Camp VIII (Phu Hung Camp)

Saturday - 16/07/2022 19:55

It is also known as Phu Hung Camp, which is not very far from Camp VI and Camp VII. Its structure is similar to Camp VI. Camp VIII was an unfinished project which was stopped at the end of 1972. That time was also the preparation phase for signing the Paris Peace Accords the U.S. troops decided to withdraw, the contractor RMK-BRJ also went back to their country, leaving Camp IX construction unfinished with two new- build blocks, 10 new-build rooms. The construction of Camp IX and Camp X was also left unfinished with foundations, columns and some unfinished walls.

Political prisoners had been sent to Camp VIII since 1972, following the strategy of "detention zoning" and then detaining people who were not allowed to be returned. The evil warden Sau Loi, the head of the camp, and devised many tricks to torture prisoners. Once, he ordered his team to bring large water tanks to the roof of the camp, then roll the containers and knock on them to make loud noise for 7 days and 7 nights, making prisoners stressed so that they were unable to eat and sleep. Within 3 months, from September to December 1972, the political prisoners of Camp VII had to constantly struggle in the form of shouting and hunger strikes. Sau Loi asked his team to throw a mixture of water and feces on the prisoners, smash the glasses into small pieces and throw them into the room to oppress the prisoners, which caused many injuries.

Camp VIII along with Camp VI, Camp VII are typical relics of the prison structure of the U.S. period. They were invested, designed and built by the U.S. This area is also the place where the typical force in the struggle of Con Dao political prisoners was detained during the period from 1970 to 1975.

Source: Department of Culture and Sport of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provice, Photo: Internet