Vietnamese President's US trip now in doubt
Roger Mitton - May 25, 2007

HANOI - A LONG-PLANNED official visit to Washington by Vietnam's head of state,
President Nguyen Minh Triet, is now in doubt after Hanoi's recent jailing of
pro-democracy activists angered the United States .

Diplomatic sources told The Straits Times that Mr Triet's visit to the US has
been 'officially postponed' until later this year or some time next year.

A Vietnamese source familiar with the plans for the trip said:! 'The visit has
been officially postponed for now and it will be very difficult to rearrange it
this year.'

The trip, originally scheduled to take place from June 17 to 22, was to include
stops in Washington, New York and Los Angeles and a White House meeting with US President George W. Bush.

Mr Triet's original plans also included a probable visit to Ottawa, Canada - but
this has now been cancelled, said sources.

In Hanoi earlier this week, US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill
praised the strong ties between the two countries and said that Washington
regards Vietnam as a nation on the move.

'The United States and Vietnam have growing and successful economic and trade
relationships, ' he said.

But he conceded that Vietnam's backsliding on human rights was a problem and
that ties had hit a 'rough patch' over Hanoi's jailing of the activists.

The US has already signaled that it would downgrade the pomps accorded to Mr
Triet if he did visit Washington . For instance, he will not be accommodated at
the prestigious Blair House like many visiting heads of state.

But now, in ratcheting up the pressure, diplomatic sources and Vietnamese
officials say Mr Hill told Hanoi that it must make some gesture on human rights
before the US will allow Mr Triet's visit to go ahead.

Analysts say that might mean Washington wants Hanoi to release some of the
recently detained activists.

But the ruling Communist regime has apparently said that it cannot comply with
the request.