Con Son Island

Con Son Island is an island off the coast of southern Vietnam. The French colonial government called the island "Poulo Condore" and established a prison there in 1861, for the purpose of housing political prisoners. In 1954, it was turned over to the South Vietnam government who continued to use it for the same purpose.

Investigation and photos

During the Vietnam War, prisoners who had been held at the prison in the 1960s said they were abused and tortured. In July 1970, two U.S. Congressional representatives, Augustus Hawkins and William Anderson, visited the prison. They were accompanied by Tom Harkin (then an aide), translator Don Luce, and USAID Office of Public Safety director Frank Walton.

Related Topics:
Vietnam War - 1960s - 1970 - U.S. Congress - Augustus Hawkins - William Anderson - Tom Harkin - Aide - Don Luce - USAID - Frank Walton

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When the delegation arrived at the prison, they departed from the planned tour, guided by a map drawn by a former detainee. The map led to the door of a building, which was opened from the inside by a guard when he heard the people outside the door talking.

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Inside they found prisoners were being shackled within cramped "tiger cages". Prisoners began crying out for water when the delegation walked in. They had sores and bruises, and some were mutilated. Harkin took photos of the scene. The photos were published in Life Magazine on July 17, 1970.

Related Topics:
Life Magazine - July 17 - 1970

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Along with the earlier disclosure of My Lai massacre, and the later disclosure of the Pentagon Papers, the revelation of the conditions and purpose of Con Son Island prison led more Americans to believe that supporting the South Vietnam government was improper, and that they should oppose the war.

Related Topics:
My Lai massacre - Pentagon Papers - Oppose the war

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Pro-war and pro-South critics claimed that the photos were misleading, claiming conditions in the prison were not unusual for political prisons in the region. Some claimed that the photos were "motivated" by Harkin's anti-war beliefs.

Related Topics:
Pro-war - Anti-war

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The prison on Con Son Island was closed in 1975, when North Vietnam (now unified as Vietnam) toppled the South Vietnam government, in the wake of the United States and its Coalition (South Korea, Australia) withdrawal from the Vietnam War.

Related Topics:
Vietnam - United States - South Korea - Australia - Vietnam War

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Notable prisoners held at Con Son included Pham Van Dong and Le Duc Tho.

Related Topics:
Pham Van Dong - Le Duc Tho

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