Intelligence and Security Operations of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Ministry of National Defense

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condemning the US as aggressors. Handwritten statements were later
studied to develop new indoctrination materials ‘and to prepare
psychological warfare materials for distribution near US/Allied and
ARVN bases. The handwritten statements were also sent to the CDV
headquarters in Hanoi where they ‘were used to assist ‘in the
indoctrination of US POWs held in North Vietnam, and in the
preparation of psychological warfare leaflets and radio broadcasts.
Policy (POW) Section: 15 personnel plus 200 others assigned to six
detention camps under its control. The Policy Section was responsible
for administering the PDV detention camp system for captured
US/Allied civilian and military personnel, and- ARVN POWs;
maintaining a central registry of all POWs and US/Allied deserters
processed through and/ or detained by the PDV; recommending POWs
for release in coordinated action with the SVNLA Political Staff
Department's Military Security Office; arranging POW release and
exchange ceremonies in coordinated action with the SVNLA Political
Staff Department's Military Security Office; and for ensuring the
implementation of POW administrative and handling procedures by
subordinate PDV field elements. Although the criteria for releasing
POWs is not known, most ARVN enlisted and noncommissioned
officers were usually eligible for release, but ARVN officers were not.
The PDV rationale for the release of ARVN POWs was based on the
assumption that the released ARVN POW would return home to his
family and/or his parent unit as a fifth column penetration asset.
ARVN POWs considered for release were individually interrogated,
and indoctrinated by staff officers of the SVNLA Political Staff
Department's Military Security Office and of the COSVN MPS. MPS
cadres interviewed each ARVN POW and tape recorded approved
letters to the family which were later broadcast over the NLFSVN
Liberation Radio. The MPS had considerable success in recruiting
ARVN POWs as fifth column assets. The ARVN Military Security
Service estimated that at least 25 percent of all released ARVN POWs
had been recruited by the MPS for missions against ARVN. Most were
recruited as fifth column intelligence-gathering assets; others, for
sabotage operations; and others as support assets for MPS penetration
operations against ARVN. The MPS was assisted by the PDV in its
spotting of agent candidates. The PDV sent the MPS information
copies of all ARVN indoctrination and interrogation reports through
the SVNLA Political Staff Department and the COSVN Military
Affairs Committee. At least 10 former ARVN POWs were recruited by
the PDV for assignments in the PDV Policy Section detention camp
system which was organized as follows: _
a. POW Interunit A: Established in May 1968 with a 25-man
headquarters staff, it had four 25-man detention camps and one 25-
man POW escort unit. Interunit A was responsible for the detention
of US/ Allied civilian and military personnel. Camp 2A/ 21 held
about eight US POWs as of April 1970; three other US POWs were
released in January 1969 in Tay Ninh Province. Camp 3A/26 held
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