SOUTH VIETNAM: BIEN HOA PRISON CAMP -- WHERE ALMOST 1000 AWAIT THE OUTCOME OF VIETNAM PEACE MOVES

Record ID: 347504

  • Title: SOUTH VIETNAM: BIEN HOA PRISON CAMP -- WHERE ALMOST 1000 AWAIT THE OUTCOME OF VIETNAM PEACE MOVES
  • Date: 12th April 1968
  • Summary: CAMP; PRISONERS. Initials TS/VS/JB/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 27th April 1968 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BIEN HOA, NEAR SAIGON
  • Country: Vietnam
  • Reuters ID: LVA9OP3KNO0SF171U6X7DRCT539Z
  • Story Text: BIEN HOA PRISON CAMP, ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF SAIGON, IS ONE OF SIX CAMPS ESTABLISHED BY THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE PRISONERS CAPTURED DURING THE CONFLICT. THERE ARE ALMOST 1,000 PRISONERS IN THE CAMP, VIET CONG AND NORTH VIETNAMESE, AND MORE THAN 300 OF THEM ARE TEENAGERS.

    NEWSMEN WERE ALLOWED TO VISIT THE CAMP FOR THE FIRST TIME ON MONDAY. MANY OF THE PRISONERS THERE ARE TEENAGERS, BOYS AND GIRLS AGED BETWEEN 13 AND 18. HIGH BARBED WIRE FENCES SURROUND THE PRISON COMPOUND, AND WATCH-TOWERS, MANNED AROUND THE CLOCK, ARE PLACED AT STRATEGIC POINTS.

    REPORTEDLY, THIS CAMP, AND THE OTHERS, FUNCTION ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION, AND THE PRISONERS NEITHER HAVE TO ATTEND RELIGIOUS SERVICES NOR POLITICAL LECTURES.

    THE PRISONERS BUY THEIR OWN FOOD FROM GOVERNMENT ALLOWANCES. THEY ARE REPORTED TO BE EATING WELL -- BETTER THAN THEY DID WHILE FIGHTING IN THE JUNGLE, ACCORDING TO PRISON CAMP OFFICIALS.

    THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT IS REPORTED TO BE STUDYING MEANS OF ESTABLISHING A REHABILITATION PROGRAMMED FOR PRISONERS UNDER 17, TO TRAIN THEM FOR JOBS ON THEIR RELEASE. MEANWHILE, ALL THE PRISONERS AWAIT THE OUTCOME OF THE CURRENT PEACE MOVES.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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