THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A000500010071-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 4, 2007
• Sequence Number: 71
• Publication Date: April 12, 1966
• Content Type: IM

- ` Approved For Release 2007/09/04: CIA-RDP79T00826A000500010071-2
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OCI-1269/66
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
12 April 1966
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
The Political Situation in South Vietnam
s of ..
1. Despite the efforts of the government to make
the National Political Congress appear as representa-
tive as possible,. it was attended last night only by
92.of the approximately 170 invitees, according to
press accounts. In an address to the Congress, which
was attended by five military Directorate members
and the US ambassador, Chief of State Thieu report-
edly stated that if the people.want an elected govern-
ment in the shortest time possible, so does the mili-
tary. The Buddhists apparently boycotted the meet-
ing as did nine of the 48 provincial and municipal
council members, although there were at least three
influential lay Catholics in attendance.
2. Approximately: 2,000 persons attended a meet.-
ing at the Buddhist Institute in Saigon last night.
The press reports that the subject was probably the
organization of future demonstrations against the
government. Thich Thien Minh, newly appointed leader
of the =Buddhist Forces" political party, reportedly
met earlier in the day with Father Hoang Quynh, ap-
parently to discuss the political crisis.
3. Thich Tri Quang issued a statement to the
English language Saigon Daily News yesterday re-
pudiating charges that the ranks of the Buddhists
are infiltrated by. Communists. and that he is gen-
erally opposed to American policy. He claimed to
be opposed only to US interference in setting up a
national assembly,and.he denied that he advocates
negotiations with the. Communists if the Buddhists
come to power.
CONFIDENTIAL
State Dept. review completed
GROUP 1
Excluded from automatic
downgrading and
declassification
Approved For Release 2007/09/04: CIA-RDP79T00826A000500010071-2
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LA Vl. l &A. . J.L i li iJ_I
4. From Da Nang, the 2nd and 3rd Vietnamese
marine battalions have been airlifted back
to Saigon, even though the press reports that nearly
5,000 demonstrators, some of them armed,, marched
through the streets carrying anti-American banners.
Colonel Dan Quang Yeu, one of the anti-government
military commanders in Da Nang, and Mayor Man held
a press conference yesterday at which Yeu expressed
his lack of confidence in the Ky government and at
the same time answered that the soldiers would follow
the orders of General Dinh, the I Corps commander.
5. Struggle forces and demonstrators in Hue
continue to be as intransigent as ever. Stores
were reported closed and public transportation did
not function as approximately 8,000 persons attended
a mass meeting followed by marchers with banners
denouncing the Thieu-Ky political congress, the
Directorate and war cabinet, and indicating that
the "political congress is a puppet of the CIA,"
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2007/09/04: CIA-RDP79T00826A000500010071-2
 Approved For Release 2007/09/04: CIA-RDP79T00826A000500010071-2
OCI-1270/66
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCY AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
12 April 1966
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
The Political Situation in South Vietnam
s of 2":00 P,M,)
1, Prime Minister Ky apparently made behind-
the-scenes contacts with Buddhist leaders Tam Chau
and Tam Giac last night to try to woo them into
attending the government sponsored National Politi-
cal Congress. Ky's special adviser, Bui Diem, re-
ported to the Embassy political counselor that Ky
agreed the government would be willing to accept an
elected constitutional convention, one of the Bud-
dhists' early demands, and that it would accept the
decision of the congress in calling for early elec-
tions for the conventions Although Tam Chau was
not opposed to the idea, he expressed his distrust
of Chief of State Thieu, and chose to boycott the
congress. The government is still seeking to per-
suade the bonzes, but Tri Qua.ng, as usual, is ex-
pected to resist any pressure.te accept a.compromise
solution,
2. The Embassy feels that the replacement of
Colonel Lieu, Director-General of the National Police,
is imminent, although he is still physically in
office. Xy removed him at the 8 April Directorate
meeting on reports teat he was corresponding and
clandestinely supporting General Thies activities
in Da Nang, Several cabinet members closely identi-
fied with Thi and Lieu, have threatened to resign
if the replacement is formalized; they believe that
Lieu commands support from moderate Buddhists which
would be withdrawn in the event of a change. The
group of cabinet members also favors the return of
General Thi to a position of importance, such as
defense minister.
GROUP 1
Excluded from automatic
downgrading and
declassification
D
Approved For Release 2007/09/04: CIA-RDP79T00826A000500010071-2
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3. The province chief of Quang Nam, in which
Da Nang is an autonomous city, is apparently the
captive of the struggle committee in the province
capital and is being held in the local pagoda.
Dr. Nguyen Huu Chi, although well treated, is under
questioning by local Buddhists who are suspicious
of his activities during the past few days.
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2007/09/04: CIA-RDP79T00826A000500010071-2