THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM

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CIA-RDP79T00826A000600010037-9
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RIPPUB
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S
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26
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December 14, 2016
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January 6, 2003
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37
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Publication Date: 
April 27, 1966
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REPORT
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25X1 SECR &roved For Pitiorease 2003/04/24: CIA-RDP79T00826XV00600010037-9 OCI No. 0371/66 Copy No. 11U WEEKLY REPORT THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM 27 April 1966 INTELLIGENCE AND REPORTING SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE INTERAGENCY VIETNAM COORDINATING COMMITTEE 25X1 DIA and DOS review(s) completed. Approved For Release 2003/04/24: CIA-RDP79T00826A000600010 SECRE I GROUP 1 Excluded from autornatic downgrading and declassification onio Approved For Release 2003/04/24: CIA-RDP79T00821X000600010037-9 THIS MATERIAL CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECT- ING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE LAWS, TITLE 18, USC, SECT IONS 793 AND 794, THE TRANSMIS- SION OR REVELATION OF WHICH IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW. Approved For Release 2003/04/24: CIA-RDP79T00826A000600010037-9 79 OCI No. 0371/66 Published by the Directorate of Intelligence Central Intelligence Agency THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM (21 April - 27 April 1966) CONTENTS Page THE WEEK IN PERSPECTIVE iv Map, South Vietnam, facing page 1 I. THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM 1 A. POLITICAL SITUATION 1 Interest shifts to preparations for constituent assembly elections (p. 1); Ky government convenes advisory meeting on election procedures (p. 1); Buddhist hierarchy continues to declare itself satisfied with government's election gestures (p. 1); Concern over possible Buddhist domination becoming increas- ingly evident in non-Buddhist circles (p. 1); Ky now considering ways to pre- serve military influence (p. 2); Ky's views may foreshadow eventual conflict with Buddhists (p. 2); National Police Director Lieu replaced by Colonel Loan (p. 2); Economic Situation: Saigon re- tail price index falls T5-: 3); Exchange rates generally unchanged (p. 3). B. MILITARY SITUATION 4 Communist activity increases but re- mains below 1966 weekly average (p. 4); Weekly statistics are given (p. 4); 25X1 25X1 Appro "? ? UI. ? ? IP IP IP ? IP IP IP IP Friendly operations increase, but enemy contacts are generally light (p. 4); Multibattalion operation ends in I Corps (p. 4); FILLMORE con- tinues in II Corps (p. 5); Friendly operations successful in III and IV corps (p. 5); B-52s fly 14 missions (p. 5); Pilots report results of tactical air sorties (p. 5); Commu- nist incidents increase in I Corps (p. 6); Three airfields attacked in II Corps (p. 6); Terrorism continues high in III and IV corps (p. 6); Status of transportation routes shows little change (p. 7). 37-9 Page Map, Transportation Routes, facing page 7 C. REVOLUTIONARY DEVELOPMENT 8 Over two thirds of provinces behind projected schedule (p. 8); US Mission report evaluates factors influencing apparent lack of progress (p. 8); Dis- ruptive factors beyond provincial con- trol are noted (p. 8); Success of gov- ernment's civilian action programs prompting Communists to mount counter- pacification program (p. 9); Captured documents reveal Viet Cong plans (p. 9); Chieu Hoi returnees show lowest weekly total since January (p. 9). Map, North Vietnam, facing page 11 II. DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BLOC 11 Four MIGs lost in seven aerial engage- ments over North Vietnam (p. 11); DRV National Assembly is addressed by Ho Chi Minh and other leaders (p. 11); Hanoi responds negatively to Mansfield proposal (p. 11). Approved For Release 2003/StfeCat-ErTULMLbAUUMUUCrfuu /-9 25X1 25X1 Approv 37-9 Page III. THIRD COUNTRY DEVELOPMENTS 13 Current crisis causing GVN leaders to cancel planned trips abroad (P. 13); Government representatives attend preparatory session for Far East foreign ministers' conference (p. 13); ICC commissioners planning more frequent meetings in Hanoi (p. 13); Australian Prime Minister Holt visits South Vietnam (p. 14). ANNEX: South Vietnam Battle Statistics-- Personnel Losses (Weekly) South Vietnam Battle Statistics-- Incidents and Attacks (Weekly) (The Weekly Report on the Situation in South Vietnam is based on contributions from CIA, DIA, and INR; it is edited and published by CIA without final coordination.) Approved Fur Reledse ASEckEY 1037-9 25X1 25X1 25X1 THE WEEK IN PERSPECTIVE Political attentions shifted during the week to prepara- tions for constituent assembly elections. However, there was evidence of a mounting reaction in the country to recent Buddhist political tactics. On the military front, both Communist activity and friendly operations increased during the week, but result- ing contacts remained slight. -iv- 25X1 Approved For Release 200.3/45TIPAURE19 I 0082bA000b000100.37-9 Approved FaCease 2003/04/24: CIA-RDP79T008261600600010037-9 )6 6,1 ()ANORTI?\\ong Hoi \\O, -\"1 viEtptkmN 'C. Loa 114 - --..:7Tchepo9e _ avarinakhet 0 Saravane QUANG ,-NAM THAILA''ND ekse / Attopeu '1* QUANG TIN f)r g Ngai QUANG NGA1 KONTUM ' Kontum BLEIKU eo.PHU BON C\AMBODI QUANG DUC ry ??ihanpuityille t.ryti (MC PHNOM PEN,H di t Ipt.IG BIN 1-4 ruv ki EN HONG L4.111,1 f)P 2,71AM PHUOC ITUY UONG TINIEN RA XXYEN N 0 ViNH BiNH ) SAC - AN *t" f441. XUYEN - SOUTH VIETNAM CURRENT SITUATION r.s ?2?550 70 100 Miles 0 25 5b 75 160 Kilometers SECRET Approved For Release 2003/04/24: CIA-RDP79T00826A000600010037-9 I. THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM. A. POLITICAL SITUATION 037-9 1. Political attentions shifted during the week to preparations for constituent assembly elections, although there was also evidence of a mounting reac- tion in the country to recent Buddhist political tactics. 2. As a small step toward implementing its elec- tion decree, the Ky government last weekend convened a meeting of 47 notables and elected officials to advise on election procedures. The meeting, which included several participants sympathetic to the "struggle movement" in I Corps, voted to set up a 100-man council to draft an election law and to oversee the elections, including candidate screening. The new council, expected to be formed in the next few weeks, is to consist of an equal number of repre- sentatives from provincial and municipal councils, and of representatives from political and religious groups, plus legal experts. The means of selecting the membership were not specified, presumably leav- ing the government free to determine at least half of the council's composition. 3. The Buddhist hierarchy continues to declare itself satisfied with the government's election gestures to date. It has toned down the militancy of the "struggle movement," and has reacted mildly to an outbreak of violence late last week between demonstrators and government troops in Da Lat, de- spite the death there of seven persons and the ar- rest of nearly 100 students. The combined efforts of Buddhist leaders and I Corps commander General Dinh have restored a measure of calm to the troubled cities of Hue and Da Nang, although antigovernment elements still retain a substantial degree of local authority. 4. Concern that the Buddhists may dominate an elected assembly or serve as a vehicle for Commu- nist infiltration via the ballot is becoming in- creasingly, loud, among other groups including the Catholics, the Cao Dai and Hoa Hao sects, Nationalist (VNQDD) and Dai Viet political party factions, -1- Appr?ved For Release20031VEraCtit.?0826A000600010137-9 25X1 25X1 Approved-For-Illiel?ase-2-003SEGR-EZ-T0442-6A1406000-1-0037 9 organized labor, and Saigon University circles. Demonstrations and oblique calls for government ac- tion against the leaders of recent disorders may be intended to provoke a reaction fron the Buddhists, who already suspect these groups of operating in concert with the government to delay elections. 5. Premier Ky, apparently gaining confidence from the cessation of Buddhist attacks, is now con- sidering ways to preserve a dominant military influ- ence over the processes leading to constitutional government. He told Ambassador Lodge that a meeting of seven of the ten Directorate generals on 25 April had generally agreed to run hand-picked military candidates for seats in the constituent assembly. The Directorate reportedly feels that if the mili- tary can win a fourth of the assembly seats, this will constitute a powerful bloc around which other genuine nationalists can rally. 6. According to Ky, if "good men" are elected to the constituent assembly, the Directorate would be willing to see that body transform itself into a legislature. In Ky's view, however, it would still remain subordinate to the Directorate, which would be retained and possibly expanded to include some civilian leaders. Ky's remarks are the first indi- cation of government planning with regard to the post-election period, and may foreshadow eventual conflicts with the Buddhists who envisage a govern- ment fully responsible to an elected parliament. 7. Ky also moved last week to replace Colonel Lieu, considered sympathetic to ousted I Corps com- mander Thi and other government critics, as direc- tor of the National Police. Lieu's removal has so far caused no ripple of protest despite earlier threats by several cabinet ministers to resign if he were replaced. Lieu's successor is Military Security Service chief Colonel Loan, who has been identified with a so-called "Baby Turk" element of field-grade and junior officers who have been ex- erting pressure on the government for internal re- forms and stronger action in I Corps. A general officer close to the "Baby Turks" characterized them as a loose assiociation of officers sharing common backgrounds and ideas, but also noted that -2- Approvecr1-or Release 20?N.E11,i1MITY9T0u826Auu060uul 037-9 25X1 25X1 Approv 037-9 they could bring effective strength to bear for a coup attempt should they decide OD concerted action. Economic Situation 8. The index of retail prices in Saigon fell substantially with the easing of political tensions and the removal of the early curfew. Arrivals of imported wheat flour and increased distribution to retailers of imported condensed milk caused the prices of these items to fall. Prices of iron and steel products, fertilizers, and newsprint, however, continued to rise as a result of heavy demand and a reduction in government surveillance of importers' operations. Rice prices also rose in spite of the sale to Saigon retailers of government rice at be- low market prices. The GVN minister of economy had announced on 12 April that commencing 18 April the ministry would sell government rice at official prices, which are far below the market price, to Saigon retailers for resale. These government sales will entail a loss to the ministry of about 40 piasters per 100 kilograms because the government has been buying rice at a higher price. 9. In the Saigon free market, the prices of $10 bills and gold were unchanged at 172 and 246 piasters per dollar, respectively. The price of $10 MPC (scrip) fell by one piaster per dollar to 118. In Hong Kong, the piaster-dollar cross rate fell from 156 to 153. 10. After consultations with officials of the GVN Ministry of Economy and with industrial groups, the US Mission in Saigon has estimated a need for $20 million in security stocks of essential com- modities. The 29 warehouses required to stock these items will be ready by October. Appro -3- Art' ill? ??111111?1111111 I 037-9 25X1 25X1 Approued-EocUedease-20a3SEERIEDZ910.082ft6006000Z 0037-9 B. MILITARY SITUATION 1. Communist-initiated activity increased during the week ending 23 April, but still remained below the 1966 weekly average of 804 incidents. 2. During the period there were 765 Communist- initiated incidents compared to the previous week's 607. There were 20 attacks and 570 acts of terrorism compared to last week's 17 and 463, respectively. The kill ratio favored free world forces 4.56 to 1 compared to the preceding week's 2.75 to 1. Viet Cong losses for the period were 694 killed and 89 captured. Vietnamese casualties for the period were 93 killed, 243 wounded, and 33 missing or captured--a total of 369 compared to last week's 555. United States losses for the week were 35 killed and 547 wounded--a total of 582 compared to the last period's 726. Free world losses totaled five killed and 31 wounded. The South Vietnam- ese lost 100 weapons (one crew served), and the Viet Cong lost 186 weapons (14 crew served). MIA/ TOTAL KIA WIA CAPTURED CASUALTIES US 35 547 0 582 ARVN 93 243 33 369 THIRD COUNTRY 5 31 0 36 VIET CONG 694 89 783 GVN/Allied Activities Forces 3. Friendly large- and small-unit operations as well as corresponding enemy contacts increased during the week. The contacts, except for two operations, were generally light. 4. In I Corps, the multibattalion US Marine/ARVN search-and-destroy Operation HOT SPRINGS/LIEN KET 36 was terminated on 23 April in Quang Ngai Province. Friendly losses were 12 killed (five USMC) and 71 wounded (33 USW). The Viet Cong lost 252 killed, 18 captured, four suspects detained, and 113 weapons (14 crew served). -4- Approled Fur Release 2003yEtCREIrT00826A000600010J37-9 25X1 25X1 Approved-Fer-iRetease-2003SECRXX9-T-00420111100600049037-9 5, Operation FILLMORE continued in II Corps with only minor contact reported. Cumulative results of continuing Operation SU BOK, being conducted by ele- ments of the ROK Capital Division in Binh Dinh Prov- ince, are 89 Viet Cong killed and 121 captured. Ten ROK troops have been killed and 45 wounded. 6. Two battalions of the US 25th Infantry Division conducted Operation KAHALA in Hau Nghai Province, III Corps, during the period 16-21 April. Final results indicated Viet Cong losses of 55 killed, two captured, and 18 weapons. There were three US killed and 45 wounded. 7. In IV Corps, a task force from the 21st ARVN Division terminated Operation DAN CHI 219 on 24 April. Friendly forces sustained casualties of 28 killed and 124 wounded (six US), while inflicting losses of 42 killed, six captured, and 14 weapons (two crew served) on the Viet Cong. 8. Free world forces conducted 110 battalion-size or larger operations during the week, 60 of them achieving contact: 36 GVN, 17 US, one ROK, and six combined. There were 27,911 small-unit operations, including 3,595 conducted by US forces. Of the 162 that achieved contact with the enemy, 109 were con- ducted by US units. 9. Fourteen B-52 Stratofortress missions utilizing 123 aircraft were flown during the week ending 24 April. The target areas were in the South Vietnam provinces of Tay Ninh, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, and Quang Tri, as well as along the Laotian - South Vietnamese border. 10. On 20 and 22 April, a total of 15 aircraft supported RAT MAT IV, V, and VI to prevent a possible attack on the Khe Banh Special Forces Camp in Quang Tri Province. On 23 and 24 April, LOW STOOP I and II flew 15 aircraft in support of ground search-and-destroy Operation BIRMINGHAM, which began on 23 April. 11. During the period 15-21 April, approximately 2,074 tactical air strikes and armed reconnaissance sorties were flown by US Navy, Air Force, and Marine Appro -5- 11.1- ill? ? ? 7-9 25X1 25X1 Appro aircraft. VNAF aircraft flew additional armed re- connaissance missions. The cumulative results of these strikes as reported by the pilots included de- struction of 1,541 structures, 68 sampans, 15 bunkers, 82 huts, 20 riverboats, 2 supply areas, 2 trucks and 2 AW sites. Damage was reported to 1,279 structures, 33 sampans, 13 bunkers, 132 supply areas, 14 river- boats, 2 tractors, and 1 truck. 12. Forces conducting Operation MARKET TIME searched 4,686 junks and 18,446 people during the week; 18 junks and 110 people were detained. Communist Activity 13. Incidents in I Corps increased during the week. On 18 April an unknown number of Viet Cong attacked a GVN Popular Force (PF) platoon in the Demilitarized Zone; losses were not reported. Other incidents included attacks against three PF posi- tions in Quang Ngai Province; an attack against US Marines near Chu Lai in the Quang Ngai - Quang Tin province border area by an enemy force supported by mortars; and a mortar attack against US Marine posi- tions southwest of Da Nang, Quang Nam Province. 14. In Pleiku Province, II Corps, the Viet Cong overran a village at the end of the Duc Co airstrip. Special forces personnel at Duc Co believed that the action is the first in a series of attempts to clear friendly inhabitants from the area prior to an at- tack on the camp in the coming rainy season. An Khe airfield in Binh Dinh Province received mortar fire as a cover for sabotage of two C-130 Hercules air- craft parked on the strip. The new Pleiku airfield sustained considerable damage from a Viet Cong mortar attack. The enemy weapons were placed near a friendly ammunition dump so that counter-fire could not be safely directed against them. 15. In III and IV corps significant activity-- other than the continued high incidence of terrorism-- was limited to probing attacks against two watch- towers and harassment of Xuan Loc airfield, Long Khanh Province, with mortar and small-arms fire. -6- ApproJed For Release 2003NrceiterT00826A00060001003/-9 25X1 25X1 Approved For*lease 2003/04/24: CIA-RDP79T0082190600600010037-9 CURRENT OPERATIONAL STATUS OF MAJOR TRANSPORTATION ROUTES AND COASTAL RAILROAD CU G Rt. 9 ue N? 'PH-1J A TFZ,Elji QIJANG Section of operable railroad ??""??-?-? Section of inoperable road Rt. ak To KO1 TUM KIFN PHONG KIENS TUONG HOA KirN HOA VINH BINH Information as or 23 April 1966 Approved For Release 2003/04/24: CIA-RDP79T00826A000600010037-9 Approv 37-9 16. Lines of communication status changes include the closing of National Route 1 south of Mo Duc in Quang Ngai Province, and also in Binh Thuan Province. Route 14 is open in Binh Long Province. The national railroad is again closed between Nha Trang and Ninh Hoa in Khanh Hoa Province, but remains open from Ca Na to Thap Cham in Ninh Thuan Province. -7- Apprived Fur Reledse 2003 10 25X1 25X1 Approv C. REVOLUTIONARY DEVELOPMENT 3037-9 1. The first summary of the US Mission's new monthly joint report on revolutionary development indicates that 33 of the 45 provinces and cities reporting for the month of March are behind sched- ule. The standards used to evaluate progress for the first quarter of 1966 were set forth in the provincial pacification plans completed prior to 1 January 1966. Most of these plans were poorly conceived or set unrealistic goals. The mission feels that the planners could not, at the time, foresee the increases in local Viet Cong strength, the allocation of allied military forces, provincial administrative changes, the withdrawal of ARVN re- sources, or political disruption. Thus, the lack of achievement noted in the report may actually be somewhat overstated, and reflective in part of the planning difficulties. 2. Where there is a legitimate lack of pacifi- cation progress, officials place the blame largely on shortages of resources, inadequate administrative support, and certain factors outside the control of provincial officials. There seems to be a direct correlation between competent provincial adminis- trative officials and progressive pacification ac- tivity. Changes of district and provincial tech- nical service chiefs, inadequate training, low motivation, and low pay of cadre are particularly disruptive. Unrealistic pacification plans are due mainly to untrained provincial officials who utilize faulty administrative procedures. 3. Among the disruptive factors that are beyond provincial control are direct Viet Cong pressure on the revolutionary development programs, such as the harassment of cadre teams and the destruction of hamlets, the build-up of Viet Cong forces, setbacks due to the political crisis, and a general apathy of the population, especially in III and IV Corps. The lack of local forces or their inability to provide security is a constant difficulty to the field workers. It is the mission's opinion that problems associated with politics, inflation, personnel changes, and the lack of local manpower will con- tinue, while improvements should take place in com- modity distribution, financial procedures, and in- sufficient advisory personnel. -8- Approled Fur Release 2O05,Etr3179T00826A0006000110037-9 25X1 25X1 APprOUPCI Ftle420IPACP 2nnn1ftRA1 RKEcn-ong2-iwrimnAnnn1n 37-9 4. There is continuing evidence that the civilian action programs directed agains the Vietnamese Com- munists are producing defections from enemy forces, especially when coordinated with significant military operations. The number of refugees and returnees who cite a decline in the morale of the Viet Cong continues to increase. As a result, the Viet Cong are mounting counter-pacification programs. 5. Specific Viet Cong plans for countering the GVN pacification effort in one of the districts of the III Corps National Priority Area around Saigon are outlined in a document captured in early 1966. Following typical Communist strategy their propa- gandists are instructed to stress the miserable living conditions of the people and blame this on the Americans and the government. Concrete steps to counter the GVN program include developing the People's Revolutionary Party, building the township guerrilla forces from local inhabitants, developing 10 to 15 Liberation Front associations in each ham- let, and selecting hamlet Front members for political struggle groups. These struggle groups will then organize demonstrations, which will be the primary disruptive tool. According to the document, they should protest the rising cost of living, the draft, "chemical poisons," and artillery shellings, and call for the withdrawal of US forces from Vietnam. 6. Dramatic evidence of the high priority the Viet Cong accord to countering revolutionary develop- ment was provided yesterday in Phuoc Tuy Province. A civic action team about six miles from the province capital was virtually annihilated by a Viet Cong at- tacking force of unknown size; 32 members of the team were killed. Returnees (Chieu Hoi) 7. Only 314 returnees came in during the week ending 15 April, the lowest weekly total since mid- January. A captured document, dated January 1966, contains directions to Viet Cong unit commanders on how to counteract the Chieu Hoi program. They are told among other things to increase political indoc- trination, watch personnel returning from leave, -9- Appro Pd Fnr RPIPaRP 7nnfisypyj krp-rnnR7RAnnnAnnni0n37-9 Appro 79 maintain tighter control over soldiers' friends and relatives, enforce discipline more strictly, pro- hibit troops from picking up air-dropped leaflets, and forbid personnel from listening to GVN radio broadcasts. 8. Three North Vietnamese civilians who rallied in I Corps claim to be from a group of 150 teachers, nurses, and students who left Hanoi on 13 January 1966 for central Vietnam. They reportedly saw safe- conduct passes and bomb-warning leaflets along the Ho Chi Minh trail in February, but had seen no such leaflets in North Vietnam as the police there collected and burned them. They also claimed that the group had secretly listened to Voice of America and other broadcasts from Hue and Saigon as early as 1960. -10- ApproI/ ed For Release 2003SEtWEr9T00826A00060001 037-9 25X1 25X1 Approved Forittiease 2003/04/24: CIA-RDP79T0082W00600010037-9 .Ko.chiu CHINA Lai Chau. ? P?hong Saly Luang Prabang !yang Vieng. ii\flong'Van 1 , Ha Giang \.,,)Lao Cal ? (? C . Dien Bien Phu Son La. Nghia Lo. "N L.?????? LAO S Samneua ? ')(!eng Khouang ? 1 VIENTIANEtrj, .0"..." Nong Khat 5 Bao Lac. Bac Can . Tuyen Quang ? , ? Yen Bal .Phu Tho Cao Bang .Ching.hsi CHINA L. ? Ning-ming Lang Son(' *Thai Nguyen ?Kep /t Bac Giang Phuc Yen. Highway Bridge Son Tay? *Hanoi Ha Gong ? Quang Yen -? ? ? Hon Gal Hoa Binh ?,' Haiphong . Duong - ? Kien An Hung Yen ? ? Phu Ly Ban Chiang. ? Cua Boa Phu Qui ? ???????? Ninh Nam Dinh ?Thanh Hoa Vinh ? Linn. "%. Cam , THAILAND Muahg Nakhon Phanom4.. Khammouane Muang Sakon Nakh,on 1 SECRET kpvannakhet 62047 ?Ha Tinh ...Thai Binh NORTH VIETNAM 2.5 5,0 7,5 MIles 0 25 50 75 Kdorneters Sipone. ?Dong Hoi Mong Cai Vinh Linh DEMARCATION LINE 'Gong Ha BaHo Su .Quang To "7 SOUTH Hue., ? \ VIETNAM Muong Nong"-Th 'LAOS C7:61717 LY " 71.707i .rT A TT Approved For Release 2003/04/24: CIA-RDP79T00826A000600010037-9 Approved For.%!Meese 2003SIECAKT9T00826,0100600010037-9 II. DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BLOC 1. Seven aerial engagements between US aircraft and North Vietnamese MIGs have taken place over the Hanoi-Haiphong area since 23 April. In these en- gagements, two MIG-21s and two MIG-17s were downed by air-to-air missiles. The purpose of this vigorous fighter reaction by the North Vietnamese appears to be an effort to restrict US air incursions in the Hanoi-Haiphong area. 2. Despite US successes in the air-to-air en- gagements, 15 US aircraft have been lost over North Vietnam since 20. April. Four of these were lost in operations against the Bac Giang bridge. Political Developments 3. The North Vietnamese regime on 25 April an- nounced that a week-long National Assembly meeting had been convened in Hanoi on 16 April. The meeting was addressed by the most popular members of the leadership--Ho Chi Minh, Vo Nguyen Giap, and Pham Van Dong. They presented the assembly with an opti- mistic view of the war situation and stressed the singleness of purpose of the Vietnamese people on both sides of the 17th parallel in their struggle against US "imperialism." 4. The National Assembly serves as a major trans- mission line for getting party directives down to the people, and it usually meets twice a year. Last fall's session was canceled, however, apparently be- cause the party leadership was engaged full time in formulating policies to cope with the new war situa- tion. This latest meeting appears as part of the regime's effort to bolster popular morale and to prod the population into greater efforts in meeting the demands of the war situation. Hanoi on Mansfield Proposal 5. In propaganda and public statements through- out the week, Hanoi repeatedly attacked Senator Mans- field's proposal for peace talks on Vietnam as a "new peace hoax" designed to cover up further US Appro -11- 10037-9 Approved Forelease 2003SECAMN79T0082b600600010037-9 escalation of the war. The statements repeated Hanoi's demands for a settlement of the war, but appeared directed more at discrediting the sin- cerity of the Mansfield proposal than at playing up the Communist position on negotiations. Approv -12- 7-9 25X1 25X1 Approve Ftlr iglaiePACP 2nnASECREnTcn-nnFogyhetnnAnnnin 37-9 ri III. THIRD COUNTRY DEVELOPMENTS A. OFFICIAL VISITS 1. Because of the current government crisis, many trips abroad are being canceled. Chief of State Nguyen Van Thieu notified the Chinese Embassy in Saigon that projected state visits to the Repub- lic of China and South Korea must be postponed in- definitely. A Chinese Embassy officer quoted Thieu as saying that it was unlikely that any member of the Directorate will leave South Vietnam for ceremonial or other visits before the elections scheduled for mid-August. 2. Secretary general of the Directorate Chieu has canceled his visit to the United States and Canada. 3. Tran Van Tuyen, ambassador-designate to London and former deputy premier in the Quat gov- ernment, told a US Embassy official that he had decided not to go to London to assume his duties because he feels he can play a more important role at home. B. FAR EAST FOREIGN MINISTERS' CONFERENCE Charge Ty and Cao Xuan Tu from the Foreign Office represented the GVN at the 18-20 April Bangkok am- bassadorial-level preparatory conference for the Far East foreign ministers' conference to be held in Seoul on 14 June. The final communique announced that the Seoul conference will consider mutual co- operation among the Asian and Pacific countries in various general and specific fields. Representatives of Australia, the Republic of China, Japan, the Re- public of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Republic of the Philippines, Thailand, and the Republic of Vietnam participated in the Bangkok meeting. A Laotian representative attended the meeting as an observer. C. ICC Canadian ICC Commissioner Moore told a US Embassy official in Saigon that the ICC is now planning more -13 Appr}vd Fut Reteabc 200384E0t-LID1179T00826A0006000110037-9 25X1 25X1 Approved-F-er-Vieiease-2-003,00828)%d0064004-0037-9 frequent meetings in Hanoi than in the past. Ac- cording to Moore, the ICC commissioners would prob- ably meet in Hanoi toward the end of May and would hold meetings there on an average of once every three months. Although the Canadians stated that the North Vietnamese wanted the ICC to meet more frequently in Hanoi, the DRV denied this, claiming that it had only been inquiring as to why the com- mission did not meet more often in Hanoi. In either case, the ICC has decided to act on the North Viet- namese hint. D. AUSTRALIA Prime Minister Harold Holt visited South Vietnam from 22-25 April, touring Australian Army and Air Force units and civilian aid activities. Meanwhile, an advance party of about 100 men from the fifth and sixth battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment arrived in Saigon preparatory to the mid-May arrival of the 4,500-man task force. -14- Appried For Release 200354.E4c9f-EF9T00826A0006000101)37-9 25X1 25X1 SOUTIPVItIftIMR 0g3t Mitsf1ttF'79T00826A0000010037-9 WEEKLY REPORT 16 APRIL-23 APRIL 1966 Total Personnel Losses SECRET (Killed in Action,- Captured or Missing in Action, excluding VVounded in Action) 3,500 iI r-T-T l ii -ri rt?t GVN /US/other Free World ? Viet Cong/PAVN --- US only 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 78 16 4,000 3,500 II- 3,Goo 2,000 - 1,500 - 50) APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OM] NOV DEC JAN I FEB 5 MAR l APR IT ,-.- .. _-4 - - -, I _ 414 -,- US Combat Casualties (including North Cumulative, 1961-1964 Cumulative, 1965 Cumulative, 1966 to date TOTAL in Vietnam) Fatalities Vietnam Non-fatal Wounds Captured Missing 255 1365 1462 3082 1524 6110 8776 16410 10 15 8 33 12 136 46 194 .., . k 4 r r? g.7... 4.! 00 , ' - -.. - : , , _ , w I APR I MAY IJUNE I JULY I AUG I SEPT I OCT I NOV I DEC IJAN EB 62022 M Killed in action Total Friendly Forces Personnel Losses (US/GIN/Other Free World) Missing or Captured in action .Wounded in action Approved For Release 2003/04/24: CIA-RDP79T00826A000600010037-9 987 821 33 133 SO UT H AVIETWM 43'Age0amtgeMP79T00826A0000010037-9 WEEKLY REPORTis APRIL-23 APRIL1966 62021 1, 1, Viet Cong Incidents SECRET ? Attacks iii Terrorism 0 Sabotage ' 250 ' Propaganda 1 Antiaircraft Fire ' 000 -=--..- a? _ _ 65 750 _ = ? - - = ._:. - ? 500?. ----_,_ slaws- ? : _ til-' --.--.7------_-.?_--,,-__ = N : 73 ? 250 ? : 17 0 1 = E:ii.iii. 1 ir3.3 011 1 APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR 20 15 10 Company and battalion sized attacks ? Battalion sized (and larger) attacks only n ???? I \ / r % i / to? A 1 i t .+. ? ???? i ,0-1 % i I 1 % I / i. ?? ? ? ?%. I S I APR 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 MAY JUNE I JULY AUG I SEPT OCT I NOV Weapons Losses DEC JAN I FEB AR I APR Government Viet Cong o I?APR 86 MAY [JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT I NOV { DEC JAN FEB MAR I APR Approved For Release 2003/04/24: CIA-RDP79T00826A000600010037-9 106 17 52 70 20 25X1 Approved Fs:0klease 2003/04/24: CIA-RDP79T0082?0)00600010037-9 SECRET 25X1 SECRET Approved For Release 2003/04/24: CIA-RDP79T00826A000600010037-9