THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A000800010017-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 17, 2004
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: May 26, 1966
• Content Type: IM

Approved F 7-9
OCI No. 1302/66 25X1
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
28 May 1966
The Situation in South Vietnam
(As of 4:00 P.M. EDT)
Saigon
2. Prime Minister Ky has pledged government support
for the celebration next Friday of the birthday of Buddha,
according to a press report. In an apparent move to dis-
arm Buddhist opposition, Ky declared that the birthday
should be celebrated according "to the principals of
freedom of religion." The defense ministry has ordered
all army units to observe the birthday solemnly. About
12 million of South Vietnam's 15 million people are at
least nominally Buddhists. Some antigovernment groups,
however, have already announced the suspension of cele-
brations as a protest against the Thieu-Ky administration.
SECRET
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Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP79T00826A000800010017-9
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3. There have been no further reports on the
situation in Hue and Da Nang and both cities are presumed
to be quiet.
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Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP79T00826A000800010017-9