April 1996
Summary of news for the entire month.
For recent and daily news, please go to: InterNetwork
01 APR 96: In a letter received from DPMO, we learn that currently there are 269 LAST KNOWN ALIVE cases as determined by DPMO analysts. This list includes 170 cases in Vietnam, 79 in Laos, and 20 in Cambodia.
Sen. Jesse Helms and Le Van Bang stood side by side today in a scene formed by economic interest. Helms said he welcomed the chance to build business opportunities with Bang and the other ambassadors. " We have to consider that the future of North Carolina, in my judgment, will depend on how much we export." Helms has asked for officials from Hanoi to smooth the way for a visit by tobacco association leaders.
05 APR 96: The Defense POW/MIA Weekly Update reports that DASD for POW/MIA Affairs, James Wold was the keynote speaker at the POW Association Reunion at Randolph AFB, Texas. Mr. Wold highlighted the dedication of the men and women around the world who are seeking the fullest possible accounting of missing servicemen. The Weekly also announced that the next Family Member Update will be held in Seattle, Washington on May 18.
09 APR 96: The Washington Times reports that the FBI was running help-wanted ads in Vietnamese language newspapers seeking assistance from Vietnamese immigrants to combat economic espionage by Vietnamese diplomats in the United States. Rep. Ben Gilman, chairman of the House International Relations Cmte. said: " Such espionage activity should be condemned in the harshest terms by your administration, which is rapidly moving toward normalization with VIETNAM against the advice and wishes of many of us here in Congress."
In a declassified document released on this date dealing with POWs from the Korean War, we learn the following: "that U.S. and other U.N. POW's were being held in Siberia." That "the POW's will be screened by the Soviets and trained to be illegal residents in U.S. or other countries where they can live as Americans." That "selected POW's will be used in propaganda work. That "use will be made of the identities and biographies of dead POW's in preparing legends for new Soviet agents." That "the mechanism for POW control in Korea was headed by the Soviets." That "the sentencing of the eleven U.S. POW's charged with espionage by the Chinese Communists was conceived and directed by the Soviets."
The date of this document is 31 January 1955. DO YOU STILL THINK THAT OUR GOVERNMENT DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT VIETNAM-ERA POW'S BEING TAKEN TO RUSSIA?
10 APR 96: From a FBIS Report, we read that North Korea and the United States have agreed to hold a second round of talks in New York around 22 April on repatriating the remains of U.S. soldiers missing in action from the Korean war.
12 APR 96: President Clinton issues a proclamation recognizing former POWs who "have sacrificed their own freedom as P.O.W. that the cause of liberty might prevail." National Former Prisoner Of War Recognition Day is April 9th each year. Reuters reports that President Clinton on Friday vetoed the State Department authorization bill, complaining it would have severely restricted his ability to conduct U.S. foreign policy with China, Vietnam and other countries.
15 APR 96: In a Washington Inquirer article written by Mike Benge, civilian ex-POW, held by North Vietnam, Mr. Benge relates the failings of DPMO. This is not a "sour grapes" attack, but the experience of one who lived the experience and sees the results or non-results of government efforts to bring resolution to this issue.
19 APR 96: In the DPMO Weekly Update, we read that representatives of the U.S. and Kingdom of Cambodia begin joint field activity (JFA) on 20 April. In Laos during, the JFA, a Presidential Delegation, headed by Deputy SEC of Veterans Affairs Hershel Gober visited two excavation sites.
26 APR 96: In a letter sent to Secretary of State Warren Christopher by Senators Smith, Thomas and Congressmen Dornan, Hunter, Talent, Gilman, Johnson and Barr, we read: "Section 609 of H.R. 3019 prohibits the use of funds to pay for an expanded U.S. diplomatic presence in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam... Accordingly, we expect the Dept. of State to take immediate steps to comply with this law. Additionally, U.S. personnel assigned to U.S. diplomatic or consular posts in Hanoi who were not there as of July 11, 1995 should be immediately withdrawn in the absence of the required certification."
27 APR 96: The Washington Times reports that "President Clinton is barred from spending any money to normalize relations with Vietnam under a provision of the spending bill signed into law yesterday, unless he certifies Hanoi is fully cooperating in resolving U.S. prisoner-of-war and missing-in-action cases. The law requires Mr. Clinton to declare to Congress that Vietnam is 'cooperating in full faith' in dealing with the following POW/MIA issues: Resolution of POW/MIA discrepancy, live-sighting and field activities cases; Recovery and repatriation of American remains; More efforts by the Vietnamese government to provide documents that will help provide the fullest possible accounting of POWs and MIAs; More assistance by Hanoi in conducting joint investigations in neighboring Laos.
29 APR 96: NEWSDAY reports that Vietnam has been profiting from MIA searches. In 1995, for example, the newspaper, the San Jose Mercury News said in a report from Hanoi that more than oneÜthird of the $11.2 million spent on the U.S. taxpayer funded program could not be accounted for. The newspaper "showed that much of the money had not been well spent. The Vietnamese government... has been renting U.S. military vehicles to tourists, charging fees far above market prices and siphoning off wages and other compensation paid by the U.S. government for the search." Congressman Dornan requests GAO study to investigate waste and corruption in Vietnam POW-MIA accounting program.
POW-MIA Issue Update May 1996