Prisoner Intelligence, Viet Cong Objectives of the Attacks on Pleiku
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4 ' Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C02800002 “ my I an CENTLALINTELMGENCE AGENCY Q PRIORITY Intelligemae Infonnaii-en Cable W W2? '\‘\ ¢\ PACEE 11 U513? 1 ;;x+E/M 5.; "o~M;2/;;¢"'*'o*;;='ga.;;""*12;""'I‘;;4m" éJI{?§“”I.T~§?"““E115;/T~i»1E§& o1;:r¢"*~os,;, SDO “@~,;f"" GER FBIS DCSE IRS AND S _ __ DD/I___4__ §XQ___¢_ This mamzml contains information afleeting the Notional Defense or the United states wi\;1u1n the memnmg or the Espionage J‘.2‘(>€i's, I- me I Secs 793 and 794 the transmiaaon or revelation 0! which In any manner to an unauthorized person "Is prphiblted by lawe fl J“ v M M‘, im '2‘ WV 4'fl\_\?,V1'\1j‘\IJ‘\ lav:/m|q\':1v$ir\Q M» I ewzflwmfizqraqvym _ I1 —i$B<FeaE+eN-'D1$§EE£T'‘ """'“"“"“"" 1-ms I5 AN miomumou REPo§i'. N5? FINALLY EVALUATED "iN'rE|-I-lGEN¢E. Z’ - ‘ ,.__-_,_.;:a1;1 '.’u:zu~ri¢-=;t:,:'*::"*:';:'.=- :1-3:‘ __‘ 0913432 ¢"E\ 5 (C) n DH? 9 FEBRUARY I968 COUNTRY U) CD JIH VIETNAM OOI 29 JANUARY - 6 FEERUARY 1968» OUBJECT VIEWS OF VIEHINGPRISONERS OF WAR IN PLEIKU ON OBJECTIVE$ OF THE TET ATTACKS, THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES HAD THE ATTACKS SUCCEEDED IN PLEIKU, REACTION OF THE POPULACE TO THE ATTACKS, PLANS FOR A COALITION GOVERNMENT, FUTURE NFLSV PLANS, AND POSSIBLE REACTION OF THE NFLSV TO POSSIBLE MILITARY DEFEAT» HCQ 3.3(h)(2) SOURCE 3.3(h)(2) A. EHAN VAN KINH (AKA KINHLANHI, AN ETHNIC soutn VIETNAMESE NATIVE OF HOAI MY VILLAGE, HOAI NHON DISTRICT, 4 -Q Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C02800002 0 who who 00---u Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C02800002 ‘N l+7,+27 3.?(c) PAGE OF ¥' PM-~1ES if .1. " L~U:N=F-I-=Q=F_~fl‘;~T-I-‘»§A:»t_, \.T~§1lL» r¢M=flflw§i2@) L‘°i*3@*@f?e‘L“.Qi%‘1.1Q:..Z,/‘YZ....._. _ __;e-.....,,_,,,- _., e .._-,,,,:....,.~.-..> .._ ‘ .......-M-..<.., '_.>._ -._ ,_.,.= __._ ._1_L I _; _ _ ;_J;_, > _ 3.3(h)(2) '%' ‘raw A _. Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C02800002 ¢ """ ' ' ‘ ' ‘ '""”'""" “ " ' ' “Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C02800002 35¢» PAGE :5 OF 17 PAGES ,—C~9-N-F TB-EH—TIA—L ccntrols) (claaaqlcattonz (dlnem i _ ___ _ ____ __ 3jMhX2) 1- ASKED WHAT THEY WERE TOLD WAS THE OBJECTIVE OF THE TET COUNTRY-WIDE ATTACKS IN SOUTH VIETNAM, WHICH BEGAN ON 29 JANUARY 1968, THE PRISONERS ANSWERED AS FOLLOWS: 3jMhX2) A. ‘THE MISSION WAS T0 \ (1) ATTACK AND DEFEAT THE GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM (GVN) AND ALLIED ARMED FORCES; (2) ENCOURAGE TO JOIN THE REVOLUTION ALL THOSE ELEMENTS WHO HAVE NOT UP TO THIS POINT ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN THE REVOLUTION, SUCH AS THE LARGE CIVILIAN MASSES IN THE CITIES, AND ALL OTHER GROUPS WHO FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER HAVE BEEN LIMITED OR COMPLETELY RESTRICTED FROM ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN THE REVOLUTION; (3) ESTABLISH FAVORABLE POLITICAL CONDITIONS FOR ALL THOSE ELEMENTS WHO ACTIVELY SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COALITION GOVERNMENT. IN THE PARTICULAR ATTACK ON PLEIKU THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO ENTER —€=O=N=F—I—D=E—N—T—I-A=L Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C02800002 '"r* nu“ I . 0 no Bl-Illtu . Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C02800002 IN #7427 "*5‘°’ PAGE 1+ QF 17’ PAGES " ~~-~~ I ~ »~ 0 - T - .\ w W .1 *\\‘I..‘\ " :"lI'“‘ \.>__ ae_co¢Et | __\\;w 8? _ =m PLEIKU AND. AFTER SECURING THE AREA; OHGANZZE ALL ELEMENTS WITHIN THE CITY TO AGITATE ACTIVELY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A UUALITION GQVERNEMENTO THE OBJECTIVE 3jMhX2) OF THE COUNTRY"WIDE ATTACKS WAS TO LIBERATE ALL OF SOUTH VIETNAM. IN THE CASE OF PLEIKU, THIS WOULD BE DONE BY THE LIBERATION AHMED FORCES ENTEHING PLEIKU, STOPPTNO ALL TRAFFIC, AND STAGING MASS DEMONSTRATIONS. 0. 3jMhX2) T T ‘AFTER THE INITIAL ATTACK, WAS TO PARTICIPATE IN DEMONSTRATIONS ALONG HIGHWAY 19 AND THAT HE WAS TO HELP LEAD THE PEOPLE INTO PLEIKU CITY» fine DEMONSTRATIONS WOULD T OCCUR WHILE THE LIBERATION ARMED FOHCES WERE LIBERATING PLEIKU AND ALL OF VIETNAM. D. THE 3jMhX2) \ \ OBJECTIVE OF THE ATTACKS IN PETKU AND MANY OTHER PROVINCES WAS TO LIBEHATE BOTH MILITARY REGION 5 AND ALL THE REST OF SOUTH VIETNAM“ WV WW ’ Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C02800002 Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C02800002 ‘V -v* » 47L+27 35¢» PAGE 5 ©F '17‘PAGE$ 3jMhX2) THE OBJECT IN LAUNCHING SIMULTANEOUS ATTACKS THROUGHOUT VIETNAM WAS TO (1) LIBERATE ALL OF SOUTH VIETNAM; (2) UPSET THE THIEU"KY GOVERNMENT, AND (5) ESTABLISH A COALITION GOVERNMENT REPRESENTING ALL SECTIONS OF VIETNAM. A COALITION GOVERNMENT IS NECESSARY BECAUSE, ALTHOUGH NORTH VIETNAM AND SOUTH VIETNAM ARE VERY CLOSE, IT IS REQUIRED THAT SOUTH VIETNAM HAVE ITS OWN GOVERNMENT FOR THE PRESENT. 2. ASKED WHAT THEIR FUTURE CONTINUING RESPONSIBILITIES WERE BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE ATTACK ORDERS, THE PRISONERS REPLIED: A. THE PARTICULAR MISSION 3jMhX2) \ \ OF THE H-15 BATTALION (BN) AFTER THE ATTACK WAS TO ENTER AND SECURE THE AREA IN PLEIKU WHERE THE GOVERNMENT OFFICES WERE LOCATED. THE H-15 BN, AFTER STATIONING ITSELF AND SECURING THE ADMINISTRATIVE AREA, WAS THEN TO CONDUCT A SEARCH FOR ANY REMAINING POCKETS OF RESISTANCE. KINH AND HIS BATTALION WERE THEN TO WAIT FOR FURTHER ORDERS OR UNTIL A COALITION GOVERNMENT COULD BE FORMED. Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C02800002 ' _lF‘h‘vI\V_ ~ . .. U~0Q "Q"----~ tllllnvno ,. , ,. , Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C02800002 [S L|.1L|') 7 35¢» PAGE 6 CF17 PAGE$ —||—C~9-H-'F~I—B-E~N—T—I-15T=-L A (clu-flfleativn) (di-mm cmmols) ___ __ _______“____L Q‘ M v [:::::::i:i::::]DN THE NDHNTNE EDLEDNTNG THE 3jMhX2) ATTACK, KY wAs To PARTICIPATE TN EHTNGTNE TNTD ELETHD DTTY ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN suHH0uND1Ns, NEAH»ET AREAS AND SEND THEN To vAH10us COLLECTION POINTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHERE POLITICAL CADRES WOULD EXPLAIN To THEN THE REASON FOR THETH LIBERATION. FOLLOWING THE POLITICAL LECTURES, THE COMMANDER WOULD AHH1vE TN THE CITY TO TssuE FURTHER ORDERS TO THE LIBERATION FORCES AND THE PEOPLE. c.[::::::::::::::}NsTHucT10Ns NERETD eo To PHov1NcE 3;yhX2) HEADQUARTERS AFTER THE ATTACK AND TNTTTATE THE POLITICAL STRUGGLE. CONCURRENTLY, HE wAs To DDDHDTNATE WITH THE LTBEHATTDN ARMED FORCES AND THE STAFF OF PLEIKU PROVINCE HEADQUARTERS ON PLANS To CELEBRATE THE LIBERATION. D. []FDLLOw1Ne THE ATTACH,[::::::::::::::131%hX2) TO so TO THE OUTLYING AREAS OF PLEIKU AND EXHORT THE PEOPLE To coHE INTO PLEIKU,WHERE THEY NEHE To AHEND POLITICAE LECTURES. C9—N-—FIB—ENTIA—L “b '41!’ Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C02800002 ' ' " ‘“ I Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C02800002 wr ‘P’ IN Ll-7L+27 s.5(¢) PAGE 7 OF17 PAGES ‘° E.-U=N=‘F-I-D=E—N=T—I=19<-L A (clauqloctioiu) T (dtssem cantrols) - _ Y V v W J" V __r___ _ T Fwy“. H I ‘FOLLOWING THE ATTACH 3‘NhX2) WAS T0 MEET WITH A NUMBER OF COMRADES AND PEOPLE TO ORGANIZE POLITIC/11 MEFTINQS. HE WAS THEN TO ORGANIZE THE WOMAN'S) YOUTH, AND FARMERS’ GROUPS AND INITIATE POLITICAL LECTURES FOR THEM IN‘ WHICH IT WOULD BE EXPLAINED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE REVOLUTION WAS TO ACHIEVE PEACE IN VIETNAM, UNDER THE VIETNAMESE AND THE MONTAGNARDS, AND ESTABLISH A GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH VIETNAM WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY BRING ABOUT REUNIFICATION WITH NORTH VIETNAM. 5. ASKED IF THEY WERETOLD AND IF THEY BELIEVED THAT THE POPULATION WOULD JOIN ANY GENERAL UPRISING AGAINST THE GVN AND THE AMERICAN FORCES, THEY ANSWERED AS FOLLOWS: 2 33(h)(. POLITICAL CADRES HAD ) ‘ T-OLD HIM AND HE BELIEVED Ti-AT AFTER LIBERATION ARMED FORCES HAD ENTERED THE CITY OF PLEIKU AND THE FIGHTING HAD ENDED, THE POPULACE WOULD EMERGE FROM THEIR HOUSES, STAGE MASS DEMONSTRATIONS, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETINGS WHICH WERE TO BE HELD. B _ HF 3.3(h)(2) WAS OFSIMILAR MIND PERSONALLY, THAT 9% PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE s1NcE§ELy WISHED T0 BE LIBERATED AND THAT WHEN A LARGE sonv - _c_o=u_F- —I—D=F—N—T-T—A=L N0-E0251-eN_|;1-ssa=4_ I Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C02800002 Approved for Release: 2019/04/1T7 002800002 IN ,L;7'L}27L Esun \ PAGE 8 OF 17 PAGES o_€"~O=i8=F-I—=D—-FN==T-T_=-=A=L A We wmflwis) _ _, ___M_,__V__ W2, W____,_ __ _ (elrwigcatwn) (giwm 0, _ I OF LIBEHATION FORCES WERE PRESENT, THESE 9O PERCENT WOULD JOIN THE REVOLUTION. AS TO WHY HE AND MANY SOLDIERS BELIEVED THE PEOPLE WOULD JOIN IN AN UPRISING, HE SAID MANY PEOPLE, EVEN THOUGH UNARMED, JOINED THE TROOPS MARCHING INTO THE CITY. THIS WAS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THAT THE LIBERATION ARMED FORCES WOULD SUCCEED. FHE PEOPLE WOULD 3jMhX2) PARTICIPATE IN THE LIBERATION OF PLEIKU. AT THE TIME HE BEGAN HIS MARCH INTO THE CITYHE BELIEVED THAT IF THE BATTLE WAS INDECISIVE, THOSE PEOPLE MARCHING WITH THE TROOPS WOULD BE KILLED OR CAPTURED BY GOVERNMENT TROOPS. \FOLLOw1Ne 3jMhX2) THE LIBERATION OF PLEIKU THE PEOPLE WERE TO ENTER THE UITYQ HE HAD NO IDEA HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD PARTICIPATE. HE BELIEVED, HOWEVER, THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WANTED VERY MUCH TO BE LXBERATEDW ‘WAS TOLD BY A POLITICAL CADRE 3jMhX2) THAT FOLLOWING THE LIBERATION OF PLEIKU THE POHLACE WOULD BE ORGANIZED FOR A "CELEBRATION" AND BROUGHT INTO THE CITY. IN HIS OPINION, THESUPPORT OF THE POPULACE DEPENDED ON THE SUCCESS OF THE LIBERATIONO C-0-N— F—I—D—E—N-1 —1—A=L iw \-|r Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C02800002 A I “Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C02800002 I ‘.1 ‘,4 I ‘+7427 Esun T PAGE 9 OFI7 PAGES u—€-6—H—F-I-B-E-NAT I—A—L ._.,_,L¢l¢'£¢¢¢"<>g) ~ fdiwm wntwh) ,0 ____,< _‘__,__Wvw_,_, j ___"_, ,_v_,‘___,__,W_Wfi_ ____,____‘__ ______W____ -1 .