Cablegate: Update On Hoa Hao Monk Who Climbed the Tree

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

160928Z Nov 01

2001HOCHI01304 - UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTO5551

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ACTION EAP-00

INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 SRPP-00 MEDE-00 EB-00
UTED-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 NSAE-00
OIC-02 OPIC-01 PC-01 PRS-00 P-00 SP-00 SS-00
STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00
NFAT-00 SAS-00 /007W
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FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5711
INFO AMEMBASSY HANOI
USMISSION GENEVA
ASEAN COLLECTIVE
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
JICPAC HONOLULU HI
SECDEF WASHDC
DIA WASHDC
NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 001304

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/PD/MSPEER
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR DRL/IRF
CINCPAC FOR FPA
SECDEF FOR ISA/EA/ABLAGG

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 HO CHI 01304 161027Z
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KIRF VM HUMANR RELFREE
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON HOA HAO MONK WHO CLIMBED THE TREE

REF: A. HCMC 1266 B. HANOI 2924

1. (U) REF B REPORTED THAT ON NOVEMBER 6, HOA HAO MONK
NAM LIEM HAD CLIMBED A TREE IN THE COMPOUND AT HIS
PAGODA IN THE MEKONG DELTA CARRYING A CAN OF GASOLINE
AND A KNIFE AND THREATENING SUICIDE TO PROTEST LOCAL
POLICE ACTIONS AGAINST HIM. REF A REPORTED THAT ON
NOVEMBER 9, LIEM CAME DOWN FROM THE TREE IN A WEAKENED
CONDITION AFTER CUTTING HIS INNER THIGH WITH THE KNIFE
EARLIER IN THE MORNING.

2. (SBU) ON NOVEMBER 15, LE QUANG LIEM AND TRAN HUU
DUYEN, HOA HAO ELDERS WHO RESIDE IN HCMC, PROVIDED
POLOFF WITH AN UPDATE ON NAM LIEM'S SITUATION.
ACCORDING TO THE HOA HAO ELDERS, NAM LIEM REMAINS
INSIDE HIS HOME AT THE PAGODA COMPOUND UNDER THE CARE
OF HIS MOTHER AND FATHER AND A COUPLE OF OTHER HOA HAO
FOLLOWERS WHOM THE POLICE HAVE ALLOWED INSIDE. SOME
LOCAL TOWNSPEOPLE HAVE DELIVERED MEDICINE FOR TREATING
AN INFECTION OF LIEM'S LEG WOUND, BUT SO FAR NO DOCTOR
HAS SEEN HIM. SEVEN TO EIGHT POLICEMEN REMAIN AT THE
PAGODA COMPOUND, BUT HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO ENTER LIEM'S
HOME OR OTHERWISE COMMUNICATE WITH HIM.

3. (SBU) ACCORDING TO HOA HAO ELDER DUYEN, THE
PROVINCIAL FATHERLAND FRONT AND PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE HAD
DECIDED TO PLACE LIEM UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 HO CHI 01304 161027Z
(HOUSE ARREST) AFTER LIEM HAD LOCKED LOCAL POLICE
OFFICIALS INSIDE HIS PAGODA ON NOVEMBER 1. WHEN
AUTHORITIES ARRIVED AT THE PAGODA ON NOVEMBER 6 TO
PRESENT LIEM WITH THE HOUSE ARREST ORDER, LIEM REFUSED
TO SIGN IT AND CLIMBED UP THE TREE.

4. (SBU) LIEM APPARENTLY IS IN NO IMMEDIATE DANGER AS
THE RESULT OF HIS WOUND. HIS LEGAL STATUS, HOWEVER, IS
UNCERTAIN. IF HE IS ORDERED UNDER HOUSE ARREST, POST
BELIEVES HE WILL EVENTUALLY CHALLENGE THE ORDER, IN ONE
MANNER OR ANOTHER.

YAMAUCHI

UNCLASSIFIED

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