HECKLERS DISRUPT CIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01315R000300530011-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 21, 2004
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: February 20, 1974
• Content Type: NSPR

MICHIGAN STATE 1 WS, (EAST LA
0 FEB 1 9?lt
'
State News Staff Writer
Twenty to 30 people questioned,
heckled and laughed at a Central:
Intelligence Agency branch chief on;
campus Tuesday.
Philip A. True, head of the East Asia
Branch of the CIA Office of Basic and
Geographic Intelligence, was invited by
the MSU Geography Dept. Colloquium
Committee to speak on applied geographic
research in the CIA.
The protesters, representing the Young
Socialist Alliance and the Southern
African Liberation Committee, packed the
back of a small room in the Natural
Science Building and spilled into the hall.
Approximately 25 other people attending
seemed to be nonprotesters.
Before True was introduced, Barbara
Riemer, asst. professor of psychology,
stated the protesters' position that the
CIA has no right to speak at MSU_because
of its active suppression of democratic
freedoms.
An cider geography major who could
not get into the room said: "It's unfair.
that these protesters should create a stir
and take seats away from those who want
to hear. They should mane their point at
the beginning and then leave.'"
`--' A single page statement handed out by
the protesters at the door, claimed:
GThe CIA is attempting to suppress
publication of the book "Politics of
Heroin in Southeast Asia" by Alf red
McCoy; which documents CIA
participation in heroin traffic.
The CIA-is in court to stop a former
agent from publishing his memoirs.
?The MSU Vietnam Project from 1955
to 1961 was used as a front for the CIA,
violating the Geneva convention.
The handout also claimed that the CIA
"subverts the basic human rights of life
and liberty and democratic self
determination," citing "well documented
Involvement" in Cambodia, Laos, Chile,
Brazil, Guatemala, Iran and Greece. True
remained calm, ignoring heckling and
giggling throughout his 25 ? minute
description of what CIA geographers and
cartographers do.
When True finished, Bill Buckler,
Geography Dept. graduate assistant, said:
"On behalf of those here, I thank you for
your talk and apologize for the
disruptions."
Asked about geographical research
behind the bombing of the Red River
dikes in North Vietnam, True said no
information on that had been requested
from his department as far as lie knew.
After failing to respond to several long,
complex questions from protesters, True
v ?l ed it 1 d 1
a as as c 1
e
isrup
T
Michigan State News, East Lansi
Out now
Tim Cain holds a sign in the Natural Science Bldg. protesting the
presence of a representative of the Central I ntelligence Agency who
visited campus Tuesday. The representative, Philip A. True, spoke
about geographic research in the CIA.
State News photo by Julie Blough
"If I don't know, I can't answer," True
said. "The questions seemed more like.
statements to me."
At the end, True thanked the group lor-
an interesting and stimulating hour, and
raid he would be willing to come back to
MSU anytime. Several persons shouted,,
'L I A C(t~ /,oz/ l Rv`e,-o1,411.,
1
was un 1rAorc rovetl F? Pr'
answer. pp aa'2'?604/10/13 : CIA-RDP88-01315R000300530011-2