BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON VIETNAMESE POLITICO-RELIGIOUS GROUPS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A000400020024-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 20, 2004
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: September 2, 1954
• Content Type: BRIEF

rApproved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP79R0089OA000400020024-5
~ _ "'"'? 2 $ept*mber
a purely religious movement, the Caae Da
the meet*, is now more conspicuous as
tical and military force. The begdquarters of the move
is at Taaynish, some gA Miles north of Saigon Its
spiritual chief, who is also very each a politician, in
Tac. Isbassy Saigon Calls his as
charlatan." In say 1954 he wrote a litter to no Chi hish,
hinting at Cao Dai-Viet Kish rapprochement.
of the Caao Dal forces, which number
General Nguyen Thank phuou.g. Be has as his
Phan Zuun Thai. The religious and allita:
on of the Casa Dal do not always work in harmony.
ant splinter group of C aedaistas is that under Trinh
Gish The, formerly chief of staff of the Cao Thal forces as
in laaar
thousand to a
tnaa*?.
p, which calls itself the "National Re*is,
armed force of several thousand
cal and military stren
man-Cambodian frontier.
the Cao Tai derives
devout following of from several hundred
all of whom are located in
STATE & NSC reviews completed
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The general political orientation of the Cao
nationalist and acti-Communist, but Its dealin with the
French and Vietnamese authorities have been characterized
by a strong element of opportunism and venality. As is the
case with the other sects, the support of the Coo Dai must
invariably be Wight either with government, jobs or economic
prizes such as rice export licenses.
This is the most amorphous of the sects. Beginning as a
e religious rove merit, it fell into the hands of military
adventurers whose disputes and
y alliances among the-
selves and with the central government virtually defy analysis.
There are four, sometimes: five, Boa Sap military commands.
There are a million or so people in the Mekong delta area
went of Saigon but it is doubtful that more than a small fraction
of this population identifies itself with the
opportunism is even more marked among the Sod,
than among the Caodaistr~.
The leaders who are currently opposed to ti-+e central
.4. government official estimates their troops to nul
Cenerv. l Tran Van : oai and colonel to Quang
0,000. The same informant says that General
Nguyen commands about 7000 troops and General Nguyen Giac Sgo
3-4000. The latter, ` described as a strong supporter of
Bien government.
Approved For Release 2004/07/08: ReP~8'90A000400020024-5
 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP79R0089OA000400020024-5
This
trol of the underworld and the ga
or organization
industry
Chinatown. Its control of the highly lucrative
gambling concession has been sanctioned by Sao Da
to his of several million dollars. in May 1954 the Binh
Zuyen was vested by may Dai with control of the national
force, thus greatly extending Its power.. Premier D
police.
Caatholi.c$
able to remove the Binh Xuy*,n from control of the
nut 1.5 million, the majority of whom are
is considerable, although there in
Catholic political organization.
leading Caa tbolie layman, Premier flies enjoys part
&song his fellow religionists. The numerous native hierarchy,
ding three politically active bishops, supper
of the bishops in Diem's brother, Igo Dinh Thuc.
Approved For Rele46e 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP79R00890A000400020024-5