COUNTRY
SUBJECT
DATE OF INFO
DATE AND FLAGS OF ACQUISITION
NORTH VT3TNAK (NVK) SOUTH VIETNAM (SVN)
NVN Policy Toward US Prisoners
6
? (P) SAIGON, Vietnam
source
SUMMARY
"All captured US personnel ware taken to regiment headquarters, because only regimental cadres had the authority to interrogate US captives. The capturing unit had full responsibility for the lives of US personnel until they were deliveredigher authority. Generally, captives did not remainong timeattalion or regiment. Eventually all POWs, were taken to HANOI,both for their own safety and so that they could get enough food. Source heard that the prisoners'were never beaton and generally received good treatment. While Source was being detained,met other VC prisoners who claimedSormer POW, had said that NVNood PCU policy and that some US captives did not want to leave NVN.
MAC?
RMBASSY (OSA)
APRt! RagiWy No.
ATTACHMENTS:
Ncr.o
" -IH 11
2.
to NVN policy for the treatment of POWs, all captured US. personnel had to be taken to regimental headquartera. Only regimental cadres had tho authority to intorrogate US captives. Ths unit which captured US personnel had full responsibility for their lives fron the time thoy were captured until they were delivereduperior authority. Tho unit concerned usually assigned LABOR YOUTH GROUP members to accompany the captives and to prevont the people, militia or guerrillas from approach ring then, bocauae in certain areas the people would beat the /jiERICANS. Tha conntand sections of battalions and regiments took care of feeding US captives. Usually, AMERICANS wero fed with canned food seized in battle. Generally, the captives did not remainong tiaeattalion or regiment. Source had heard that all US POWs were eventually taken to HANOI, so that thoy could havo enough food and to ensure thoir safety. IfMERICANS were captured in SVN, they had to go part of the way on foot, but if captured in NVN, they could go to HANOI by train or truck.
Source heard that US pilots, aa well aa other POVs,roceivod good treatment and wore never beaten. Thuy night be taught tho VIETNAMESE Language and have political discussions, if thoy wished. Theypools! diot, dean living quarters,estricted recreational area. Source consented that while he was being detained in PLEHOJ Province, SVN, he met some VC prisoners whoS pilot who had boon pickod up in QUANG BINH Province, NVN and lator.reldesed. .'Tho pilot told the VC prisoner* thctGW policy end thatcaptives did not want to loave KVN and soemed very much attached to HANOI.
Original document.
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