OFFICIAL STATUS: DEAD, BODY NOT RECOVERED

CASE SUMMARY: SEE ATTACHED

RATIONALE FOR SELECTION: Source reports indicate that at Mr. Dean was in fact detained by the Pathet Lao. There have been no correlated reports of his death subsequent to the many reports Mr. Dean's. detention.

REFNO: 1994 2 Apr 76

(C) CASE SUMMARY

1. (C) On 5 September 1974 Mr. Neil Sharman, an Australian tourist, and Mr. Charles Dean an American tourist, departed Vientiane Laos. They had planned on traveling by road from Vientiane to Paksane, and from there by boat to Thakhek. On 13 September the U.S. Agency for International Development Area Coordinator in Savannakhet , (Laos), received a report that Mr. Sharman and Mr. Dean were overdue. Subsequent information from Laotian sources indicate that on 6 September 1974, Mr. Sharman and Mr. Dean while traveling from Paksane to Thakhek by boat, experienced. difficulties with Neo Lao Hak Sat., (AKA: Pathet Lao), authorities at Hinboun, located in the vicinity of grid coordinates (GC) VE 585 466. At this time they were taken into custody. It is reported that they were held first at Ban Thong Lom, in the vicinity of (GC) VE 380 910, and then four days later moved to a Pathet Lao Police Compound. A review of aerial photography indicates that this camp may be located in the vicinity of (GC) VF 704 157. There are reports that in December 1974 Mr. Sharman and Mr. Dean were moved from this camp, reportedly to Sam Neua, Laos. However, later information places them in the camp located in the vicinity of (GC) VF 699 156 as late as 23 February 1975. (Ref 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5)

2. The US and Australian Embassys in Vientiane made repeated and determined efforts to secure the release of Mr. Sharman and Mr. Dean. Summaries of the incident, subsequent intelligence reports, and photographs of the two men were handed over to high-ranking members of the Laotian Government with requests for assistance. All efforts were unsuccessful, as the Neo Lao Hak Sat authorities consistently denied knowledge of the incident. and the men concerned. Mr. Sharman is currently carried in the status of Captured, and Mr. Dean is currently carried in the status of Dead Body Not Recovered.

REFERENCES USED

1. RPT (U), Chronology of events, undated.

2. MSG (C), Det 5, 7602 AINTELG, 010610Z Nov 74.

3. MSG (C), USDAO Vientiane, 260240Z Nov 74.

4. MSG (C), DIA Wash D.C., 182107Z Dec 74.

5. MSG (C), Det 5, 7602 AINTELG, 120603Z Mar 75.

ASSOCIATED INDIVIDUALS

1. Neil Sharman 1994-0-01

2. Charles Dean 1994-0-02