Tổng cục 2

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Tổng cục 2 tình báo quân đội, or TC2, is a intelligence agency for the government of Vietnam. English translations of its name vary; "Second Central Commission of Military Intelligence" and "General Department No. 2 of Military Intelligence" are among the more common.

Officially part of the Ministry of Defence, TC2 is directly responsible to the Communist Party of Vietnam and the President.[1] TC2's powers were officially established by law by in the 1990s, but existed de facto for some time before that — it is believed, for example, to have been active during the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia. Despite its naming as a military intelligence body, its work covers a broad range of interests — by law, it is permitted to "be active in the fields of politics, defence, security, foreign relations, economics, science and technology, industry and the environment, society and culture".[2]. It is responsible for both internal and external intelligence.

TC2 has been accused by some groups of human rights abuses and political interference.[3].

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ordinance on Intelligence Services, 14 December 1996
  2. ^ Decree 96/CP on Defence Intelligence, 11 September 1997
  3. ^ Que Me, 29 July 2004