COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 6, 2004
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: April 27, 1973
• Content Type: PERRPT

Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
Top Secret
,tEY1-IGg LLI~FJ~~
.
w~
a 9~ Z.
t7j
J a,W"sr.rtsa W~'b ~ .fie
Tenth Report
COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF
THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS
(This report covers the week from
20 April through 26 April 1973)
This memorandum has been prepared jointly by the
Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense
DIA review(s) completed.
Top Secret
27
27 April 1973
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
27 April 1973
Tenth Report
COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF
THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS*
(This report covers the week from
20 April through 26 April 1973)
The Key Points
25X1
Heavy North Vietnamese logistic activity con-
tinues, however, all along the Ho Chi Minh trail
in southern Laos and in northern South Vietnam.
We have received further evidence that the Com-
munists are continuing to construct roads which
parallel the Ho Chi Minh trail system, but are
located wholly inside South Vietnam.
They are also extending a road toward Sa Huynh
in Quang Ngai Province, a town which they tried
to capture for a seaport at the time of the
ceasef ire .
Combat activity during the week was at a low
level in both South Vietnam and Laos.
* This report has been prepared jointly by the
Central Intelligence Agency and the Department
of Defense.
Approved F
25X1
25X1
 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
The Details
25X1
NOTE: This is the tenth 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) Com-
munist-instigated combat activity in violation of
Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
 25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
B. Movement of Military Equipment and Supplies To-
ward and Into South Vietnam and Laos
6. The reporting period was again characterized
by heavy Communist logistical activity in southern
North Vietnam, the Laos Panhandle, and northern South
Vietnam. Detected vehicle traffic was unusually high
in the Laos Panhandle, particularly on Route 99, a
main north-south road extending through the central
Panhandle. Continuing NVA truck traffic was also
seen on the primary feeder routes from southern
Laos into the northern regions of South Vietnam.
The level of NVA logistic activity within South
Vietnam was down somewhat from the previous week.
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Logistic activity in the southern part
or nurrn nam continued at the level of the
preceding several weeks, and truck traffic moving
south through the entry corridors into Laos was also
at about the same level as that observed last week.
were seen moving from Vinh toward destinations in
northern Laos.
25X1
Small quantities of supplies also
Approved If
25X1
 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
7. The following instances of Communist lo-
gistic activity were observed in South Vietnam during
the week. Activity observed in South Vietnam prob-
ably reflects supplies which have recently entered
the country. (.The map on the following page shows
the roads and route numbers which appear below.)
(a) Evidence of the following Communist
road construction activity in South
Vietnam was received during the re-
porting period.
(1) a 4-mile extension
or mo?ora e road was observed
on Route 614 south of the A Shau
Valley. Currently, there is an
18-mile gap between the limit of
construction on Route 614 and
similar road improvement activity
occurring on Route 14.
25X1
(.2) there was an 8-
mile segment of newly constructed
road extending east from Route
514 to within 5 miles of the
coastal town of Sa Huynh in
Quang Ngai Province.
(.3) a 52-mile segment of
cleared road was observed ex-
tending south from the Route 19
border crossing in Pleiku Prov-
ince into central Darlac Province.
42 cargo trucks were ob-
te 9 between Dong Ha and
the Laos border (23 eastbound, 7 west-
bound, 12 parked).
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R0001001 P0005-2
 Ball
Karai
,Pass
Khong
educe
Cambodia
kb&A
soar boa t
uong H a
U69
ZON F
South Vietnam
and
North Vietnam Panhandle
--- -.-- Province boundary
AN Military region
'_'- * International Commission
of Control and Supervision
region boundary
Railroad
Road
POL pipeline
Approved For Rell 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R0001001 5 5e 5 Pd ee
75 Kilometers
LAttopeu
25X1
Names and boundary representation
are not necessarily authorirstive
501694 3-73 CIA
 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
(d) I Ithere were 36 cargo ve-
hicles parked on a feeder road running
south from Route 9 southwest of Dong
Ha.
(e) 13 cargo trucks were ob-
serve on Route 9 west of Cam Lo (7
eastbound, 6 parked). Also on that
date, 16 trucks were seen on Route 1
north of Dong Ha (1 northbound, 5 south-
bound, 10 parked), as well as 24 buses
parked along the road.
8, During the reporting period the following
indications of North Vietnamese logistic activity
in southern Laos were noted. Historical precedent
would suggest that much of this activity probably
involved supplies destined for South Vietnam.
(a) The following NVA vehicle activity
was observed during the reporting
period on Route 99 between Muong Nong
and the route's intersection with
Route 96 southeast of Ban Bac.
(1) 19 April--180 cargo vehicle (17
northbound, 51 southbound, 112
parked).
(2) 20 April--47 cargo vehicles (1
northbound, 42 southbound, 4
parked).
(3) 21 April--164 cargo trucks (43
southbound, 67 northbound, 54
parked).
(4) 23 April--262 cargo trucks (113
northbound, 91 southbound, 58
parked).
(5) 24 April--146 cargo trucks (49
northbound, 17 southbound, 80
parked).
(.6) 25 April--107 cargo vehicles (25
northbound, 30 southbound, 52
parked).
Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80TO1719R0001 p0160005-2
25X1
25X1
 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
(b) The following activity was observed
on Route 92 north of Muong Nong during
the reporting period: 82 cargo ve-
hicles on 19 April (47 northbound, 27
southbound, 8 parked); 23 cargo ve-
hicles on 20 April (5 northbound, 18
southbound); 34 cargo trucks on 23
April (20 northbound, 14 southbound);
13 trucks on 24 April (5 northbound,
8 southbound); 83 cargo trucks on 25
April (44 northbound, 39 southbound).
(c) During the period 20 through 22 April,
a number of NVA logistic units op-
erating in the Laos Panhandle adjacent
to or in GVN MR 1 handled large ship-
ments of supplies, consisting primarily
of ordnance and ammunition.
25X1
(e) On 21 April 47 cargo vehicles were
seen traveling on Route 966 east of
Chavane (31 eastbound, 6 westbound,
10 parked). There were also 47 ve-
hicles observed on this route on 24
April (34 eastbound, 7 westbound, 6
parked).
(f) On 23 April there were 75 cargo trucks
on Route 9211 southeast of Saravane
(13 northbound, 29 southbound, 33
parked). On 24 April, 82 cargo ve-
hicles were observed on this route
(10 northbound, 70 southbound, 2
parked). On 25 April, 32 cargo ve-
hicles were detected on the route (2
northbound, 21 southbound, 9 parked).
25X1
25X1
Approved FcIr Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2 I 25X1
 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
(g) On 24 April 70 eastbound cargo trucks
were moving on Route 9 east of Tchepone.
C. Combat Activity Initiated by Communist Forces
In South Vietnam Since the Ceasefire
10. 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 (20-26 April) are shown below:
Military
Total Since Ceasefire
Last Week (20-26 Apr)
Region
Level of Action
Level of Action
MR 1
Major
817
Minor
2,758
Major
39
Minor
111
MR 2
196
1,316
10
85
MR 3
290
1,843
14
101
MR 4
444
4,047
26
277
Totals
1,747
9,964
89(.116)1/
574(.633)1/
1/ Denotes totals of previous week.
25X1
25X1
Approved For (Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R0001001 40005-2
25X1
 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
11. 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 objec-
tive fashion. In some cases, the Joint Military
Commission (GVN/PRG) also reports violations of the
ceasefire.
12. The following is a chronological listing
of only the most significant "major" Communist vio-
lations of the ceasefire in South Vietnam that were
reported by the South Vietnamese Armed Forces during
the past week.
MILITARY REGION 1
Between 20 and 26 April friendly units west
and southwest of Hue received 2,576 rounds
in 36 separate attacks-by-fire.
MILITARY REGION 2
On 21 and 24 April, enemy forces attacked
elements of two infantry battalions three
miles southeast of Bong Son in Binh Dinh
Province.
MILITARY REGION 3
Enemy pressure against the Tonle Cham base
camp continued at a decreasing level be-
tween 21 and 27 April.
MILITARY REGION 4
On 19, 20, and 21 April, enemy forces at-
tacked elements of an ARVN infantry reg-
iment on six separate occasions 12 miles
northeast of Chau Due.
Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R00010016000q-2
25X1
25X1
 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
CEASE-FIRE VIOLATIONS IN SOUTH VIETNAM AS REPORTED BY RVNAF
(28 JANUARY 1913 TO THE PRESENT)
JAN-FIB
4UU
300
200
0 1 I L I N
1 R I L ~~'l N oft 4,
. .0 po 01A 1%
MAR
4UU
300
200
APR
q~r~~ !I ~! 71 11
MAY
Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
D. Combat Activity initiated by Communist Forces
in Laos During the Week from 20-26 April
13. Three major incidents were recorded in
North Laos during the week. The first involved
the capture by Communist forces of three Royal Lao
Army (FAR) defensive positions in northwestern
Sayaboury Province. The other two involved Commu-
nist ground and shelling attacks which caused the
abandonment of FAR positions north and southeast
of the Plain of Jars. No major military activity
was reported in South Laos during the week.
14. Following is a brief account of significant
combat incidents which occurred between 20 and 26
April, and which were clearly initiated by Commu-
nist forces in violation of the Laos ceasefire agree-
ment:
(a) On 20 April, a Communist battalion
launched simultaneous attacks against
three Government positions in north-
western Sayaboury Province. All three
positions were lost. (These positions
are west of the Mekong River and as
close as 5 kilometers to the Thai
border.) The Royal Lao Government is
currently--as of 26 April--redeploying
several FAR units into position to
counterattack in this area.
(b) On 21 April, no significant military
activity occurred throughout Laos.
(c) On 22 April, a Communist battalion
attacked and captured the FAR position
at Phou Vieng, 20 kilometers northwest
of Bouam Long in Military Region II.
The attack was supported by over 400
rounds of mortar and artillery fire.
(d) On 23 April, no significant activity
occurred in Laos.
(e) On 24 April, military activity re-
mained light throughout Laos.
25X1
25X1
pproved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
(f) On 25 April, activity again was at a
low level in Laos.
(g) On 26 April, a Communist ground and
shelling attack drove Government forces
further from the vicinity of Tha Vieng,
southeast of the Plain of Jars. This
sector was the scene of recent heavy
fighting which triggered a U.S. bombing
response.
Approved For
25X1
25X1
 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
Next 4 Page(s) In Document Exempt
Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
 25X1
pproved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2
Top secret
Top Secret
Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80T01719R000100160005-2