THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A000500010065-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 31, 2006
• Sequence Number: 65
• Publication Date: April 11, 1966
• Content Type: IM

Approved For least 0EIWWCfPi 0082 00500010065-9
OCI-1268/66
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current intelligence
11 April 1966
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
The Political Situation in South Vietnam
s of 2:00 P.M.)
25X1
1. A Vietnamese newspaper publisher has told
US Embassy officials that Buddhist Institute chair-
man Tam Chau today retired from all active partici-
pation in Institute affairs. Tam Chau reportedly
did not give his prior approval to the press con-
ference called yesterday by other Buddhist leaders,
and he subsequently refused to attend. According
to the publisher, Tam Chau will not engage in an
open struggle with Tri Quang and other Buddhist
leaders, although he disagrees with their policy,
2. In other developments relating to the
Buddhists
there is a major Buddhist effort
un erway among Saigon University students to oust
members of the Student Union executive committee
who have previously resisted Buddhist Institute
pressures. The Buddhist Institute has scheduled
a large meeting tonight with Thich Ho Giac, deputy
chief of the Buddhist struggle force., as principal
speaker.
ARMY review(s) completed.
State Dept. review completed
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Excluded from automatic
downgrading and
declassification
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creased restiveness even among senior officers favor-
ing a "hard" approach to the Buddhist problem, Khang
himself has previously said that he favors strong ac-
tion in I Corps. His support to any change would be
a key factor, since, as Saigon's military area com-
mander, he is in charge of troops in the capital in
addition to being the Vietnamese marine commander.
GONFIDEINTIALi
there have been reports of in-
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OCI-1267/66
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office.of Current Intelligence
11 April 1966
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
The Political Situation in South Vietnam
s b 10:00 ,
1. There have been no reports thus far of any
public disturbances in Saigon, Hue, or Da Nang today.
2, According to US military officials, the two
Vietnamese Marine battalions remaining at Da Nang
Air Base are now scheduled to return to Saigon in
US and Vietnamese aircraft early tomorrow. Press
reports indicate that tensions have lessened con-
siderably in the city, with, many of the roadblock
barricades no long guarded. A radiobroadcast by
antigovernment elements in Da Nang this morning re-
flected some concern about this situation, and re-
quested military unit commanders to control closely
the movements of their troops.
3. In a conversation yesterday with a US offi-
cial in Da Nang, newly appointed I Corps Commander
General Ton That Dinh remarked that he planned to
re-establish the governmentts authority generally by
reducing tensions and by gradually gaining the con-
fidence of various elements in the city. Dinh
stated that he would give individuals in the anti-
government movement a "second chance" in retrn for
order and discipline. This, policy would also be
extended to the controversial mayor of Da Nang,
Nguyen Van Man, who will be left in office at least
for the time being in order to avoid creating a new
local issue. Although Dinh appeared to be quite
certain of quick success, the US official com-
mented that the strong antigovernment broadcasts
continuing from Da Nang are clear evidence that
agitation there is by no means over.
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Excluded from automatic
downgrading and
declassification
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4. In Hue, recent activity has generally been
directed towards opposing the government's National
Political Congress, scheduled to be convened tomorrow
in Saigon. The Thua Thien province chief told a US
official that the four representatives from his
province have refused to attend the congress. Today,
a statement signed by the Hue municipal council and
the Thua Thies provincial council was broadcast over
the Hue radio condemning the government's congress
and calling upon elected provincial and municipal
council members. throughout the country to do likewise.
US officials have reported that the provincial and
municipal councils of Thua Thien,and,Hue have also
sent telegrams to the chairmen of other provincial
councils asking them to boycott the congress. A
demonstration and a general strike are scheduled in
Hue tomorrow in opposition to the congress. In other
antigovernment activity in the Hue area, a second
group of "student suicide troops" held a graduation
and oath-taking ceremony today. A total of 250
students have now completed the three days of mili-
tary training involved,
5. Directorate Secretary-General Chieu, who
is arranging the congress, is apparently concerned
about the absence of delegates tomorrow, including
representatives of political parties. Another Viet-
namese official has reported to US Embassy officers
that he has no idea of how many delegates will attend,
although l50-170 invitations have been extended.
6. According to press reports, Buddhist leaders
in Saigon today made public a telegram to Ambassador
Lodge asking President Johnson to withdraw US sup-
port of the Ky government, and to endorse elections
for a civilian government. The telegram was reportedly
originated by the struggle. force in Da Nang, and was
reproduced and distributed by the Buddhist Institute
in Saigon. Elsewhere in the capital, elements of
the Vietnamese 7th Division are now in place to rein-
force security. According to the US Embassy, these
troops include a high proportion of Catholics and
are considered a well disciplined force.
CONFIDENTIAL
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8. Liberation Radio, a major Viet Cong propa-
ganda instrument, today issued a lengthy condemnation
of the government's forthcoming National Political
Congress, labeling it a trick to deflect the direc-
tion of the revolutionary struggle movement. The
statement singled out individuals and civilian poli-
tical groups, including Thich Tam Chau, labor leader
Tran Quoc Buu, and the Dai Viet and VNQDD parties
as "country-sellers" and "American lackeys." The
broadcast charged that General Westmoreland himself
had ordered the appointment of the new I Corps Com-
mander General Ton That Dinh, who was described as
an adopted son of Ngo Dinh Diem and as an oppressor
of the Buddhist struggle in 1963.
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