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

,, _ » -‘-
--;1;_3,;,',;h€,,;;_: _ _ ;___'_f__‘,__’_’
’
_ - _ .. .-
-5-EGR'E"l'—
regime. ARVN internees were classified into three basic categories: A, B, and
C. Category A internees were those who had helped to liberate the country,
and included previously-recruited fifth column agent assets and a few field
grade and general staff officers who actively assisted in locating minefields,
turned over arms depots intact, and who had cooperated with the liberation
armed forces. Several hundred Category A officers were assigned to positions
under surveillance in the PAVN, air force, and navy. Category B internees
were those who were reeducated, had admitted their crimes, had sincerely
repented in theeyes of the CDV, had their civil rights restored, and had been
assisted by the new regime in finding employment under close supervision and
surveillance. Most reeducated Category B internees _were junior-ranking
company grade officers and civil servants. Category C internees were those
who had yet to be reeducated since “their hands were stained with blood.”-~
Category C individuals were described by CDV officers as embittered,
sullen, antinational, anti-Communist elements who had not yet rid themselves
of such views. Most captains and field grade officers from the rank of major
upward were classified as Category C: "cruel," "dangerous," and “stubborn”
(ngoan co) elements. Others who were automatically classified as Category C
“dangerous” elements included former airborne, artillery, armor, marine,
ranger, special forces, military intelligence, military police, military security,
political warfare, reconnaissance, rural pacification, and Phoenix personnel,
and air force pilots. Among them were many military officers who had been
detailed to the RVN National Police Command and to the RVN Central
Intelligence Organization, and who had initially.reported themselves for
reeducation as pure military officers with no intelligence or security service
affiliation. Their intelligence and security service affiliations were soon
detected as almost all ARVN I-2, I-5 (Political Warfare), J-7 (SICINT),
Military Security Service, National Police Command, and Central Intelligence
Organization files were left intact for-the new regime to exploit and to cross-
check personal history statements.
For example, although ARVN I-2 Unit 101 administrative and personnel
records were reportedly destroyedin mid-April 1975, operational records
were left intact for the new regime along with the vast bulk of ARVN I-2
administrative, personnel, and operational files and records. All Unit 101
officers and enlisted personnel were immediately sent away to reeducation,
where nearly all were classified as Category C internees. Unit 101
Commander Lieutenant Colonel Le Dinh Luan and his deputy Lieutenant
Colonel Truong Van Ty were subsequently sent to North Vietnam for
exploitation. Other senior ranking ARVN I-2 and Military Security Service
officers suffered a similar fate. All Category C internees were required to
complete a minimum of three years’ education. Only a few low-ranking
ARVN J-2, I-5, J-7, and Military Security Service personnel were released as of
early 1977. By early 1977, the vast majority of Category C internees had been
transferred to permanent camps administered by the CDV in North Vietnam.
Only a few engineers, agronomists, doctors, and other technical specialists,
whose skills were urgently required by the new regime, were released on
probation to the trust of state enterprises and the PAVN.
63
-8-E-€R'E'l"§
.
- **--* -—~ ~- - ~__..._.._...-.,--_%.,. ..., _ - "N4
2- 1 '
\v\w-\ afinnuw Q /F,