THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A000500010043-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 27, 2007
• Sequence Number: 43
• Publication Date: April 3, 1966
• Content Type: IM

Approved For Release 2007/08/27: CIA-RDP79T00826A000500010043-3
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OCI No. 0799/66
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
3 April 1966
The Situation in South Vietnam
(As of 1:00 P.M. EST)
1, No major new developments have been reported
on the political scene during the past few hours,
2. Late reports indicate that some 300 persons
demonstrated today in Qui Nhon, capital. of Binh Dinh
.Province in II Corps, demanding that the military get
out of the government and that the US change its
policies. There were oblique suggestions in the themes
expounded that the war was being perpetuated for per-
sonal gain, and that the Buddhists might move against
local, province chiefs with forces which are "ready,"
A report from Ban Me Thuot, in Darlac Province, also
indicates continuing unrest there, centering on. the
Buddhist demands and local issues, but with a careful
effort to inform Americans that the issues are not
against the US,
3, The Embassy in Sai on has now received re-
ports which substantiate
government claims that demonstrators at last night's
disturbances in. Saigon shouted attacks against Bud-
dhist Institute leaders Tam Chau and Ho Giac, along
with cries of "Long Live Ho Chi Minh." It is not
yet possible to tell whether this incident represents
acts of defiance by Tri Quang followers among the Bud-
dhists, involvement by the Viet Cong who have long
accused Chau of being a US agent, or psychological
warfare by anti.-Buddhist elements. Chau reportedly
has told Premier Ky that he had nothing to do with
the demonstration.
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4. An anti-Communist and pro-American demon-
stration was staged today by about 500 Catholic youth
in the town of Go Vap, near Saigon. There have been
other recent reports that Catholics around Saigon
were becoming restive over the Buddhist campaign and
have begun scattering leaflets attacking the Buddhists
and the Communists around the capital area. In Hue
and Da Nang, leaflets are also reportedly being cir-
culated in the name of the central Vietnam Nationalist
(VNQDD) Party, indicating somewhat ambiguously the
party's dissatisfaction with the present government
but its determination to cooperate with allied nations
and to defeat the Communists.
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to indicate that the Viet Cong have set up municipal
commands for major urban areas, similar to that re-
ported around Saigon. This appears to reflect the
Viet Cong determination over the past year to
strengthen their assets around urban areas, but their
capability is still believed to be somewhat limited
in this respect,
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OCI No. 1127/66
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
3 April 1966
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
The Situation in South Vietnam
(As of 0 EST)
1. After a meeting of the ruling Military
Directorate this morning, Premier Ky publicly
announced that troops would be sent to restore
order in Da Nang. According to press reports, Ky
stated that the demonstrations there had been or-
ganized by the Viet Cong, and also declared that
Mayor Nguyen Van Man would be shot as a leader of
the unrest. Mayor Man, appointed to his position
a few months ago by former I Corps Commander General
Thi, has given positive support to the current anti-
government movement. All Vietnamese Air Force and
commercial flights have been cancelled by Ky, who
reportedly stated that the government would take
action in D. Nang "very soon". No other details
are as yet available.
2. The government's apparently imminent move
on Da Nang represents a change of earlier contingency
plans, which had called for an initial movement of
troops to Hue, and then possibly to Da Nang. How-
ever, a recent assessment by I Corps Commander
General Chuan that popular support for the anti-
government movement in Da Nang was weaker than that
in Hue may have contributed to the change in govern-
ment plans.
3, The Congress of the Armed Forces, the
supreme governing'body composed of all Vietnamese
general officers and other senior military commanders,
also met in Saigon today. According to an official
communique, the Congress decided to "call a political
congress of the entire nation including representatives
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of political parties, religious and, other groups.
This congress would discuss the organization of a
constituent body." This decision represents
apparently another government proposal aimed at
achieving some kind of consensus among civilian
political and religious leaders concerning eventual
civilian government. Earlier, the government
had announced its intention to create a constitu-
tional preparatory committee with representatives
from the 48 elected provincial and municipal councils
and an equal, number of other appointees.
4. In Da Nang, an estimated 600 national
police participated in an antigovernment parade
this morning. Police representatives and other
struggle group speakers later made the usual
criticisms of. Generals Thieu, Ky, and Co, but were
careful to explain that the antigovernment movement
was not anti-American. However, recent radiobroad-
casts by Da Nang students have called for United
Nations intervention to deal with alleged US inter-
ference with a demonstration there on 30 March.
Students earlier had issued an ultimatum concerning
the incident which has been disregarded by US
officials.
5. Elsewhere in I Corps, the city of Hue was
reported quiet today, although a radiobroadcast
there expressed defiance of Premier Ky and his
recently announced intentions in I Corps. Demon-
strations were in progress elsewhere in Thua Thien
Province and in Quang Tr city, and a strike was in
effect in Nha Trang. In Da Lat, an estimated 1,000
students surrounded the municipal radio station
during the day, and. also moved into the Palace Hotel
after it was evacuated by Americans. The removal of
US personnel from this rest and recreation hotel had
been one of the student9l earlier demands. Police in
Da Lat have reportedly told, the students to clear the
streets by 1800 (Vietnam time) at which time they
will attempt to disperse any of those remaining.
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