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

‘Sneak
Upon classification into the three categories cited above, each internee
was sentenced to a. specific term of imprisonment by the PAVN CDV andmilitary security in coordination with the Military Justice Department of the
PAVN General Political Department. Imprisonment terms ranged from three
months to several years at hard labor, or life imprisonment. Sentences werekept secret, and were known only to PAVN political officers and CDV campofficers. When considered for release, internees were only told that they hadcompleted. their reeducation, and were considered to be ready to take their
place in the new socialist society. Continued imprisonment under the guise of"reeducation" is designed to control antiregime elements and to restrict the
activities of those who might be of future use to US intelligence.
From October 1975 through January 1976 groups of 100 to 260 officerswere released weekly from various CDV camps with much propagandafanfare for domestic and international consumption. On 10 October, theReeducation Section of the H0 Chi Minh City Military ManagementCommittee announced that it had authorized hundreds of junior and field
grade officers to return home or to work in various specialized and technical
agencies or units. Those released were described as not having incurred anyblood debt to the people, and as not being dangerous "CIA" elements. Thereeducation section further stipulated that all released officers would at all
times be confined to their home areas by local revolutionary administrative
agencies or units for as long as it was considered necessary for the released
officers to become genuine citizens of the new regime. It was also stated thatthose who did not “resign themselves to reason" or who committed acts against
the regime would be severely punished. Similar announcements were made inthe Mekong Delta area and in Central Vietnam. Only a few field gradeofficers were released; most were company grade officers. None had ARVNintelligence or security service affiliations. Most had a past history ofcooperation and sympathy with the revolution, according, to fellow inmates.By February 1976, all officers who were eligible for early release had returnedhome or had been reassigned to positions with the new regime. Only six
officers of colonel rank were released from the PAVN Military Region 7 CDVcamp system. .
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Virtually all officers of colonel rank were transferred in_October 1975from various PAVN Military Region 7 CDV camps to maximum security
prisons at Chi Hoa (H0 Chi Minh City), Con Son Island, and Tan Hiep" in
former Bien Hoa Province, now known as Dong Nai Province. Asof March1976, most ARVN NCO and enlisted personnel had been released, except
those with ARVN intelligence and security service affiliations. Dependents of
ARVN officers were systematically removed from civil service positions, andschool age children and university student siblings of ARVN officers wereexpelled from the state public school system. They were left to rely on their
own dwindling personal resources; no provision was made by the state for their
care, feeding, and employment; medical treatment at state medical facilities
was also denied. Dependent families were gradually ordered to report to
gathering points with their personal belongings for transport to the “new
economic zones" where they would reportedly be joined by their imprisonedrelatives.
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