COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160009-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 6, 2004
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: May 25, 1973
• Content Type: PERRPT

Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160009-8
Secret
`~~tiLLIGF~o
xv? II nZ t1:1
Fourteenth Report
COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF
THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS
(This report covers the week from
18 May through 24 May 1973)
This memorandum has been prepared jointly by the
Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense
DIA review(s) completed.
Secret
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25 May 1973
Fourteenth Report
COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF
THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS*
(This report covers the week from
18 May through 24 May 1973)
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The Key Points
NVA logistic activity in the northern portion'
of the Laos Panhandle has diminished as in-
creasingly heavy rains begin to hamper opera-
tions. Heavy Communist logistic activity con-
tinued in the ri- order area and in northern
South Vietnam,
This report has been prepared jointly by the
Central Intelligence Agency and the Department
of Defense.
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The Details
NOTE: This is the fourteenth in a series of reports
detailing recently received evidence of (a) Commu-
nist efforts to infiltrate new manpower and mili-
tary materiel toward and into South Vietnam, and
(b) Communist-initiated combat activity in viola-
tion of the Vietnam and Laos settlement agreements.
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Equipment and Supplies
Toward and Into South Vietnam and Laos
5. NVA logistic activity appears to be slow-
ing down in the northern portions of the Laos Panhandle
as increasingly heavy rains begin to hamper operations.
A substantial flow of traffic was observed during the
week on the principal north-south roads in this area,
but at levels lower than those of the preceding week
and well below those seen in late April. Increased
activity, however, was detected in the tri-border
area of southern Laos and northeastern Cambodia, where
good evidence indicates that large quantities of sup-
plies are continuing to move from Laos to NVA units
in the central highlands of South Vietnam. A high
level of Communist logistic activity also continued in
northern South Vietnam.
In aition, substantial logistic flows were observed
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in southern North Vietnam, where large rail ship-
ments were noted at Vinh, and heavy
vehicle activity was evident south of Vinh in the
southern part of the panhandle.
7. The following instances of Communist lo-
gistic activity were observed in South Vietnam dur-
ing the period. Activity observed in South Vietnam
probably reflects supplies which have recently en-
tered the country. (The map on the following page
shows the roads and route numbers which appear be-
low.)
a) As of 12 May, the new road under
construction south from Route 19 in
GVN MR-2 had been extended another
10 miles in Darlac Province since it
was last observed on 16 April. A
total of 60 miles have been con-
structed since 29 March. Several-of
the recently detected segments are
two lanes in width and run parallel
to the original roadbed, indicating
the road will have a substantial
logistic capability.
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 Mu Gia
Pass -
Udon
R atch athan
Khong
d done
Be,, Bac
Phu, SdoN
Ach Romeas
lease ap
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Ken
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Khagh\
Hung
KhQr 14 Tam Ky
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Ban Me
Thuot
Yens
Toy Hoa
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Names and boundary representation
are not necessarily authoritative
AREA OF NEW
aeang Tri BRIDGE
CONSTRUCTION'
SAL ZOt Cam'
South Vietnam
and
North Vietnam Panhandle
?, Province boundary
' Military region
International Commission
"UBae Lieu region boundary
u -
Road
? , - ---o Railroad
POL pipeline
e 2004/07/08: CIA-RDPe$PT01719R000100160-R , 50 75 Miles
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c) As of 16 May, the North Vietnamese had
completed a 150 foot steel span bridge
on Route 9 in north-central Quang Tri
Province. This is the first steel
bridge which has been observed under
construction in any Communist-controlled
area of South Vietnam. (See map)
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As of 20 May, a 350 foot, 14 span bridge
was being built, probably of timber, on
Route 616 south of Khe Sanh. (See map)
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e) On 17 May, 48 cargo vehicles were
observed on Route 9 immediately east
of the Laos/South Vietnam border (36
eastbound, 3 westbound, 9 parked).
On 20 May, 59 cargo trucks were ob-
served on Route 9 between the Laos/
South Vietnam border and Dong Ha
(25 eastbound, 3 westbound, 9 parked).
g) On 20 May, 12 cargo trucks were seen
parked along Route 1 north of Dong Ha.
h) On 20 May, 2 cargo trucks were ob-
served traveling south and 6 parked
on Route 616, southwest of Khe Sanh.
8. During the reporting period the following
indications of North Vietnamese logistic activity
in southern Laos were noted. Historical precedent
would suggest that much of this activity probably
involved supplies destined for South Vietnam.
a)
Date
17 May
18 May
79
19 May
20 May
56
21 May
16
22 May
100
23 May
40
The table below lists observed NVA
vehicle activity on selected routes
in the Laos Panhandle during the re-
porting period.*
Route 99 Route 9211
Route 958
2 (2-S) 32 (5-N, 12-S)
(25-N, 26-S) 11 (3-N, 3-S)
NC** 15 (7-N, 2-S)
(10-N, 9-S) 21 (5-N, 11-S)
' (5-N, 2-S) 35 (26-N, 9-S)
(54-N, 8-S) 64 (30-N, 9-S)
(23-N, 11-S) 41 (16-N, 8-S)
NC**
49 (8-N, 6-S)
11 (Parked)
52 (11-N)
77 (34-N, 1-S)
2 (1-N, 1-S)
98 (3-N, 0-S)
* The first number in each entry is the total num-
ber of vehicles. Of these totals, the number of
trucks moving north (N) or south (S) are noted
in the parentheses after each total. The re-
mainder of the vehicles detected were parked
along the roadway at the time of observation.
No coverage.
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b) The following activity was observed
on Route 96/110 during the reporting
period;
1) On 17 May, 35 southbound cargo
vehicles were traveling on the
route directly west of the Laos/
South Vietnam border.
On 19 May, 22 cargo vehicles
were parked along the segment
of 110 immediately adjacent to
the Laos/South Vietnam border.
3) On 21 May, 29 northbound cargo
vehicles and 34 vehicles were
parked on the segment of Route
96 north of the 96/110 junction.
On the same date, 16 cargo trucks
were parked on the segment of
Route 110 west of the Laos/
South Vietnam border.
c) During the period 17 through 23 May,
87 northbound and 43 southbound cargo
vehicles were detected moving on
Route 912 through the Ban Karai Pass.
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C. Combat Activity Initiated by Communist Forces
in Sout Vietnam Since the Cease-fire
10. In South Vietnam, the total number of Com-
munist initiated cease-fire violations reported by
the South Vietnamese Armed Forces since 28 January
and for the last week (18-24 May) are shown below:
Military
Total Since Ceasefire
Last Week (18-24 May)
Region
Level of Action
Level of Action
Major
Minor
Major
Minor
MR 1
937
3,102
23
81
MR 2
220
1,630
3
65
MR 3
347
2,189
10
83
565
5,286
12
260
Totals
2,069
12,207
48(82)1/
489 (485
)1/
1/ Denotes totals of previous-week.
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11. Some of these violations may have been in-
itiated by GVN forces rather than Communist forces,
and it is impossible in all cases to determine the
actual instigator.. The table above and. the chart on
the following page, however, do show fairly accu-
rately the trend in the amount of combat that has
occurred in South Vietnam since the cease-fire. The
fact that a combat incident occurred at a particular
time and place is generally reported accurately by
the South Vietnamese, even though the question of
who started it may not always be treated in objective
fashion. In some cases, the Joint Military Commission
(GVN/PRG) also reports violations of the cease-fire.
D. Combat Activity Initiated by Communist Forces
in Laos during the Week from 18 through 24 May
12. Military activity in Laos remained low
during the reporting period. The only noteworthy
incidents occurred in the Sala Phou Khoun area of Lao..
Military Region II and the Muong Phalane area of Mili-
tary Region III. Specific incidents included:
a) On 18 May the Pathet Lao forces in
the Sala Phou Khoun area fired 50
rounds of howitzer and mortar fire
on a Lao Army platoon-size patrol.
b) On 21 and 22 May, two NVA companies
drove back a Lao Army company in an
area 13 kilometers south of Muong
Phalane. On 23 May, an estimated
three NVA companies, supported by 50
rounds of 85mm field gun fire, again
attacked the same Lao Army company.
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CEASE-FIRE VIOLATIONS IN SOU_ .IETNAM AS REPORTED BY RVNAF
(28 JANUARY 1913 TO THE PRESENT)
JAN-FIB
MAR
4UV
300
200
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W
.1Xyi..I.I00+N"UJ.hI I 110oJ I I I I
HII 711-1 i i Na TIT
APR
4UU
300
200
100
MAY
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