DEVELOPMENTS IN INDOCHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00875R001100010053-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 17, 2005
• Sequence Number: 53
• Publication Date: June 15, 1973
• Content Type: SUMMARY

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i MUL I 'I' 1 ."P/ /M 25X1
Developments in Indochina
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Secret
12 225
15 June 173
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Developments in Indochina 25X1
CONTENTS
15 June 1973
CAMBODIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
A glimpse at provincial capitals in Cam-
bodia, which are out of the glare of pub-
licity, reveals a mosaic of contrasts.
Most are still under government control,
isolated from Phnom Penh as well as from
the surrounding countryside. Daily life
in these cities and towns ranges from
squalor to relative prosperity. These
differences are largely related to their
proximity to the war and the character of
Khmer Communist control in nearby rural
areas.
SOUTH VIETNAM. . . . 3
some independent and opposition elements
are trying to line up slates for the sen-
atorial elections in August, but the early
filing time of 17 June will prevent some
from running.
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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS 7
The North Vietnamese have dropped another
hint that they will be seeking ways to
lessen their dependence on Peking and Mos-
cow.
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CAMBODIA
Cambodia 'a Other Coals
Economic conditions in Cambodia's provincial
capitals--which receive little publicity--are an im-
portant indicator of national stability and present
an intriguing mosaic of contrasts. Most provincial
capitals still under government control are isolated
not only from Phnom Penh but, in most cases, from
the surrounding countryside. Daily life in these
cities and towns ranges from squalor to relative pros-
perity. These differences are largely related to their
proximity to the war and the character of Khmer Commu-
nist control in nearby rural areas. US airpower--or
the threat of it--has prevented the Communists from
taking some capitals, such as Takeo. In other cases,
however, the Communists may see little to be gained
by the occupation of deteriorating, refugee-filled
cities when their control of the countryside puts
the responsibility for the cities' survival on the
already overburdened Phnom Penh government.
Of all the capitals still in government hands,
Kompong Thom has deteriorated the most. Once a cross-
roads town of 10,000 people, it has been transformed
by three years of virtual siege into an enclave of
15,000, over half of whom are refugees and the rest
military and their dependents. Almost none of the
prewar inhabitants remain. All essential commodities
must be flown in. Food particularly is a problem;
only 175 tons of rice were harvested in the surround-
ing area last season, compared with over 10,000 tons
in 1970.
Svay Rieng City, which has been cut off from
Phnom Penh for over a year, is only marginally better
off. Government control extends slightly beyond the
city limits, but includes 100,000 people, one quarter
of whom are refugees. Prior to the war, the city
could draw on rice production from some 130,000 hec-
tares in the province, but now only 2,300 hectares
can be cultivated. Consequently, most food and all
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other supplies must be airlifted in. Svay Rieng is
a considerable drain on Phnom Penh, which has neither
the military power to relieve the city's isolation
nor the means to keep it continually supplied by air.
In contrast, the capitals of Battambang, Pailin,
and Kompong Cham have generally been models of serenity.
Battambang City is at the hub of Cambodia's richest
rice-growing province, most of which is under govern-
ment control. Until shelled twice this week by the
Communists, Battambang was almost unaffected by the
war. Industry still flourishes in the city, rice
supplies are abundant, and needed commodities.are
easily imported from Thailand. Prices are substan-
tially lower than those in Phnom Penh.
Pailin is a case where the economic resources
of the area and the distance from the mainstream of
the war have combined to produce a relatively healthy
urban center. A substantial gem industry in the prov-
ince makes Pailin one of Cambodia's wealthier cities.
It is not self-sufficient in rice, but is rich in
other agri^..ultural products and has substantial trade
with Battambang and Thailand. Almost half of the
city's 50,000 inhabitants are refugees drawn from
other areas, but most are self-supporting.
In Kompong Cham, Cambodia's third largest city,
there has been accommodation between the two sides
primarily for commercial purposes. This has meant
that the city is relatively free from attack, the
western portion of Route 7 is secure by day, and the
Communists are able to procure supplies through city
merchants. Attracted by this comparative stability,
there are 70,000 people in the city, with another
100,000 in surrounding government-held areas. Most
of the city's 30,000 refugees--although underemployed--
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are working. Kompong Cham draws most of its rice from
Phnom Penh but is self-sufficient in other foodstuffs
and ships vegetables to the national capital. A large
textile mill is still in operation. Most importantly,
rubber is being produced at Cambodia's major planta-
tions in enemy-held territory and sold in Kompong Cham
for shipment to Phnom Penh. Rubber production had
ceased earlier in the war, but is now about 25 to 50
percent of the prewar level of 50,000 tons annually.
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SOUTH VIETNAM
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In Search of Senate
Candidateo
The government has confirmed that slates wish-
ing to participate in the Senate election must file
the names of their candidates by 17 June. Some in-
dependent and opposition elements are trying to line
up slates, but it remains doubtful whether they will
meet the deadline. There has been some discussion
about forming a united opposition slate composed of
all of the major non-Communist forces outside of the
government camp, but this now seems unlikely. Leaders
of some of these groups apparently are determined to
sit the election out.
President Thieu's Democracy Party seems certain
to run two slates, and possibly more. Democracy Party
leaders reportedly are recommending to Thieu that to
protect itself against the specter of a one-party
election, the government party should run four slates.
Two of these would be "buffer" slates that could with-
draw if opposition lists are entered. Of the other
two slates, only one would be composed of known Democ-
racy Party members. The other would consist of covert
party members, including retired generals and repre-
sentatives of religious groups.
Thieu reportedly is stressing the importance of
a Democracy Party victory in the election, claiming
this will enable him to enact constitutional amend-
ments for more effective administration of the coun-
try. The government would have to elect two slates
in order to give Thieu's supporters firm control in
the Senate.
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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
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The North Vietnamese have dropped another hint
that they will be seeking ways to lessen their de-
pendence on Peking and Moscow, whose policies, Hanoi
believes, have undermined the North Vietnamese posi-
tion. This was reflected in an article in the Swed-
ish press on 14 June by a correspondent who recently
traveled to Hanoi with Swedish Foreign Minister Wick-
man. The article was based on conversations with
Hoang Tung, editor of the party journal Nhan Dan.
Tung indicated that t;te relationships among the three
superpowers are creating "more and rore complications"
for the small states, including North Vietnam. Fortu-
nately, says Tung, many small states "have begun to
decide for themselves" and "are no lonjer chess pawns
for the superpowers."
According to the article, Tung lamented the detri-
mental effects of the Sino-Soviet split on the Vietna-
mese war effort. "Our war of resistance," Tung said,
"would have been simpler and our victories greater if
there had not been so great divisions between the Soviet
Union and China." He claimed that, among other things,
the conflict had "bad effects on the morale of our
fighters."
The Swedish correspondent quoted unidentified
sources as saying that Hanoi intends to cooperate with
three groups of countries as a counterweight to the
three superpowers--the industrial powers such as
Sweden and Japan, the "small democratic countries,"
and the countries of Southeast Asia.
The Swede cited North Vietnam's interest in at-
tending the coming conference of non-aligned state's in
Algiers as an indication of fhpi r f?4-?ro 4"+----4-
15 June 1973
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