Cablegate: Trial of Another Activist?

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

UNCLAS HANOI 003034

SIPDIS
UNCLASSIFIED PTO2208

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PAGE 01 HANOI 03034 200713Z
ACTION EAP-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DINT-00
DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00
H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00
PER-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00
TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 FMP-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00
DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /009W
------------------1AA9F5 200714Z /38
R 200632Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8427
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS HANOI 003034

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PINS PGOV VM HUMANR
SUBJECT: TRIAL OF ANOTHER ACTIVIST?

REF: HANOI 2718

1. (U) IN RESPONSE TO MEDIA REPORTS THAT ACTIVIST NGUYEN
KHAC TOAN WOULD GO ON TRIAL ON DECEMBER 20, EMBASSY FORMALLY
REQUESTED PERMISSION ON DECEMBER 15 FOR AN OFFICER TO ATTEND
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 HANOI 03034 200713Z
THE TRIAL. (TOAN HAD BEEN ARRESTED IN JANUARY 2002, AND IS
REPORTEDLY CHARGED WITH "CONDUCTING PROPAGANDA" AGAINST THE
SOCIALIST STATE, "SPREADING MISINFORMATION" ABOUT HE
GOVERNMENT, AND "SPYING" FOR AN UNIDENTIFIED FOREIGN
COUNTRY.) A DEPUTY CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE HANOI PEOPLE'S
COURT INFORMED POL FSN ON DECEMBER 19, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH
ATTENDANCE BY A FOREIGNER WOULD BE "UNPRECEDENTED" AND
IMPOSSIBLE.

2. (U) AT THE HANOI COURT ON THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 20,
NUMEROUS PLAINCLOTHES AND UNIFORMED POLICE WERE PRESENT, AND
IT APPEARED THAT PEOPLE ENTERING THE COURT BUILDING WERE
REQUIRED TO SHOW PERMISSION LETTERS. PEOPLE WITH OTHER
BUSINESS WERE ASKED TO RETURN ON DECEMBER 23. EMBOFF WAS
NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT TOAN'S TRIAL WAS ONGOING OR, IF SO,
WHETHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND A LAWYER WERE PRESENT.

3. (U) COMMENT: THE UNUSUAL SECURITY PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE
MAKE IT HIGHLY POSSIBLE THAT TOAN'S TRIAL IS UNDERWAY. IF
LE CHI QUANG'S TRIAL (REFTEL) IS ANY INDICATOR, SENTENCING
IS APT TO BE QUICK, AND, IN THIS CASE, THE SPYING CHARGES
MAY LEAD TO AN EVEN HEAVIER SENTENCE.
BURGHARDT

UNCLASSIFIED

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