Seventh Report COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160002-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 20
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 23, 2004
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: April 6, 1973
• Content Type: PERRPT

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Secr
Seventh Report
COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF
THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS
(This report covers the week from
30 March through 5 April 1973)
This memorandum has been prepared jointly by the
Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense
DIA review(s) completed.
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Secret
6 April 1973
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Secret
Eighth Report
COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF
THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS
(This report covers the week from
6 April through 12 April 1973)
This memorandum has been prepared jointly by the
Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense
Secret
ori
13 April 1973
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Seventh Report
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6 April 1973
COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF
THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS*
(This report covers the week from
30 March through 5 April 1973)
The Key Points
- North Vietnamese military supplies continued to
move through southern Laos toward and into South
Vietnam, and the, volume of supplies entering
Laos at the top of the Ho Chi Minh trail system
was somewhat above last week's level.
- Extremely heavy North Vietnamese logistic ac-
tivity continued throughout the week in Quang
Tri Province of South Vietnam.
- The number of combat incidents initiated by
the Communists remained at a moderate level
in South Vietnam and at a low level in Laos.
This report has been prepared jointly by the
Central Intelligence Agency and the Department
of Defense.
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The Details
NOTE: This is the seventh in a series of reports de-
tailing recently received evidence of (a) Communist
efforts to infiltrate new manpower and military ma-
teriel toward and into South Vietnam, and (b) Commu-
nist-instigated combat activity in violation of the
Vietnam and Laos settlement agreements.
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B.
Movement of Militar E ui ment and Su lies T
war. an Into Sout Vietnam an Laos
4, North Vietnamese logistic activity in
southern Laos and South Vietnam continued during
the week at the same high levels detected through-
out March. Heavy vehicle activity was observed
over the length of the Laos Panhandle, the greatest
traffic volumes occurring west of the A Shau Valley
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and in the tri-border area. From these locations,
NVA logistic units shipped large quantities of mili-
tary supplies toward the central and southern parts
of South Vietnam. Within South Vietnam itself, NVA
logistic units also continued to move large quan-
tities of materiel into and out of supply bases in
Quang Tri Province. The major logistic buildup of
the Communists in this area equals or exceeds the
buildup which was observed just before and during
the North Vietnamese offensive of 1972.
5. On the entry corridors from North Vietnam
into the Laos Panhandle, truck traffic moving south-
ward through the passes increased slightly over the
previous week's level. Within southern North Viet-
nam itself, we received little new evidence during
the week of southbound logistic movements, but our
coverage in this area is weak. At the same time,
we did continue to detect substantial supply ship-
ments from North Vietnam to northern Laos.
6. The following instances of Communist lo-
gistic activity were observed in South Vietnam during
the reporting period. Activity observed in South
Vietnam probably reflects supplies which have re-
cently entered the country. (The map on the following
page shows the roads and route numbers which appear
below.)
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Hon Nieu
(anchorage)
Hai-nan To
Vinh Linh
N., Demarcation
Line
ilnefllefleill 719
to
Du
Ma Gia
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Quang Khe
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Karai
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911 122
6001
South
Vinh Linh
Demarcation Line
See.
Sayan
akh et
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Muong Phin
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Vietnam
Da Nang
Ban Bac
Sara an
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Tam Ky
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Warm
Gharnrap
havane
Cluang Nigal
ham passak
Phiafay
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14
Kontum
Pleiku
South
Vietnam
Slung Tree
Tuy Hoa
mpong Thorn
4lompong Chhn ng
Pharr Sdok
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an Loc -
Phan Thiet
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V;s,h.
lb Hth
Khanh\
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MR 4
Bac Lieu
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Nina T rang
Cam Ranh
Phan Rang
.Otro Pbu OEN
ZONE
South Vietnam
and
North Vietnam Panhandle
--?-- Province boundary
NO INN Military region
International Commission
of Control and Supervision
region boundary
Railroad
Road
POL pipeline
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Names and boundary representation
are not necessarily authoritative
50 75 Miles
75 Kilometers
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(b) On 31 March, 137 cargo trucks were
observed along Route 9 in western
Quang Tri Province. Some were headed
east; some were headed west.
(c) In the Khe Sanh area, 23 cargo vehi-
cles were observed halted on Route
608 (north of Khe Sanh) and 30 cargo
vehicles dispersed along Route 616
(to the south) on 31 March.
(d) On 3 April, 18 cargo trucks were ob-
served moving west on Route 9 in the
Khe Sanh area. There were also 65
North Vietnamese cargo vehicles--35
of them parked--on Route 608 north
of Khe Sanh on the same day.
(e) On 3 April, 27 southbound cargo ve-
hicles were observed on Route 1033
in the western DMZ, and a total of
98 cargo vehicles moved south over
this route during the period 30
March through 5 April. Also in this
area, 14 northbound cargo trucks were
seen on Route 1032B on 3 April.
7. During the reporting period the following
indications of North Vietnamese logistic activity
in north and south Laos and northeastern Cambodia
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were noted. Historical precedent would suggest that
much of the activity in the Laos Panhandle and Cam-
bodia probably involved supplies destined for South
Vietnam. 25X1
(b) From 29 March through 1 April, at
least 370 vehicles were observed
moving'
in the southern Laos
eannanaie.
(e) On 31 March, ten NVA cargo trucks
were observed halted on Route 23
south of Mu Gia Pass.
(f) On 3 April, 26 southbound cargo
trucks were observed on Route 912
southwest of the Ban Karai Pass.
During the period 30 March through
5 April, 258 northbound and 259 south-
bound trucks were observed transiting
the Pass.
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(g) On 5 April, heavy truck movement was
observed on routes 99 and 920 in the
central Laos Panhandle. In all, over
200 NVA trucks were seen, of which
more than half were loaded and heading
south. This is the highest level of
activity observed in this area since
12 March.
8. There is additional evidence of the con-
tinuing movement within North Vietnam of military
and other supplies which are probably destined for
South Vietnam and northern Laos.
C. Combat Activity Instigated by Communist Forces
In South Vietnam Since the Ceasefire
9. In South Vietnam, the total number of Com-
munist-initiated ceasefire violations reported by
the South Vietnamese Armed Forces since 28 January
and for the last week (30 March - 5 April) are shown
below:
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Military
Total Since Ceasefire
Last Week (30 Mar-5 Apr)
Region
Level of Action
Level of Action
Major
Minor
Major
Minor
MR 1
686
2,455
33
107
MR 2
172
1,038
7
116
MR 3
225
1,489
28
93
MR 4
336
3,123
34
281
Totals
1,419
8,105
102(118)1/
597(527)1/
1/ Denotes totals of previous week.
10. Some of these violations may have been in-
itiated by GVN forces rather than Communist forces,
and it is impossible in all cases to determine the
actual instigator. The table above and the chart
on the following page, however, do show fairly ac-
curately the trend in the amount of combat that has
occurred in South Vietnam since the ceasefire. The
fact that a combat incident occurred at a particular
time and place is generally reported accurately by
the South Vietnamese, even though the question of
who started it may not always be?treated in objective
fashion. In some cases, the Joint Military Commission
(GVN/PRG) also reports violations of the ceasefire.
11. The following is a chronological listing
of only the most significant "major" Communist vi-
olations of the ceasefire in South Vietnam that were
reported by the South Vietnamese Armed Forces during
the past week.
MILITARY REGION 1
(a) On 2 April, west and southwest of
Hue a total of 270 82-mm mortar
rounds were directed against ARVN
infantry units.
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29 30 31
2
3
4
5
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CEASE-FIRE VIOLATIONS IN SOUTH VIETNAM AS REPORTED BY RVNAF
(28 JANUARY 1913 TO THE PRESENT)
Red line ....Total violations
JAN-FEB
Black line ?Major violations
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 400 1 2 3
MAR
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
300
200
100
400
300
200
1 00
0
APR
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
MAY
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
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(b) On 2 April, elements of the 1st ARVN
Division west and southwest of Hue,
received a total of 396 rounds of
mixed ordnance.
(c) On 4 April, 10 miles west of Hue,
elements of an ARVN infantry bat-
talion received an enemy ABF of
785 rounds of mixed ordnance.
MILITARY REGION 2
(a) On 31 March, 15 miles southwest of
Pleiku, an element of an ARVN ranger
battalion was hit by an ABF of 500
mixed 60-mm/82-mm mortar rounds.
MILITARY REGION 3
(a) On 29 and 30 March, enemy elements
fired a total of 519 rounds of mixed
ordnance during four attacks by fire
into the Tonle Cham Base Camp eight
miles southwest of An Loc.
(b) On 30 March, enemy forces attacked
an element of an ARVN infantry
battalion 16 miles southwest of Lao
Khe.
(c) On 30 and 31 March, Tonle Cham Base
Camp received 256 rounds of mixed
ordnance.
(d) On 1 April, Tonle Cham Base Camp
received an ABF of 275 rounds of
mixed ordnance.
(e) On 2 and 3 April, the Tonle Cham
Base Camp received 495 artillery
and mortar rounds.
(f) On 3 and 4 April, the Tonle Cham
Base Camp received 231 rounds of
mixed ordnance.
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(g) On 4 April, four miles west-south-
west of Song Be, elements of an ARVN
ranger border defense battalion re-
ceived an enemy ground attack.
(h) On 4 April, five miles southeast of
Tay Ninh City, elements of an RF
battalion received an enemy ABF of
100 mortar rounds followed by a
ground assault.
MILITARY REGION 4
(a) On 3 April, 18 miles northeast of
Chau Doc, enemy forces attacked
elements of an ARVN armored cavalry
squadron and an infantry battalion.
(b) On 4 April, 10 miles northeast of
Vinh Long, elements of an ARVN in-
fantry battalion received an enemy
ground attack.
D. Combat Activity Initiated by Communist Forces
In Laos During the Week From 30 March through
April
12. During the week, significant Communist-
initiated incidents were recorded in the Ban Houei
Sai area of Laos Military Region I, southeast of the
Plain of Jars in MR-II, and in the area between
Khong Sedone and Saravane in MR-IV. Minor skirmishing
continued near several contested villages south of
Thakhek in MR-III.
13. Activity in all other areas of Laos re-
mained at a low level, although there have been re-
cent indications of Communist preparations to launch
major attacks against Government forces southeast of
the Plain and at the Sala Phou Khoun road junction in
MR-II. There is strong evidence that elements of a
North Vietnamese Army regiment have moved southeastward
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from the Plain and are preparing to attack Government
forces which thus far have thwarted Communist ef-
forts to reopen Route 4 south of Xieng Khouangville.
There is also evidence that local Pathet Lao and Dis-
sident Neutralist forces intend to attack the Route
7/13 intersection at Sala Phou Khoun in the near
future, although their ability to capture and hold
this road junction is questionable.
14. Following is a brief account of significant
combat incidents which occurred between 30 March and
5 April and which were clearly initiated by Com-
munist forces in violation of the Laos ceasefire
agreement:
(a) On 30 March, North Vietnamese Army
forces conducted an attack-by-fire
and a two-company ground attack
against a Royal Lao Army (FAR) posi-
tion near the former Royal Lao Gov-
ernment irregular base at Pha Dong,
southeast of the Plain of Jars. The
FAR defenders were forced to with-
draw from the position.
(b) On 31 March, there was a low level
of military activity throughout Laos.
(c) On 1 April, there was no significant
activity countrywide.
(d) On 2 April, again there was no
significant activity throughout Laos.
(e) On 3 April, the position of a RLG
battalion northeast of Khong Sedone
in MR-IV was attacked by an estimated
Communist battalion supported by
approximately 350 rounds of mortar
fire. The RLG force deployed in
this sector also received about 160
rounds of mortar fire in its reg-
imental command post area. Despite
the reported intensity of this action,
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casualties were light and RLG forces
apparently lost no positions. A
series of Communist ground and mortar
attacks against a RLG battalion
located north of Ban Houei Sai in
MR-I forced the friendly unit to
withdraw 20 kilometers westward to
the Mekong River, and possibly across
it into Burma.
(f) On 4 April, only light contact was
reported throughout Laos.
(g) On 5 April, again only light activity
was reported.
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