THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A000800010024-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 15, 2005
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: May 29, 1966
• Content Type: IM

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OCI No. 1301/66
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
29 May 1966
The Situation in South Vietnam
(As of 9:30 A.M. EDT)
Saigon
10-
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1. A crowd of some 5,000 people staged a demon-
stration this morning (Saigon time) following a meeting
at the Buddhist Institute commemorating the "martyrs"
from Da Nang. The demonstrators clashed with police
as they tried to march out of the restricted area around
the Buddhist Institute toward downtown Saigon. South
Vietnamese marines, rangers and airborne troops reinforced
the Saigon police and succeeded in driving back the demon-
strators with tear gas by about 11:00 AM Saigon time.
The mayor of Saigon refused a request by Buddhist monks
leading the demonstration for permission to discuss the
lifting of the restrictions on the area in which
demonstrations can be held.
2. Buddhist leader Thich Tam Chau arrived in Saigon
at 11:30 AM Saigon time today and was reported headed for
the Buddhist Institute. He has been on a trip to Ceylon
in recent weeks. Tam Chau is regarded as more moderate
than Tri Quang and his lieutenants. Thich Phap Tri,
deputy director of the Buddhist Institute, has resigned
his post, according to press reports. His reasons for
this action are not clear, as yet.
Da Nang
3. The US consul at Da Nang reports that the
situation there is gradually returning to normal. The
commercial port operations are improving and workers
are reporting for unloading duties in increasing numbers.
Street traffic, including bus service, is back to normal
State Department review completed
ARMY review(s) completed.
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also. This means that foodstuffs are being delivered
to the markets at a normal rate. The last barbed wire
barricades in the streets were removed at 3:00 PM Saigon
time on 28 May.
4. A 55-year old Buddhist nun burned herself to
death in the early morning hours of 29 May (Vietnam time).
The immolation, the first during three months of politi-
cal disturbances, was made in protest against the Ky gov-
ernment and followed shortly after the nun reportedly
addressed a letter to President Johnson protesting US
support for Ky.
5. The rebel radio in Hue claimed that.the
immolation was carried out without the permission of the
Buddhist Institute, but applauded the action as a demon-
station of Buddhist determination to struggle to the end
against "reactionaries." Rumors circulated in Hue that
other immolations would be forthcoming.
6. Tension is increasing between army and student
elements in Hue. Acting under order of Thua Thien Prov-
ince chief Khoa, troops surrounded the student-held
radio station late on 28 May (Vietnam time). The troops
were subsequently called off by General Dinh, who had
not been consulted in the action. Dinh, expressing
dismay over Khoa's "clumsy action," ordered the province
chief to meet with the struggle committee and students
in order to reach agreement on control of the station.
Dinh claims that he had reached an agreement with Tri
Quang earlier on 28 May to "separate" military and
political elements. Tri Quang reportedly agreed to
instruct the struggle committee to turn over the radio
station to local government authorities.
7. Meanwhile, the students have indicated that
they are not prepared to submit to military direction.
At a 29 May meeting, the students declared that the radio
station must remain in "their" hands at all costs. They
also called on Khoa to "state clearly" his position re-
garding the revolutionary movement.
8. The students also indicated that they would
start a campaign against US facilities and personnel in
Hue. They called for the destruction of the US consulate,
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the "encirclement" of the US "colony," and harassment
of individuals associated with Americans. In a broadcast
subsequent to the meeting, the student council called for
a 48-hour strike against US personnel. The "economic
blockade" was pegged to the US government's "stubbornness"
in continuing to support Ky.
9. General Nhuan, commander of the lst ARVN
Division, has told US military advisors that several
units will soon be pulled-out of Hue and sent back to
their positions in the field. At least one battalion
had already left Hue by 10:00 AM (Vietnam time). US
advisors are hopeful that an ARVN military operation will
be initiated in Quang Tri Province on 30 May.
LATE ITEM
10. A Buddhist monk burned himself to death at the
Buddhist Institute in Saigon this evening (Vietnam time),
according to late press reports. The circumstances of
the immolation are not yet available.
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