THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 12 MARCH 1966

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005968200
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: March 12, 1966

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
12 MARCH 1966
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DAILY BRIEF
12 MARCH 1966
1. Indonesia
The army now has the situation in
hand, but it is too early to assume that
Sukarno is down for good. The people in
Djakarta nevertheless are clearly with
the military and the capital is reported
quiet.
Suharto apparently made his move yes-
terday when it became clear that Sukarno
planned to replace him with a pro-Communist
and at the same time dismiss the West Java
and Djakarta commanders. The three sepa-
rately might have caved in. Threatened to-
gether, they finally found the nerve to
force Sukarno down.
It still remains to be seen whether
the army will move quickly to consolidate
its position. The first signs look prom-
ising; the Communist Party has finally
been banned(
A number of leftist cabinet ministers
have been arrested.
Suharto has gone on the air to pledge
that the army will not push the Indonesian
revolution either to the right or to the
"extreme left." He also stated that any
"person, party, or organization" opposing
his policies would be "crushed by the
armed forces."
His other plans--particularly the re-
ordering of the cabinet--are still unknown.
No immediate and radical shifts in Indo-
nesian foreign policy are likely, but re-
lations with China will be further worsened.
The army has again found it necessary
to play its actions as being taken to pro-
tect Sukarno. This leaves him still on the
scene and Ambassador Green warns of the dan-
ger of a comeback. The ambassador concludes,
however, that Sukarno's chances for fully re-
gaining his old position are now remote.
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2. South Vietnam
3. Nigeria
There were further pro-Thi demon-
strations today in his former I Corps
area. This morning's protest crowd in
Da Nang was at least twice-as big as
yesterday's, but so far none of the dem-
onstrations has shown any signs of getting
out of hand.
Although some student groups have ap-
parently made protest speeches over the
government radio in Hue, it cannot be con-
firmed they have "seized" this or other
stations, as reported in the-press.
Thi has returned to Da Nang. .At
the time ofyhi's dismissal, Ky had.prot-
ised him a short well-escorted visit and
this is presumably it. Wellave as yet,
however,-no confirmation that he in fact
went with Ky's permission.
.The Buddhist .leader Tam Chau..
today issued a statement in Saigon which,
although not referring directly to:Thi's
dismissal, says that the generals who
participated in 'Alle revolution against
Diem "must have a place in the construc-
tion of the fatherland" and "must be re-
stored to their military positions
If this means what it appears to,
and if Tam Chan is speaking for 'strong
elements in the Buddhist hierarchy, this
development could spell serious trouble
for the Ky government. A representative
of Tam Chau's rival Tri Quang was present
when the statement was issued.
Disgruntled army officers and re-
cently ousted politicians-are beginning
to stir again in the touchy northern
region of Nigeria. Police and army units
there have been put on alert for six
days, but the reasons for this are not
yet clear.
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4. Guatemala
5. Panama
6. Dominican Republic
Peralta still has the army under
control and now seems bent on letting
Mendez' Revolutionary Party take over
if it wins the election. Peralta's
warnings of the danger of civil war and
of US opposition to a coup apparently
turned the majority of the high com-
mand in his favor. He is promising the
military, however, that the high com-
mand will move against the Mendez regime
if it finds evidence of Communist infil-
tration.
The latest unofficial election re-
sults give Mendez enough congressional
seats to ensure his selection as presi-
dent.
Panamanian leaders are saying that
the treaty draft presented by the US in
January is completely unacceptable.1
Juan Bosch is putting the heat on
again.
Bosch has told the government that
his Dominican Revolutionary Party will
not put up candidates for the elections
because Garcia Godoy and the Peace Force
are unable to bring rightist terrorism
under control.
Bosch may yet change his mind but,
for the short run at least, he probably
sees this as a good way to press Garcia
Godoy for a quick crackdown against the
right and an overhaul of the police and
military.
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7. Canada
The Canadian political scene has
been badly shaken by the airing of two
espionage scandals--one involving
ministers of the former conservative
government. Prime Minister Pearson
has called for an independent political
inquiry and challenged the opposition
to try to bring him down if they are
not satisfied with this solution.f
/the US Em-
bassy does not consider the government
in immediate danger. More revelations
are expected to come out in the press,
however, and this could bring a change
in the situation sometime next week.
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