EFFECTS OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM AGRICULTURAL TAX ON THE POPULATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001300300002-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 12, 2004
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: June 2, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

The families of cadres are also suffering from the agricultural tax. For fear
of heavy penalties, and because, cadres are supposed to set a good examg:l.ee, the
cadres must find some means of paying the tax. However, tax collectors are
usually less severe with cadres and their families. For example, if the family
of a cadre has to pay a tax of ten tons of rice, but has only six tons ava.tlable,
the tax collector.ueually gives the family a period of grace in which to pay the
balance. If still unable to pay the balance, he cadre of his family can borrow
the amount needed from the Regional Committee.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
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Approved For Release 2004/02/13 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA001300300002-2
Effects of the Democratic Republic of DATE DISTR.
Vietnam Agricultural Tax on the Population
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THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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1. The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) agricultural tax, which was instituted
in early 1951, is now leading the people in the DRV-controlled z,-)ne to misery.
The amount of tax is now calculated on the principle that each family should be
allowed to keep just enough rice-to feed it until the next crop. Sometimes the
people are taxed so heavily that they do not have enough rice left to feed them-
selves and they then have to sell their houses, orchards, cattle and furniture.
2r After each crop is harvested the tax-collectors go from village to village,
gather the rice-field workers together, and ask them to give estimates of the
amount of rice produced. Most of the workers are poor farmers who '.have been
previously maneuvered and pressured into giving estimates which are too high.
Since the big land owners are in a minority, they have to accept the oituation
and pay the heavy agricultural tax, which eventually leads them to bankruptcy.'
When the taxes are collected after each crop, the DRV never forgets to deliver
merit certificates to those who willingly, complied with the tax regulat=ions.
l+. There is widespread complaining in the DRV area lbout the tax, and incidents
occur daily indicating the peoplets reaction against the tax. In song Cong,
Thank HoaProvince, the people openly refused to pay the tax. In Cam Thuy,
the Tax Bureau received an anonymous letter threatening to kill the tax
collector. In Cam Khe, Phu Tho Province, an old woman went to the public
market and lordly offered to sell her clothes in,.rder to pay the tax. When
SECRET
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STATE #X IARMY X INAVY X lAIR I x I FBI AEC
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
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2 June 1953
(Note, Warbin'ten Distribvtlen ladkahd By "X"f Field Dlstribvtea By "#".)
Approved For Release 2004/02/13 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA001300300002-2
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Approved For Release 2004/02/13 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA001300300002-2
SECRET
someone makes an official complaint the answer usually given is: "It was the
people in the villages who made the estimate. Therefore, if they want some
nodification, they should settle the matter among themselves".
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F----jComment. Actually the only reason people ever pay the tax is that they
are a r d o 'penalties .
1.. Comment. Presumably the local Administrative and Resistance
Committee.
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Approved For Release 2004/02/13 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA001300300002-2