DEVELOPMENTS IN INDOCHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00875R001000090011-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 3, 2008
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: January 12, 1973
• Content Type: REPORT

 Approved For Release 2008/11/03: CIA-RDP85T00875R001000090011-6 25X1 ,
Top Secret 25X1
DIIt ECTORATIi OF
INTELLIGENCE
.Developments 112 Indocl7l9Za
State Dept. review completed
Top Secret
~. 25X1
12 January 1973
Approved For Release 2008/11/03: CIA-RDP85T00875R001000090011-6
 Approved For Release 2008/11/03: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01000090011-6
Approved For Release 2008/11/03: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01000090011-6
 Approved For Release 2008/11/03: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01000090011-6
DEVELOPMENTS IN INDOCHINA
(informat2on as of 1400)
CAMBODIA
Government troops are trying to retake positions
along the Mekong River.
LAOS
A Communist armored unit attacked Muong Kassy
on 12 January. Six more Lao Communist delegates
to the peace talks will return to Samneua for
consultations.
12 January 1973
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 Approved For Release 2008/11/03: CIA-RDP85T00875R001000090011-6
.Baltmnhang
.Kumpung Thom
Kompong Chhnang.
Communist' tat,tachs
I; 0 st~',7
Veal
.Renh
Kamput.
~. 1
K c> M1-' C) N c;
c H l 1~l A I'?J C~
R or'tcas._._.-.,
PHNOM
PENH*
Vihear Suor
Kompong Spell.
-Thnal
Tatung
.Tram Klinar
Neak
Luung
Government-
paratroops
stall
.Svay Prey
A
Takeo
Conununist
controllecI - 0
7m vlt,_T,1r,
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CAMBODIA
The government is moving to regain control over
portions of the Mekong River's east bank. Lead
elements of six battalions from Phnom Penh arrived
in Neak Luong yesterday and began preparations for
a drive southward to retake a number of small out-
posts lost to Khmer Communist units on Thursday.
The battalions are to be supported by Cambodian Navy
craft end by local security forces. East of the Neak
Luong, the remaining government units on or near
Route 1 are to be used to prevent any further insur-
gent advances on the government's riverine base.
The Cambodians estimate that seven or eight
predominantly Khmer Communist battalions are in the
areas south and east of Neak Luong. In both these
sectors, the insurgents have capitalized on poor
leadership displayed by some Cambodian Army com-
manders. Many government troops reportedly with-
drew from their positions in the face of only light
Communist pressure. The Cambodian units that pulled
back from the Mekong destroyed or abandoned ten 75-mm.
howitzers and approximately 2,000 round of ammuni-
tion--the bulk of the army's artillery capability
along the river.
In the south government forces clearing south
and west of Tram Khnar on Route 3 are meeting mod-
erate Communist opposition. To the east, the three
government paratroop battalions from Takeo that are
on Route 2 moving slowly toward the besieged gar-
risons at Svay Prey and Thnal Totung have been
stalled by harassing attacks. In the past four days,
the paratroops have suffered casualties of five
killed and 47 wounded.
Northwest of Phnom Penh, Communist forces in
Kompong Chhnang Province are continuing to put pressure
on government defenders at Romeas, a former army
12 Jdnuary 1973
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training camp. The Communists began their attacks
on 5 January, and no relief is in sight for this
isolated outpost. Communist shellings and ground
probes against Romeas on 12 January resulted in
Cambodian losses of 16 killed and 58 wounded.
12 January 1973
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 Approved For Release 2008/11/03: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01000090011-6
h rnoulyr 51' ~~ i1 _((JlouangVl110 r
Mu--S-e,' Sans Thou
Kas
Ari 6r iltts 'Ic Long Tlon
\ Pha Deng---
\~ lam- 1
Irregulars regr up
Kholsg 771r Thaleng
Sedoi,c
((( /( I Y~ I f ef)U liifS
~CCi Ier) I)~
'--\ , _._OPaksong
"'Pakse ~~
'Ii
Area of
maps
0 Government-held location
? Communist held location
Bolovens
Plateau
* ttopeu
L
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A Communist armored unit on 12 January attacked
Muong Kassy, a town on Route 13 some 25 miles north
of the major government logistics base at Vang Vieng.
Preliminary reports indicate that two Communist PT-76
amphibious tanks penetrated as far as the airstrip
near the town. One tank broke down and the second
was destroyed. A prisoner captured near the town
during the attack claimed that a dissident neutralist
armored unit is in the Muong Kassy area and still
has three tanks.
The presence of enemy armor on Route 13 north
of Vang Vieng will add to the consternation in
Vientiane. Defense Minister Sisouk na Champassak
is now personally involved in government planning
to redress the situation along Route 13
A SmaZZ Plum in the South
A 900-man irregular force on 11 January met no
resistance when it occupied Ban Thateng at the junc-
tion of Routes 23 and 16, just north of the Bolovens
Plateau. The presence of the government force at
Thateng may create supply problems for North Vietnamese
infantry and artillery units concentrated around
Saravane, some 20 miles to the north, and may prompt
a Communist :.:_',Aaterattack soon.
Enemy pressure against government units near
Saravane eased somewhat on 11 January. Field com-
manders have regrouped their troops south and west
of the town and have sent small teams back toward
Saravane to direct airstrikes on enemy units.
12 January 1973
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 Approved For Release 2008/11/03: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01000090011-6
More Peace Delegates off to Samneua
Six more members of the Lao Communist delegation
to the Vientiane peace talks are returning to Samneua,
apparently for consultations. Prime Minister Souvanna
Phouma told Ambassador Godley that chairman Phoun
Sipraseuth along with the deputy chairman and four
other delegates will leave for the Communist adminis-
trative center immediately after the 16 January session
of the talks. Two other ranking delegates left for
Samneua on 6 January saying they were returning to
obtain new instructions in light of the resumption of
the Paris talks, and that they would be back in Vien-
tiane within ten days.
1.2 January 1973
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