Prison Riot In Vietnam

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31772, 31 August 1968, Page 13

Prison Riot In Vietnam

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

SAIGON, August 30.

American prisoners rioted early today in the United States Army’s Long Binh stockade, and one inmate was killed and 58 o thers were injured before military police quelled the disturbance an hour later.

Five military policemen were also wounded in the rioting in which scores of buildings were burned in the sprawling, barbed wire compound, 12 miles north-east of Saigon, known as “LBJ” (Long Binh Jail). “Military police used normal riot-control procedures, including chemical agents, meaning tear-gas,” a military spokesman said. Of the 58 prisoners wounded, 23 were taken to hospital and 35 were treated at the scene and returned to custody. The spokesman said all the prisoners in hospital and the five guards were in satisfactory condition. How the one prisoner died is not yet known. All the prisoners in the stockade are Americans, some awaiting trial and some serving relatively short sentences. . Men with longer penal terms are transferred to the United States.

The compound, the size of half a city block, houses several hundred prisoners. The spokesman said fire damaged or destroyed the administration building, a supply room, a mess hall and many wood frame tents. The riot broke out a few minutes after midnight and the military police force arrived 20 minutes later The fighting was brought under control in an hour and firemen entered the stockade The fires were all reported extinguished by 2.30 a.m. A board of officers has been appointed to investigate the incident. Viet Cong Appeal The Viet Cong today called on its troops and supporters throughout Central South Vietnam to “hit and annihilate the enemy in the new general offensive now under way.” Described as an “official appeal of the National Liberation Front Command for Central Vietnam, the message

was beamed to Viet Cong troops by Radio Hanoi.

It said: "Violent attacks have started against the United States and the pup-

pet (South Vietnamese) enemy everywhere in Central Vietnam, and the situation for great victories everywhere is very favourable. “All liberation armed forces and all patriotic peoples: quickly grab this opportunity. Hit and annihilate in this general offensive that has now begun.” The broadcast told peasants in the countryside: “Contribute your manpower and your property to serve the front.” And it called on the people of the towns and cities to “come fourth now while you have the opportunity, actively participate in the fighting, annihilate the puppet criminal leaders.”