POWS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88B00443R002004500047-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 28, 2011
• Sequence Number: 47
• Publication Date: November 10, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

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EXECUTIVE SECF "ARIAT
ROUTING SLIP
DCI
DDCI
EXDIR
V D/ICS
DDI
DDO
DDSBT
Chm/NIC
GC
IG
Compt
D/OLL
D/PAO
VC/NIC
Cl EA
D-Exec St
Remarks Please provide comments to DCI ASAP.
STAT
3637 Rio-e?
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The Director of Central Intelligence
wash;ngton. Q C. 20505
5196
10 November 1986
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, EA Division, DO
FROM: DCI
SUBJECT: POWs
The Vice President sent the attached
to me. Let me have your comments on it.
William J. Casey
Attachment:
Note from VP dtd 7 Nov 86,
w/Draft Summary of National
Vietnam Veterans Coalition
Press Conference (date unknown)
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V8B 1
PRESS CONFERENCE, National Vietnam Veterans Coalition
-D,R/9--FT---
Seated at the head table with titles:
Thorias Burch, Chairman, National Vietnam Veterans Coalition
Son Sann - President, Khmer Rouge
Lee Quoc Tuy - Commander-in-Chief, Vietnamese Resistance
General Boussarth - President of the United Lao National Liberation Front
John Parsel-s - Former POW, Chairman Live POW Committee , National League
of Families
Dr. Pareicia Aloot - POW Daughter, Former National League of Family
John Brown - Chairman, NVVC, Sky Hook II
Also present at the news conference were Col. Earl Hopper (who later came
and sat at the head table), Patty Skelly, Michael Van Atta, Mark Smith (
who later came up to the head table and was asked to speak as well as Col.
Hopper), and John Nevin.
Tom Burch read his opening statement, then continued on by saying that
today, present for the news conference, they had resistance leaders who
operate in Southeast Asia who know of overwhelming evidence of live POWs.
Sann - He opened his remarks by appealing to the American people. Spoke of
the Freedom fighters currently occupying Cambodia. Stated how the
people have been robbed of their resources, have taken their
civilization away from them. Went on to say that he needs the
support of the American people, no military support - support for th
freedom fighters. He would assist is in locating American men who a
missing. He went on to say that he would like an executive order
put forward for the freedom fighters to assist in locating the POW/V
Boussarth - Opened by stating his background - former head of security for
Royal Laotian Security from 1965- 1975. While in this position, he
was tracking down approximately 200 live American POWs. Went on to
say that Laos is ready\to rise above the current system. That he
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was elected by the_people to represent them and that he is committ
to the establishment of a democratic government. Made two pledges:
1) Freedom for Laos from Vietnam and Kampuchea
2) Work with resistance forces in Vietnam & Kampuchea
3) Pledged to return the MIA's. To not allow the communists to
cynically exploit the POWs. Went on to state that his highest
priority is to seek live POWs.
Boussarth was asked by Tom Burch (twice and very slowly) is there was any
doubt in his mind that the Pathet Lao are holding live POWs in Laos.
Boussarth said no and his began to give incident of three live POWs askir._
for Chicken from the people - DID NOT ELABORATE. (when later asked by the
press to elaborate, Burch interupted and said that this has not been
confirmed but, if true, the details can not be discussed.) Boussarth
went on to say that he wants to show the world that the Communists have
lied with respects to the American POWs.
Burch then introduce Tuy. In part of his introduction, he stated that th-
man came through Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Paris to be herewith "us"
this morning. Stated that Tuy is operating in Vietnam, has attacked two
re-education camps and released Vietnamese prioners. He (Tuy) and his
brother priinted Vietnamese currency (counterfit) to pay his troops and
the Vietnamese people. Vietnamese captured his brother and killed him -
and developed whole new currency system using the counterfit currency tha~
Tuy developed.
TUY - (Came in waving to the cameras) Sent his warmest greetings to the
American people on behalf of the suffering people and the freedom
fighters. Went on about the POW/MIAs. Stated his conviction that
they are still there - based on his troop operation in Vietnam. He
went on to say that he would give an order to his troops to not spar
any efforts in finding a POW. Holds to this commitment because he
believes in human dignity. If "we" can give information, we will be
happy to do so.
)It later came out in the press conference that al. three of the "leaders"
want support from the United States for actions they will take concerning
POWs. The support ranged from military to clothes and food for their troc
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Tom Burch then introduced John Brown - Executive Director of Sky Hook II.
BROWN - Stated that in these recent weeks, he has had meetings with
(taken part in meetings with) John Whitehead, Richard Allen,
General Westmoreland, William Casey, and the Cardinal of New York.
Stated that 'yesterday there was- a -confe' ence'-at -the White House
involving-the President; Vice PRes-iderit ai%d'Don-Re-qan -'who met
with members of the private sector] These individuals in the
private sector transmitted information to the.Pres."etc.,that
*.,f fects the-POW/MIA issue and the political 'situation of .the '_Qnite _
States for'the next two years. Brown stated that Bush said that
both he and the President are acting under the assumption that
men may be held against their will. Brown went on to say that if
this is true, then why is the chief negotiator to Hanoi someone
who is relatively unknown (not like to Secretary of State) in
addition to the other participant on these high level negotiations.
Tom Burch went on to introduce John Parsels "Chairman of the Live POW
Committee for the National League of Families"
Parsels - Stated that he is hesitant to comment on the comments of the
resistance leaders because he has not had a chance to speak to
them. Went on to explain the Live POW Committee - that it was
formed to put emphasis on the live POWs. He stated that he and
many others feel that there are only two years left to resolvg
this issue. Afraid that when Pres. Reagan leaves-office, the
POW/MIA issue will be swept under the carpet.
Stated that this
committee will consider almost anything to get the men back.
Tom Burch then introduced Patty Aloot, POW/MIA daughter, former board member
of the National League of Families.
Aloot - Stated that time is running out, because of the bureaucratic bungli:
there are men still over there, that the Government inactions forces
them to look to other options. Went on to state that there is
an incident where POWs were rescued. Two died in the attempt, one
survived, came back to the U.S. and died - Larry Akins.
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Thomas Burch went on to tell the Press that Boussarth had compiled a list
of U.S. servicemen (with location) who he knew were alive. Provided this
to the U.S. government - no action was taken.
Introduced Mark Smith.
SMITH - Amazed to see how government military officials lack the courage
to stand up and be counted when they know of information pertainir
to live POWs. Went on about the controversy of the Tighe Report.
Stated that the team did not know how they were going to report
the*< findings and that they would have to soften it up. Went on
to state that those who listening to "Richard Childress who is
sitting on his but in the white House and Ann Mills Griffiths of
NLF telling you our governmetn is attempting to verify all reports
is filling you with alot of bull". If you are accepting that, the.
you are accepting "crap" from the U.S. government.- If we don't
threaten, then the men will never get home.
Burch went on to state that immobilization must be done to extract these
men - and that we need more of a commitment from the USG. That its a
matter of our (vietnam veterans and the American people) national honor.
The way that there could be more of a commitment from the USG is by
firing the people who have done nothing about the issue.
1) Replace the team which is handling it -
Assistant Sec. of Defense Richard Armitage and
Assistant Secretary of State.
Burch called for the resignation of these two men . Assist. Sec. of State
would be replaced by former Congressman LeBoutillier and a replacement
for Armitage would have'to be someone knowledgeable on the issue.
_A question was asked if the U.S. government tried to keep this Press .
conference from occurring. Burch stated that the CIA tried to keep the
meeting from happening.` Resistance leaders that were present felt threaten
with regards to their aid programs. A point was made by the Press that
the Resistance leaders had stated that the aid they get know comes from
China - How could the US threaten that . Burch went on to state that the
CIA is involved in Indochina. Gave the example that the U.S. provided
5,000 tons of rice to the Lao to extract remains from Pakse.
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A quetion was asked if there were any operations taking place now to
recover live POWs. - Tom Tran answered the question.
TRAN - This has been going on for 3-4 years. Flashed a picture of a group
of people and said this gentlemen, pointing to one, has seen 40
live POWs in the Sung Lai area. That this gentleman is operating
inside Vietnam.
Burch went on to state that they are not taking a risk and extracting now
because they have current intelligence data which shows where they are.
Went on to state that the Resistance Leaders are in debt to the Vietnam
Veterans of the US and they want to do this for them.
McIntire stood up and stated that the US has been providing deed to the
Khmer Rouge. more than they received from Vietnam and Laos. "The U.S. has
been providing food to stone murderers." Went on to state that it is a
"well known fact that they are- there." These guys, resistance groups, are
willing to provide the information the President needs to take decisive
action, and the U.S. government doesn't want it.
Boussarth got up to state that they do not have enough supplies to do the
job - needs food and weapons for his troops. Stated that he has 10,000
troops: 2,000 in Laos with weapons, 8,000 waiting to go in but does not
have supplies - Wants supplies!
Burch went on to state that these resistance leaders do not have the
capability to knock over camps - that the Vietnam veterans were intially
against this type of action - that Gov't to Gov't negotiations was the best
way; however, the government hasn't done anything so we must bring them out.
Went on to state that Don Regan has made the intiative to stonewall these
actions.
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Boussarth went on to state that he belives he can bring a live POW out with:
the next year, with the proper supplies.
TUY - stated that he was operating inside Vietnam but that he needs the
supplies of ffod and medicine for his troops. If we know where they
are, we will send the troops. Knows of 40 who are still alive, but
does not know where they are.
SMITH - He was asked about satallite photogaphs that he referred to earlier.
Stated that in 1981 - 84, the US government was asked to get
get satallite imagry photographs of certain locations given by
resistance groups. The U.S. government (DIA) told Smith that this
could not be done because the Soviets could inform the Vietnamese
and the prisoners would be moved. Stated that the USG will give
every effort and excuse to avoid resolution. Stated that if you can
buy pictures of Chernobyl, why not of POW camps.
Burch introduced Col. Hopper
HOPPER - Weakest pasrt of the US government in recovering live POWs is the
following:
1) US govt has not reconstituted covert intelligence capability
operations in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Stated that the
following officials admit to that: Bud McFarlane, Assist. Sec.
of State and Assistant in DIA.
2) The US government has no leverage in negotiations(aid, trade,
diplomatic relations). Until there is leverage, the negotiating
process will fail.
Finally, he stated that we know by CIA documents, that we left men behind.
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