RAND
"MS
9
VIETNAM (SVN)
SUBJECT
VIET CONO Policy Toward foW's 1
' DATE OF IUSPCRT :
NFO
7
DATEB)
OF ACQUISITION I f '
:
SOURCE:
"SUMMARY
VIET OOHQ (VC) cadres end soldiers were Instructed to turn prisoners of war (POW's) ovor to the next higher echelon and eventually to the local authoritiesC-controlled area after first searching them for documents and weapons and interrogating thorn for intelllgenoe. PCW's were"sent ton two occasions Source observed groups of aaptured OVN policemen, and in7 he saw. commandoes' imprisoned in HAU MX* Village, DINH TUONO Province.'
/
f10/
li In7 Source received reorientation training which was rganized by VCuring ita temporary stop at tho Canalrea in CAI BE District, DINH TUONG Province. Part of tho training courso dealt with procedures for handling POW's. BA TAN, the Company Commander and Political Officer of Companyaught this portion of tho training course.
The VC divided POW's into the following three categorlesi . POW's, Korean POW's and GVN POW's. Immediately after capturing onemy personnel during an ong&gomont, the VC were instructed to search them for documente and weapons. They then had to tie thoir arms and blindfold then. They wore instructed not to kill or -is treat prisoners j Dot to WMttMOtt* their personal property, and to adopt afreindly manner toward then.
Each VC cadre and soldier wasamphlet containingnglish words which could be used to give orders during the ovacuatlonOW. Host of the troops did not memorize them, although they had been taught tha proper pronunciation and encouraged to learn thorn by tho company cadres.
h. POW'a were transferred from tho squad level
to the company level. OW reached the company level, responsibility for his evacuation waa assumed by the Reconnaissance To am because they had been woll trained to handle this type of operation. Battalion orders specified that POW's be turned over to local organizations for interrogation and confinement, these local organizations could bo at tho village, district or province level. Evacuation of POW'silitaryocal unit was dependent upon operational conditions; the nearest organization was responsible for receiving any POW, although most local organizations did not have adequate Jails. esult, most POW's were separated and sent to higbor levels which did havo confinement facilities.
U.S. POW's wore sent to NVN after capture. Political Officer BA TAN told the unit that these POW's wore used to. agrossion before world public opinion.
In7 Source obsorvod six captives in HamletO TRUNQ Village, they were conflnodrivate house by the local Party Chapter. Local VC endros informed him that these captives were GVN policemen and intelligence agants. In7 Source observed four captivus imprisonedrivate house in the area ofhay woro also policemen and intelligence agents. In7 Source also observed. commandoes imprisoned in HAD KT Village; they had been captured after the battle ln the GIUA Canal area of HAU NT District,M0 Province.
Original document.
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