DEVELOPMENTS IN INDOCHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00875R001100010020-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 5, 2008
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: March 20, 1973
• Content Type: SUMMARY

 DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875R001100010020-3
Top Secret
Developments in Indochina
N
Top Secret
State Dept. review completed
Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875R001100010020-3
 25X1 Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01100010020-3
Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01100010020-3
 Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875R001100010020-3
DEVELOPMENTS IN INDOCHINA
(I'nf'ormation ao of 1500)
SOUTH VIETNAM
The Communists are maintaining pressure
against a government Ranger camp in. Tay Ninh
Province. The special session of the Senate
that is scheduled to debate the decree on
political parties may produce some sharp
criticism of President Thieu. The Lower
House chairman is supporting the Democracy
Party--one of the first prominent polit-
ical figures with some degree of inde-
pendence to do so.
LAOS
Skirmishing continues along Route 13.
The official negotiators are still making
no progress--the deadline is now only
three days away. Vang Pao is doing some
post-war planning for his Meos.
CAMBODIA
The government now controls about
ten miles of the Mekong south of Neak
Luong.
Page
1
Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875R001100010020-3
 Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01100010020-3
Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01100010020-3
 Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875R001100010020-3
SOUTH VIETNAM
The Military Situation
The Tonle Cham Ranger Camp in northern Tay Ninh
Province remains under heavy enemy pressure. The Com-
munists are still directing artillery and mortar fire
against the camp, and reportedly have constructed
trenches within 1,000 meters of its perimeter. Con-
ditions at the camp reportedly are worsening. Heavy
Communist AAA fire in the vicinity has prevented any
resupply for the fifteenth consecutive day. The Com-
munist delegates on the Four Power Joint Militrry Com-
mission still refuse to allow the ICCS truce team to
make an on-site investigation, despite further US and
South Vietnamese appeals.
In the northern provinces, fighting is still go-
ing on west of Hue along the Song Bo River corridor
and around several government fire support bases.
Farther south, moderate fighting is reported in the
Que Son Valley on the Quang Nam/Quang Tin province
border. Prisoners claim that the Communists have
reinforced their units with heavy artillery. In
Quang Ngai Province,
pleted a reconnaissance of the area and installed
mines around the government's water storage and puri-
t e Communists are preparing new
attacks agains e coastal village of Sa Huynh. There
are indications that the enemy's 2nd Division has com-
fication facilities near the village.
Senate to Debate Decree on Parties
South Vietnam's Senate will hold a special ses-
sion on 21 March to debate the political situation
and the controversial presidential decree on politi-
cal parties. The session probably will produce some
Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875R001100010020-3
 Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875R001100010020-3
sharp criticism of President Thieu, since many oppo-
sition senators remain bitter over the decree. There
is little likelihood, however, that the Senate will
take any action to revise the decree. Its stiff re-
quirements for the country's existing parties are
supposed to take effect next week, and may put some
of them out of business or drive them underground.
Democracy Partly
One of the most prominent leaders of the labor
based Farmer-Worker Party (FWP) has switched to the
government's Democracy Party. Nguyen Ba Can, respected
chairman of the Lower House, told US Embazgy officers
this week that he considered it impossible fur a po-
litical force to "stand in the middle" between the
Communists and the administration. Can said he had
concluded that the FWP's attempt to form an effective
political coalition would fail, partly because the
party depends on government favors in order to operate.
He estimated that more than half of the FWP's cadre had
already joined the Democracy Party, as had many of his
allies in the Lower House.
Can said he was joining the Democracy Party despite
its shortcomings. By way of example, he claimed that
the party has many corrupt elements, but added that
President Thieu would "clean up" its ranks after con-
centrating first on organizing the largest possible
potential vote for any future elections.
Can's recruitment is a significant plus for the
Democracy Party. Although he had often cooperated
closely with the government, the Lower House chair-
man is one of the first prominent political figures
with some degree of independence to make a commit-
ment to the Democracy Party. A number of other
strongly anti-Communist independent figures may
Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875R001100010020-3
 Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01100010020-3
share his attitude, however, and some of these may
also see the practical necessity of joining the gov-
ernment in its political struggle with the Viet Cong.
The Democracy Party has now held public inaugural
ceremonies in 38 of the country's 56 provinces and
autonomous cities. At the inauguration of the party's
Saigon chapter last weekend, it was announced that the
party will hold a national convention of representatives
of the provincial chapters in about a week.
Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01100010020-3
 25X1 Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01100010020-3
Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01100010020-3
 Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01100010020-3 25X1
The Military 5?tuation
The only significant combat on 19 March occurred
in the south, where government and Communist troops
continued to skirmish along Route 13 southeast of
Thakhek and in the Sedone Valley northeast of Khong
Sec'one. Lao T-28s flew bombing missions in support
of government units in the south and in retaliation
for an isolated shelling incident near Luang Prabang.
Negotiations - No Progress
The official negotiators in Vientiane are still
making little progress toward meeting the deadline of
23 March for implementation of the peace agreement.
Government representatives at the regular Tuesday
session presented draft protocols for both political
and military matters, but the Communists refused to
consider them because of procedural problems. Both
sides had agreed to submit draft military protocols
at subcommittee meetings scheduled for 19 March.
When these meetings were canceled at the last minute,
the government unexpectedly submitted its drafts at
the plenary session the following day, apparently in
hope of speeding things up.
The real impediment to progress is the continued
absence of senior Communist negotiator Phoumi Vong-
vichit. Following the meeting on Tuesday, a Pathet
Lao spokesman claimed that Phoumi would not return
to Vientiane until the subcommittees had made some
progress.
Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01100010020-3
 Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01100010020-3
Vang Pao Faceo the Future
With the fighting near the Plaine des Jarres
for the most part over, leaders of the Meo tribe--
which for years bore the main burden of combat--have
begun to plan for peace. General Vang Pau has ap-
parently abandoned his idea of moving his fellow Meo
tribesmen west to the remote hills of Sayaboury Prov-
ince, and instead is lobbying for economic develop-
ment projects. In remarks that he knew would reach
US officials, Vang Pao recently claimed to be work-
ing on a planning paper that would cover land allo-
cation, schools, hospitals, and other project?. He
hopes in particular for the completion of a U8-spon-
sored road connecting Long Tieng to the main route
to Vientiane. Cher Pao Mua, Vang Pao's father-in-
law and commander of the isolated Bouam Long strong-
hold north of the Plaine, said that he and his peo-
ple will remain in their enclave and expect US help
in building a liv-?.stock herd. They apparently want
help in several other projects. Cher Pao Mua main- 25X1
tained that his people would not export opium, but
admitted some might be grown for "home use.'
20 March 1973
Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01100010020-3
 Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875R001100010020-3
CAMBODIA
The Military Situation
Government troops, with naval and air support,
continue to make headway in their attempts to secure
both banks of the Mekong River south of Neak Luong.
About ten miles of the river south of the town are
now under government. control, and the regular Mekong
convoy arrived in Phnom Penh on 20 March without in-
cident. Insurgents along the river, however, are
still capable of harassing shipping.
Elsewhere, military activity has been light.
Government forces attempting to reopen Route 2 be-
tween Phnom Penh and Takeo reported no progress on
1.9 March. Government positions south of Takeo and
along the South Vietnamese border continue to come
under attack.
Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85T00875R001100010020-3