News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: Bil Bell on Vietnam, Cambodia & Scott Deeds

Date: June 06, 2000

LETTER TO EDITOR

Dear Editor, The June 2 article in the LA Times "Cambodia Grave May Hold U.S. Victim" by Chris Fontaine highlights an intriguing case. Mr. Fontaine might be interested in knowing that according to former Republic of Vietnam military and police officials who managed to escape from so-called "re-education camps" in Vietnam during the late 1970's, Mr. Scott Deeds and his three companions were intially captured by Vietnamese Communist Forces off the coast of Cambodia and then moved to the "Canal Number 7 Camp" in Vietnam's southern province of Kien Giang near the border of Cambodia. Custody of all four men on board the ill-fated yacht was eventually transferred by the Vietnamese to the Cambodian Khmer Rouge.

The reason for the transfer has never been explained, and like many MIA similar cases involving American servicemen Vietnam has steadfastly refused to provide any records or other information concerning the case to the U.S. Government or to family members of the missing Unfortunately for Mr. Deeds and his three companions they were tortured to death in Toul Sleng Prison, Cambodia and the U.S. Government will now be required to grovel to the communist power holders in that God forsaken country, rather than Vietnam. Since Vietnamese communist officials responsible for detaining foreign prisoners were known to have maintained a meticulous record-keeping system Vietnam should be willing to shed some light on the fate of these men.

Sincerely,
Bill Bell
Former Chief, U.S. Office for POW/MIA Affairs Vietnam