THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A000600010004-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 6, 2003
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: April 14, 1966
• Content Type: IM

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
14 April 1966
The Political Situation in South Vietnam
(As of 10:00 K,M,)
1. A committee of the National Political
Congress this morning issued a ten point communi-
que calling for a constituent assembly to be
elected within four months. It declared that a
committee should be formed within ten days to work
on an electoral law, and that the military govern-
ment should resign as soon as the assembly is
formed. The communique also urged an immediate
pessation of current agitation, and amnesty for
those who have been involved in antigovernment
activity--.especially in central Vietnam. Other
clauses provided for the establishment of politi-
cal parties, freedom of the press, national unity,
and a democracy-building campaign. The communique
represented areas of agreement reached by the dele-
gates during the first two days of the Congress,
but was not formalized by a vote.
2. Seven of the ten members of the military
Directorate arrived at the Congress later in the
morning. Chief of State General Thieu presented
a signed declaration committing the government to
the holding of elections within three to five
months. He explained to the congress that the
elections would be for a constituent assembly to
draft a constitution for civilian government..
Premier Ky then gave a short speech in which he
noted that the Directorate's decree recognizing
the organization of a constituent assembly is
further proof that the military government is
acting in the people's interests. He declared
that he would support the implementation of this
decree no matter what position he occupies in the
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future, but warned that there would be an uprising
against even an elected government that could not
insure victory over Communism. However, Ky indi-
cated that it was up to the delegates to determine
the type of provisional government that should pre-
side until, elections are held, The US Embassy has
commented that this remark might cause some unneces-
sary difficulty for Ky, since the Congress itself
had earlier indicated that the military government
should continue in office until a constituent assembly
has been elected.
3. The Congress was scheduled to meet again this
afternoon to continue discussions. No reports have
yet been received on this session.
4. The Buddhist response to this morning's
developments is not yet certain, but a difference
of opinion between militant and moderate factions
may be developing. According to press sources,
Buddhist Institute chairman Tam Chau attempted to
turn today''s demonstration into a "good will meet-
ing" inside the grounds of the Buddhist Institute.
He was reportedly supported by Ho Gia+, a co-leader
of the Buddhist "struggle committee." However, the
size of-the crowd--some 20,000--and its expecta-
tions of a demonstration reportedly compelled the
monks to lead a "victory march." There have been
no official reports on the demonstration thus far,
although press reports describe it as orderly.
5. Other more militant Buddhist leaders--in-
cluding Thien Minh and Tri Quang--have not yet firmly
revealed.their response to the announcements of the
Congress and the military government today. Al-
though these two declarations apparently satisfy
earlier Buddhist demands, the prospect of the Ky
regime remaining as a provisional government has
also been opposed by Minh and Quang. Thien Minh
has previously stated that he does not trust the
Ky government, and one press source today quoted
him as saying that "the struggle will continue."
Tri Quang, a leader of the antigovernment movement
in I Corps, yesterday told US observers that a
provisional government headed by Tran Van Don would
be "ideal" for several reasons.
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6. In addition, the US Embassy has reported
that Professor Tran Quang Thuan, a leading Buddhist
layman who attended the Congress for the first
time today, declared this morning that the Ky
government could not be trusted. He proposed that
an assembly be convened which would function as
a provisional government until elections were held.
Thuan indicated that military representatives--in-
cluding Ky and Thieu--should participate in this
assembly. Although Thuan claimed that he was acting
only as an individual, the US Embassy has commented
that Thuan--who is a member of the Buddhist "struggle
group'.'--was clearly speaking with the authority of
the Buddhist Institute.
7. Elsewhere, the VNQDD (Nationalist) Party
demonstration took place today in Hue as scheduled.
Some 1,000 persons reportedly marched past the US
consulate with banners expressing appreciation for
US assistance against the Viet Cong. There have been
no reports of any conflict between the demonstrators
and antigovernment elements in the city.
8. US observers in Da Nang have reported that
the municipal radio there is no longer operable.
However, antigovernment broadcasts are continuing
on low power from military equipment located in
the quarters of the Da Nang military garrison com-
mander.
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.OCI-1274/66
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
14 April 1966
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
The Political Situation in South Vietnam
s of P,
1. Late press reports indicate that preliminary
reaction of the Struggle Committee of the "Buddhist
Forces" to decrees issued at this morning's meeting
of the National Political Congress are favorable.
Thich Ho Giac reportedly said that the main Buddhist
demands have been met and that they "are satisfied
at this point." Thich Thien Minh is reported to
have said that Prime Minister Ky must now announce
cabinet (sic) changes if he expects support. There
is no other reporting on reactions to Chief of State
Thieu's call for an elected constituent assembly
in three to five months.
. 2. The afternoon session of the National
Political Congress opened with fewer members in
attendance than this morning and closed without any
conclusive action being.taken. Delegates discussed the
formation of a body to supervise elections and
voted that it should include GVN representatives
and should restrict its activities to elections.
Delegates also discussed the problem of an interim
government until the assembly is elected, and,
although the subject, was not brought to a vote,
the majority of the delegates who spoke favored
retention of the Ky government. Provincial and
municipal delegates (the 39 of 48 who attended)
are expected to meet tomorrow for further discus-
sions. The other delegates are apparently going
home.
3, The province chief of Quang Tin (in I
Corps), submitted his resignation today, citing
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as the reason that he was certain of conflict between
struggle group demonstrators and armed nationalist
(VNQDD) party forces, presumably in his province
capital. There had been rumors of probable clashes
today from outside agitators coming to the town, but
nothing materialized.