Good underground connections: Vietnamese sweet potato farmer relies on the spirits of his ancestors to locate graves of Vietnamese MIAs

Article Abstract:

Vietnamese sweet potato farmer Bui Viet Chien has the ability to locate Vietnam's missing in action (MIA) with the help of dead ancestors. Chien claims to have located over 1,000 graves with the help of his dead relatives, some of the graves belonging to the dead relatives themselves. He averages 30 clients a day, and only charges enough to cover expenses while his wife toils in the yam fields. The spirits will not help him find American MIAs because they are outsiders.

Rites, ceremonies and celebrations, Missing in action, Spiritual direction, Ancestor worship

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Merchants of death: officials may be executed in war grave fraud case

Article Abstract:

Two ex-government officials received death sentences in Vietnam on March 29, 1993 for giving false information about the grave sites of Vietnamese soldiers reported as missing in action during the nation's various wars. The two officials, Hoang Xuan Diem and Nguyen Xuan Ta, were condemned under the Dec 1992 revision of the criminal code that permits executing officials who cheat the state. The harsh sentences are meant to deter widespread corruption.

Political corruption, Crime

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