation 
of the legal framework on religion very seriously, noting that, "our 
responsibility is to encourage religious clergy and local government 
officials to implement religious framework."  He went on to explain 
that each of the six major religions in Vietnam has a seat on the 
advisory council and all religious groups are members of the VFF. 
The VFF provides an open forum where members of religious groups can 
share ideas and opinions, address problems, and make recommendations 
for improvements.  "The VFF wants religious followers to be good 
citizens and good followers," he said, adding "religious believers 
are our family members." 
 
4. (SBU) Noting that Vietnam has no ethnic or religious conflicts, 
Mr. Phung pointed to good interfaith relations, along with the 
growing numbers of religious followers and religious places of 
worship as positive signs for religious freedom in Vietnam.  Mr. 
Phung went on to acknowledge the uneven implementation of the legal 
framework at local levels,  commenting that while government and 
local officials are supposed to understand and implement all laws, 
actual practice may be different.  In remote areas, many local 
officials are often not keen on learning about new information and 
new responsibilities; however, the GVN is working to standardize 
qualifications for local officials without sufficient education in 
order to improve the dissemination and understanding of legal 
information. 
 
5. (SUB) When asked about specific recommendations to improve the 
implementation of the legal framework on religion, Mr. Phung 
responded that the VFF is coordinating with the GVN on a review of 
the three years of implementation of the legal framework, focusing 
both on achievements and needed improvements, as well as what more 
can be done.  Once the review is complete, the VFF will make 
official recommendations, with the goal of having the recommendation 
submitted by the end of 2008. 
 
6. (SBU) Mr. Phung highlighted several areas where the VFF would 
like to see improvements.  Specifically, the VFF hopes the National 
Assembly will consider making the legal framework stronger by 
turning the current ordinance into law.  Mr. Phung noted that the 
VFF is also discussing how the GVN can facilitate pending 
registration requests from religious groups, as well as assist 
groups in training and ordaining more pastors and priests. 
 
7. (SBU) The VFF is also looking to expand the freedom of religious 
groups undertake more social and charitable activities, particularly 
in the areas of assistance to the poor and disabled, as well as to 
HIV/AIDS sufferers.  Mr. Phung advocated for the ability of 
religious organizations to be able set up clinics and provide 
medical services, and establish schools, noting that such activities 
provided needed social services and will better integrate religious 
organizations and followers into their communities. 
 
8. (SBU) With regard to the various land disputes between religious 
groups and the GVN, Mr. Phung explained that the VFF proposal is to 
seek agreement from religious groups that where the land is now 
being used for religious, social, or charitable activities, they 
will not pursue their claim.  He added that the GVN should also 
facilitate applications from religious groups that request land for 
new facilities. 
 
9. (SBU) Comment:  The VFF's position as the lead mass organization 
in Vietnam, as well as its role in promoting Communist Party 
 
HANOI 00000657  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
doctrine throughout the country makes it a heavyweight on social 
issues such as religious freedom.  As such, VFF's progressive 
recommendations on strengthening the legal framework on religion, 
improving registrations and training, and expanding freedom for 
religious organizations to undertake social and charitable 
activities are positive signs for continued progress on religious 
freedom.  As with the existing legal framework on religion, the 
challenge will be the implementation of any new policy 
recommendations at the local level.  End comment.