VZCZCXRO1817
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #0663 1570918
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 050918Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7949
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4809
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS HANOI 000663
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, G/TIP AND PRM FOR SONIA DENTZEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV TIP ELAB KWMN KCRM SMIG PREL VM
SUBJECT: VIETNAM - 2008 TIP REPORT DEMARCHE
REF: STATE 57481
COUNTRY NARRATIVE DELIVERED
---------------------------
1. (SBU) On June 4, Poloff delivered the 2008 TIP Report Country
Narrative for Vietnam, as well as reftel talking points, to Mr. Pham
Hoang Tung, Chief of the Legal and Consular Affairs Division,
Consular Department, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
Poloff reviewed with Tung the recommendations section of the country
narrative, focusing on Vietnam's export labor drive, the need for
export labor controls, overseas worker protections and victim
assistance. Tung noted that his government would have to study the
text carefully before having an official reaction, but his initial
reaction was positive.
MFA TRYING TO ENHANCE OVERSEAS WORKER PROTECTIONS
--------------------------------------------- ----
2. (SBU) Tung noted that MFA is trying to work more closely with its
Embassies and Consulates overseas to ensure that their staff are
involved in protecting the rights of overseas Vietnamese workers and
can help repatriate them when necessary. He noted the recent May
2008 passage of Inter-Agency Circular 03/2008, with cooperation
among the MFA, Ministry of Public Security (MPS), Ministry of
Defense (MOD) and Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs
(MOLISA), which specifies new and strengthened "Guidelines on the
Procedures for Identification and Repatriation of Returning
Trafficked Women and Children." He also said the GVN was trying to
"protect associations and NGOs" that work in the area of worker
protections and victim assistance.
VIETNAM CONTINUES ACTIVITIES UNDER COMMIT PROCESS
--------------------------------------------- ----
3. (SBU) In terms of Vietnam's 2007 announcement that it would draft
a comprehensive new TIP law, Tung said that this was moving forward.
Under Vietnam's Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against
Trafficking (COMMIT) action plan, Vietnamese experts will conduct an
international study tour in 2008, to include Australia and the
Philippines, to look at those countries' experiences before drafting
a TIP law. Poloff noted that such a study tour could possibly be
arranged for the United States, depending on funding. Vietnam has
no concrete plan for reducing demand for commercial sex procurement;
however, in 2007 the GVN did launch a new child sex tourism
investigative unit within the MPS.
4. (SBU) Tung noted that MOLISA continues to work hard on
implementation of the 2006 Export Labor Law and recently signed an
additional labor destination MOU with Qatar. In terms of several
recent media articles on the increased incidence of baby
trafficking, Tung acknowledged the GVN's concern and referenced the
connection with international adoptions. Tung said the Ministry of
Justice would submit a plan to the National Assembly later this year
calling for Vietnam to sign the Hague Convention. (Note: Post
believes this is an overly optimistic view of timing. End note.)
5. (SBU) Post is in the process of translating the TIP Report
Vietnam country narrative into Vietnamese and will post it on the
Embassy's website shortly. POL will also disseminate the report to
its TIP distribution list.
MICHALAK