RIOT AT HCMC DRUG REHABILITATION CENTER

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 001073

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI SNAR PHUM KHIV VM CNARC HIV AIDS
SUBJECT: RIOT AT HCMC DRUG REHABILITATION CENTER


1. (SBU) Summary: An October 2 riot in a HCMC juvenile
rehabilitation center for drug users and sex workers
resulted in the escape of approximately 800 detainees. Most
of the detainees have returned to the center, some
voluntarily, some involuntarily. Authorities reported to us
that fewer than ten detainees were injured as the result of
the riot. The incident appears to have resulted from a fight
between rival gangs, but may also have been part an escape
plan. End Summary.


2. (U) On October 2 at 1930h, a riot broke out involving
approximately 800 of 1,500 detainees at Youth Rehabilitation
Center No. 2 (one of the 05/06 centers for treatment of drug-
users and sex workers) in Hamlet 3, Pham van Coi Commune, in
Cu Chi District. The detainee drug user population at this
facility consists of students, jobless, and petty criminals
who have other records with the police.


3. (U) According to Thanh Nien ("Youth") newspaper,
approximately 800 detainees were involved in the two-hour
riot, which caused significant property damage, injured an
undetermined number of other detainees, and culminated in
the rioters' escape from Center No. 2. The riot resulted
from a fight that allegedly started between two rival groups
within the facility. As the number of detainees involved in
the fight rose, the situation became too violent to be
controlled by the center's guards. The detainees then broke
windows, doors and gates to escape. When more than 100 riot
police from Cu Chi District and other areas of HCMC arrived
at 2130h (two hours after the riot started),798 detainees
had left and only 684 remained at Center No. 2. By noon the
next day, approximately 500 detainees were recaptured, but
almost 300 remained at large. Major Tra Van Lao, Deputy
Director of Cu Chi District Police, who was present at the
scene, commented in the press that it was impossible to say
the escape was not premeditated, given its size and the
severity of the incident.


4. (SBU) Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, director of the center, and
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thach, director of HCMC's Social Evil
Prevention and Control Bureau, would only tell PolOff that
the police are investigating the case. However, Ms. Nguyen
Thi Thanh Mai (strictly protect),a ConGen contact at the
HCMC Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs
(DoLISA),confirmed the news story was correct. Mai stated
that as the detainees at Center No. 2 also came from areas
outside of HCMC, it is taking the police and local
authorities more time to find them. The HCMC police are
contacting authorities in the hometowns of the missing
detainees to enlist their help in the search. Mai said that
fewer than ten people were injured in this incident.


5. (SBU) Dr. Le Truong Giang, Chairman of HCMC AIDS
Committee, told PolOff October 12 the incident was organized
by drug-user "group leaders." USAID contacts confirmed that
the center is for detainees aged 18 and younger, but some of
the leaders were as old as 25 and had been detained for long
periods. The HCMC AIDS Committee said that all detainees
were being returned to Center No. 2, but that the government
is implementing a new screening process to separate gang
leaders into in higher security facilities. Giang added
that the government offered a "forgiveness program" to the
escapees, guaranteeing there would be no additional
punishment or time added prison terms if they cooperate and
return immediately. Those who do not cooperate will have
their sentences extended upon their capture. According to
Giang, in the past 3-4 days over 500 escapees or their
families called the center to arrange for returns.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: Mai of DOLISA told us this incident was
unique to Center No. 2, and has not occurred at other
facilities. However, this was the second riot at Center No.

2. On September 25, 170 detainees were involved in another
incident, and eleven were injured. According to Mission
contacts, the October 2 riot and escape was planned based on
the "lessons learned" during the first event. Furthermore,
USAID contacts in Hanoi reported that in May 2005
approximately 300 residents escaped from the Giang Minh drug
rehabilitation facility run by the Youth Union in Hai Phong.


7. (SBU) COMMENT, CONTINUED: Dr. Giang noted that there is a
very low ratio of staff (including janitors and kitchen
workers) to detainees (approximately one to ten) at all the
rehabilitation centers, so it is virtually impossible to
prevent a breakout.

WINNICK