Documents / FOIA release

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

Central Intelligence Agency · 1979-12-01 · 120 pages · text from the file's own layer

This is a December 1979 Central Intelligence Agency study published by the Directorate of Operations Counterintelligence Staff. It describes the Enemy Proselytizing Department (Cuc Dich Van) of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Ministry of National Defense. The study traces the department's origins from 1941 through the French and Vietnam wars. It covers psychological warfare, fifth column penetration of ARVN and allied forces, the handling of US and allied prisoners of war, and the postwar reeducation of former ARVN personnel. It contains no material on UFOs.

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and mechanics from Binh Thuy to other airbases at Danang, Pleiku, Phu Cat,
or Nha Trang. VNAF personnel at Camp Davis, Tan Son Nhut, were similarly
assigned duties with the PAVN‘ Air Force at Tan Son Nhut. In February 1976,
VNAF 3rd Air Division personnel were released from the Lai Khe
Reeducation Camp for limited service with the PAVN Air Force in Central
Vietnam.
Following the March 1976 escape of a former VNAF pilot by air to
Thailand from the Binh Thuy Airbase, the planned integration of VNAF
personnel into the PAVN Air Force was canceled. All formereVNAF personnel
were subjected to rigid screening procedures for three weeks at the Binh Thuy
Airbase and at Camp Davis, Tan Son Nhut. All former VNAF flight personnel
were grounded and the PAVN Air Force canceled all flights to discourage
other potential defectors, as well a_s to allow time for the PAVN military
security screening mechanism to identify high risk potential defectors who
might similarly attempt to escape Vietnam by air. Shortly thereafterwards,
VNAF officers from the rank of captain upward were transferred to
reeducation camps in North Vietnam.
The Prison Comp System in North Vietnam
Although some ARVN field grade and general staff officers had been sent
immediately to reeducation camps in North Vietnam after the Communist
takeover, significant numbers were not sent there until after April 1976. Three
separate incidents precipitated this action." These were the March 1976 escape
by air to Thailand by a VNAF pilot from the Binh Thuy Airbase, and two
massive breakouts of ARVN officers in PAVN IV Corps in April 1976. In April
1976, antiregime resistance forces attacked the Long Ciao Reeducation Camp
in Dong Nai Province of PAVN Military Region 7, and Hoa Hao resistance
forces attached the Chi Lang Reeducation Camp in An Ciang Province of
PAVN Military Region 9 in the Mekong Delta area. Several hundred interned
officers succeeded in escaping from the two camps, which alerted Hanoi to the
danger of escapees joining antiregime resistance forces in South Vietnam.
Hanoi then decided to remove all ARVN officer internees from the rank
of captain upward, and all Category C “dangerous” elements from South
Vietnam to camps in isolated areas in North Vietnam. Over 7,000 field grade
officers were sent to North Vietnam. It was at this time that Hanoi announced
that those who remained in the reeducation system would not be released until
they had completed three years of reeducation. At least six camps were
administered by the CDV in North Vietnam at Muong Trai (2l-36N/103-
53E), Cao Bang, Lang Son, Nghia Lo, Son La, and Yen Bai. Another six camps
were administered by the BNV for RVN civil officials and noncombatant
ARVN officers at Phu Luong (Bac Thai Province), Son Tay (Ha Son Binh
Province), Nam Ha (Ha Nam Ninh Province), Vinh Phu (Vinh Phu Province),
Son Cam (Thanh Hoa Province), and Quang Ninh Province near the Chinese
border.
The Cao Bang Camp was a maximum security prison for senior ranking
ARVN officers serving 15-year and life sentences. According to prison guards
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FOIA release, from the cia-readingroom collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 120 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.