A WEEKLY PUBLICATION OF THE EMBASSY OF VIE2'-NAM 2251 "R" Street, N. W. Woshinat~Y/. D. C (Telephone: ) Week of June 1-6, 1970

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1 Vol IV, No. 13 ULLETIN A WEEKLY PUBLICATION OF THE EMBASSY OF VIE2'-NAM 2251 "R" Street, N. W. Woshinat~Y/. D. C (Telephone: ) Week of June 1-6, 1970 Poli tics FORMER CHIEF OF STATE PHAN KHAC SUU DIES Saigon, May 25, Mr. Phan Khac Suu former Chief of State of the Republic of Viet-Nam passed away Sunday morning at his private residence No. 686 Phan Dinh Phung Street, at the age of 65. A well-known patriot and political figure of South Viet-Nam, Mr. Phan Khac Suu had been sent in exile twice in Con Son Penitentiary Island for his revolutionary activities. He was also a former President of the Constituent Assembly. Saigon, May 30, President Nguyen Van Thieu Friday noon pinned the National Order Medal 1st class on the coffin of the Former Chief of State Phan Khac Suu at the latter's burial service at Mac Dinh Chi Cemetery. Mr. Phan Khac Suu was posthumously awarded the medal for his achievements in the anti-french resistance and his devotion to national services while he was Chief of State in Attending the funeral service were Senate Chairman Nguyen Van Huyen, Lower House speaker Nguyen Ba Luong, Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky, Madame Nguyen Van Thieu, Cabinet members and a large number of lawmakers. Mr. Phac Suu was the second person to be presented with the National Order Medal First Class after General Le Van Ty who died in Saigon, May 30, The funeral service of former Chief of State Phan Khac Suu took place early Friday afternoon at Mac Dinh Chi Cemetery. Present at the last tribute paying ceremony were President Nguyen Van Thieu and the first lady, Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky, Senate President Nguyen Van Huyen, Lower House Speaker Nguyen Ba Luong and Defense Minister Nguyen Van Vy. -1-

2 The funeral service was held in accordance with Caodaist Rites. Also present were several ranking legislative, executive, judiciary, political personalities and religious dignitaries. At the ceremony, President Thieu, extended his condolences to Madame Phac Khac Suu and the bereaved family, and pinned the National Order Medal First Class on the former Chief of State's coffin. Senate President Nguyen Van Huyen in his oration said that the Vietnamese people are losing a patriot who had devoted his whole lifetime to the service of the nation. Lower House Speaker Nguyen Ba Luong expressed his deep regret for the passing away of a respectful revolutionary. President Thieu's Assistant Tran Van An, speaking for his comrades of the Viet Nam Revolutionary People's Party, read a funeral oration, highlighting the revolutionary works of the Former Chief of State. In another funeral oration, a Caodaist dignitary gave prominence to the deceased's great contributions to the Cao Dai Church. In his lifetime Mr. Phan Khac Suu was once Director of the Cao Dai Faith Propagation Service. High ranking personalities and dignitaries of ten political and religious communities took turns in giving orational speeches to pay their last respect to the former Chief of State. Earlier, it took the funeral procession some three hours to reach the Mac Dinh Chi Cemetery at 1:25 p.m. with about 10,000 mourners in attendance. Prior to entering the capital city's cemetery the funeral procession made a seve-. ral minute halt in front of the Lower House. The funeral procession slowly moved through eight principal arteries of the capital city: Phan Dinh Phung, Cao Thang, Hong Thap Tu, Duy Tan,Tu Do, Hai Ba Trung and Phan Thanh Gian. Making the queue of the procession were several hundred students. Former Chief of State Phan Khac Suu was born on January 9, 1905 in My Thuan Village (Can Tho). He made his advanced studies in France and graduated as an agriculture engineer. In 1930, he attended the demonstration of Paris students protesting the trial of Yen Bay by the French Colonialists. Returning to Viet-Nam, he assumed the functions of Chief of Economic and Technical Service, in 1940 he was a member of the Vietnamese Revolutionary People's Party, and was later deported by the French to Con Son Island. In 1945, he joined the resistance against the French and remained in the Maquis until 1947, In 1948 he was elected President of Social Democrat Party and went to China. In 1949 he was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Social Welfare and Labor by Emperor Bao Dai. Five months later, he resigned as a protest to the lack of sincerity of the French. -2-

3 In 1945 he was nominated Secretary of State for Agriculture concurrently Director General of Land Reform by President Ngo Dinh Diem. He later opposed President Diem's dictatorship and resigned. In 1959 he was elected Deputy of the National Assembly, but he made proof of sharp opposition to President Diem's despotism. Following the 190 abortive ment. He was set free in nal Supreme Council. Two years of the Constituent Assembly. coup, he was arrested and condemned to' 8 years imprison In 1964 he was selected as Chief of State by the Natiolater, On September 11, 1966 he was elected President In 1968 he founded the political Tan Dan Movement. After several months of illness, Mr. Ph an Khac Suu died on May 24, 1970 at the age of 65 at his private residence. CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT ADOPTS ACTIVE MEASURES TO PROTECT VIETNAMESE NATIONALS Sagion, May 25, As a result of the intervention of the RVN mission, the Cambodian government has applied active measures to protect the lives and properties of Vietnamese nationals living in Cambodia. Official sources said in a communique dated May 22 the Cambodian government made known from now on it will adopt strict punitive measures against those who distrub public order including Cambodians and foreigners of any social class. Meanwhile Cambodian Prime Minister Lon Nol also ordered servicemen, security agents and para-military youths who are responsible for the protection of Vietnamese residents to detain any elements who take advantage of the situation to rob, blackmail the Vietnamese or illegally occupy the latter's homes. CAMBODIAN F.M. WELCOMES ARVN COOPERATION Sagion, May 25, Upon his arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport Monday morning, Cambodian Prime Minister concurrently Foreign Minister Yem Sambaur said he welcomed the RVN government's cooperation in the fight against the Communists but he had not thought about the formation of a Vietnamese-Cambodian military alliance, at the time being. Foreign Minister Yem Sambaur made it clear that at present Cambodia still retains its neutrality and respects the Geneva 1954 agreements and Bandung declaration. Hence the problem of the formation of a military alliance could not be raised. He recalled the joint communique of the recent Djakarta conference on Cambodia which asserted the maintenance of the neutrality, independence and territorial integrity of Cambodia. -3-

4 Asked about the presence of the RVN Armed Forces in Cambodia, the Cambodian Foreign Minister said his government had agreed to let the RVN military units to launch combined operations with the Khmer forces to destroy military bases and basecamps of North Viet Nam and the Viet Cong in Cambodia. Cambodia was glad to welcome the cooperation of the Republic of Viet-Nam Armed Forces in this scope; he said. On this occasion, Foreign Minister Yem Sambaur energetically refuted a newsman's question alleging that the Cambodian press and radio have continued their criticizing campaign against the Vietnamese nationals in Cambodia. In a prepared statement released to newsmen at the airport, Minister Yem Sambaur expressed his happiness in leading the first Cambodian delegation to visit the RVN since last He hoped this visit would open a new era for the close cooperation between the two countries and he was determined to seek an agreement with the RVN government and a firm liaison between the two peoples so as to together fight the common enemy, Communist North Viet-Nam and the Viet Congo Minister Sembaur admitted that the RVN efficient assistance has gallantly contributed to the just fight of the Cambodian people and army in the protection of their independence, neutrality and territorial integirty. On behalf of the Khmer people and government, Minister Sambaur thanked the RVN for the warm welcome extended to the Cambodian delegation. MUTUAL ASSISTANCE TO VIETNAMESE REPATRIATED FROM CAMBODIA Saigon, May 25, n the first day of the "Mutual Assistance Week" to the benefit of the Vietnamese nationals repatriated from Cambodia, President Nguyen Van Thieu Sunday urged the entire people to actively support the local People's Relief Committee with the contribution of money and materials, so as to help the government obtain necessary means for the relief of the refugees. President Thieu said the RVN government does not advocate the repatriation of all Vietnamese nationals in Cambodia but it will negotiate with the Cambodian government so that the Vietnamese nationals staying in Cambodia will live in security and get proper assistance. Therefore, we must get sufficient means and be present everywhere in the Cambodian territory to give assistance to our compatriots in a concrete manner, the President said. According to President Thieu's instruction, the "Mutual Assistance Week," began Sunday, May 24th. -4-

5 RELIEF FUND FOR REPATRIATED VIETNAMESE Saigon, May 29, As of May 26, the Relief Committee for Vietnamese Nationals Repatriated from Cambodia collected 2,176,545 piasters contributed by benefactors and various agencies and associations. Included in this amount were 500,000 piasters from the ROK Hanjip Transportation Company and the Korean Airl1ne, 30,000 piasters cheque from "Les Lauriers" School and 6,350 piasters from Air Viet-Nam (Ban Me Thuot Branch). In addition the Relief Committee also received 144 U.S. dollars contributed by Vietnamese students in Lausanne, Switzerland. Besides, sources from the city's People Committee for Relief to Vietnamese Repatriated from Cambodia said, the Committee received 1,015,000 piasters during the first two days of its week-long fund-raising drive starting last May 26. Foreign Relations CAMBODIAN-VIETNAMESE JOINT COMMUNIQUE RELEASED Saigon, May 28, A joint communique was released Wednesday afternoon at the outcome of two days of discussions between the RVN and Cambodian delegations. In the 17-point communique Cambodia's Foreign Minister Yem Sambuar asserted that Cambodia had severed diplomatic relations with North Viet-Nam and the so-called "South Viet-Nam Provisional Revolutionary Government." The two delegations agreed on the resumption of diplomatic relations between the RVN and Cambodia, at Ambassadorial level. The statement in French and Vietnamese was released at a press conference at the Foreign Ministry presided over by the two Foreign Ministers in the presence of an approximate 100 Vietnamese and foreign newsmen. On this occasion, Cambodian Foreign Minister Yem Sambaur re-asserted his pledge to protect the lives and properties of the Vietnamese nationals living in Cambodia, and to apply appropriate measures to ensure security for the Vietnamese who remain in that country. The Cambodian government will also give every facility to newly repatriated Vietnamese who want to return to Cambodia. To Minister Yem Sambaur's suggestion on the status of the Khmer community in Viet-Nam, Foreign Minister Tran Van Lam said he will consider it with a sincere spirit of cooperation in line with the RVN's Constitution. The Cambodian Foreign Minister invited Minister Lam to make an official visit to Cambodia, which the Vietnamese Foreign Minister accepted. Official date of the tour will be determined later. -5-

6 The two diplomats agreed to improve the relations between the two countries and consented to respect the UN Charter principles and the territorial integrity of each other as well as the present common borders. The joint communique also spelled out the necessity to normalize the economic and financial relations between the two countries and to settle as soon as possible all conflicting issues relating to the interests of the two countries. The two Ministers agreed that ARVN troops will withdraw from Cambodian territory when their mission in that country is completed. Minister Yem Sambaur expressed the admiration of the Cambodian government and people toward the courage and determination of the Vietnamese people in their anti Communist struggle. He also thanked the RVN government for its intervention in Cambodia. During its stay in Viet-Nam, the Cambodian delegation headed by Minister Sambaur paid courtesy calls on high-ranking officials of the RVN government and was received by President Nguyen Van Thieu, Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky and Prime Minister Tran Thien Khiem. INNOTECH TO BE SET UP FOR VIET-NAM Saigon, May 28, Delegates of the Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Secretariat (SEAMES) arrived in Saigon Tuesday afternoon for a round of discussions with Vietnamese educators on the construction project of the Education Modernization and Technology Innovation Center for Viet-Nam (INNOTECH). Included in the SEAMES development program were Ly Chanh Duc, Provisional Director of INNOTECH, Dr. Jacobs, SEAMES Consultant, Dr. Pratt and Mr. Cmulanongkorn. The SEAMES delegates arrived in Viet-Nam at the invitation of the RVN delegation at the SEAMES conference held in Bangkok last May The RVN will be represented at the talks by Professor Tran Van Tan, Dean of the Pedagogy faculty and a number of Viet-Nam experts. The two-day meeting opened Tuesday at the Education Ministry's Educational Materials Center, 240 Tran Binh Trong, Saigon. -6-

7 -- RVN STAND AT PARIS INTERNATIONAL FAIR HONORED Saigon, May 29, The RVN Consulate General in Paris recently reported that the RVN stand at the 1970 Paris International Fair won the honor prize reserved for foreign participants. In a cable sent to the Economy Minister on this occasion, Secretary of State at the Prime Minister's office Nguyen Van Yang, conveyed Prime Minister Tran Thien Khiem's congratulations to officials who had organized the stand and businessmen having their products exhibited at the fair. Previously, the Vietnamese stand had been awarded a diploma and a medal of honor. The RVN stand had attracted large numbers of visitors for its attractive decoration and valuable handicraft products, particularly lacquerwares. Moreover, during the fair from April 25 to May 10 the RVN delegation was permanently present at the stand to explain to visitors the "Land-to-the-Tiller" law, the RVN government policy of encouraging industrial investment and the situation of foreign firms in Viet-Nam. Economics & Finance MIN. OF STATE THUC: ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES STEM FROM CHANGE OF WAR SITUATION Saigon, May 22, Professor Vu Quoc Thuc, Minister of State for Reconstruction and Development Friday evening said economic and financial difficulties of the Republic of Viet-Nam in 1970 stem from the boiling war to the fading out of the fighting which is considered the post-war situation. ', Guest speaker of this week's televised "People Want to Know" program initiated by Viet-Nam Press, Professor Thuc said at war time, we receive many unexpected resources but as the war comes to an end our national economy will face much more difficulties, lack more foreign currency and the people's living conditions will become harder. According to Prof. Thuc, this situation has confused the people and this very confusion is a "quite important factor in the year of 1970." He made known that in 1969 the RVN only exported 14 million U.S. dollars while imported 726 million dollars and the currency in circulation at present has amounted to 150 billion piasters. Prof. Thuc stressed our economy has not been strong enough to shoulder the burden of the present war. -7-

8 To solve this problem, he said, we must start the economic development by active and large-scale investment. Prof. Thuc also appealed to those who have enriched themselves by this war to invest in the national development plans. He asserted that the government has never raised the problem of changing the present exchange rate of the piaster. According to Prof. Thuc, the recent judgment of the Supreme Court on the austerity tax had caused worrisome economic disturbances. The Minister of State remarked that a law-program will help the Executive carry out its activities easily and in accordance with the limited period. The same lawprogram in 1948 had helped the French government efficiently face the post-war situation, he added. ADDITIONAL MEASURES ON EQUALIZATION TAX PROMULGATED Saigon, May 22, In a communique released Thursday, the Economy Ministry said, according to the Supreme Court's decision the implementation of the Ministry's order on the austerity tax was suspended starting May 21. However, in order to prevent disturbances in the market price, due to the difference of austerity tax rates as well as dishonesties of profiteers, the Economy Ministry has temporarily applied additional measures on the equalization tax to adjust the prices of imported goods. The communique added, in the financial asepct, the suspension of the new austerity tax will cause a great loss on the 1970 national budget which had been approved by the National Assembly. Therefore, with the government approval, the Economy Ministry has temporarily carried out additional measures on the equalization tax so as to adjust the price of imported goods. These measures only aimed at balancing, not increasing prices. Consequently, the prices of goods will remain unchanged. These measures have also a provisional character pending the promulgation of a new law on the austerity tax. The concerned bill was already endorsed by the Lower House last April 30 and is now under discussion at the Senate the communique said. -8-

9 FINANCE MINISTER ON DRAFT-LAW PROGRAM I.~ Saigon, May 22, Finance Minister Nguyen Bich Hue Thursday night gave a talk over the national TV network on the draft-law program recently sent by the Executive to the National Assembly for discussions. The Minister said, the objectives of the draft-law program were as follows: to counteract enemy attempts at disrupting the national economy; to prevent monetary crisis likely to happen in the transitional stage from war to peace; to stipulate formalities and conditions aimed at encouraging investments and increasing productivity; to render assistance to low-income classes, particularly civil servants and servicemen. No devaluation of VN$ On this occasion, Mr. Hue said, the government advocated the increase of taxes (austerity tax since October 1968) in lieu of the devaluation of the Vietnamese piaster, in its efforts to meet enormous expenditures for national defense. The Finance Minister explained that with the devaluation of the piaster, the price of all commodities will be raised whereas with the tax increase, the price of first necessities prices will undergo no raise or only an insignificant raise. Mr. Hue also made known that the new draft-law program aimed only at improving the collection of taxes. Checking foreign currency blackmarketeering In an effort to prevent blackmarketeering on foreign currency, the new law will initiate a dual rate concerning foreign currency so as to draw the volume of black market currency estimated at 100 U.S. million a year. The new rate, slightly above the present 1 U.S.$ = 118 V.N.$, will be applicable only for a number of business dealings such as currency exchange for foreigners, tourism, transfer of foreign firms' dividends etc... Minister Hue stressed that the new draft law program will benefit particularly civil servants and militarymen, now affected by the present high cost of living. -9-

10 The War COMMUNIST ACTS OF TERRORISM DENOUNCED TO ICSC Saigon, May 27, The Vietnamese mission in charge of relations with the ICSC, in a protest note sent to the ICSC Secretariat General in Saigon on May 22, 1970, severely condemned the intensified acts of terrorism and sabotage committee by the North Vietnamese infiltrated troops in South Viet-Nam in April According to the note, the Communists deliberately perpetrated last month 230 criminal attacks including 44 assassinations, 30 abductions, 146 blasts of handgrenades, mines, TNT charges, and 10 cases of harassment or mining passenger buses. As a result, 349 civilians were reported killed, 1,146 injured and 150 kidnapped. The note also pointed out that during the first quarter of 1970, 1,169 civilians were killed, injured and 756 kidnapped in 669 terrorist acts caused by the North Vietnamese Communists. Fourteen typical incidents were singled out in the note to enlighten the ICSC on the barbarous and bloodthirsty acts of the North Vietnamese aggressors which denote on the part of the Communist authorities of Hanoi an obvious intention to prolong the state of war in South Viet-Nam. On behalf of the government of the Republic of Viet-Nam, the Vietnamese mission charged that the North Vietnamese authorities have not respected the life and property of the people of the Republic of Viet-Nam in violation of the 1954 Geneva Agreement on Viet-Nam. The mission earnestly requested the commission to undertake urgent investigation on the afore-mentioned violation and to denounce before international opinion the North Vietnamese aggressors' inhuman acts. Education PROF. H.B. JACOBINI VISITS VIET-NAM Saigon, May 25, Professor H.B. Jacobini, Director of Center for Vietnamese Studies and Programs at the Southern Illinois University, arrived in Saigon Sunday afternoon for a two-week visit to the Republic. Prof. Jacobini was scheduled to confer with Vietnamese educational officials and to make a tour of Sagion, Dalat and Can Tho Universities. The Center for Vietnamese Studies and Programs of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale is one of the most important U.S. university organizations for Vietna- -10-

11 mese studies. It started operations on July 1, 1969 within the scope of the University's international services division to study and gather documents on Viet-Nam and encourage the students and professors to make studies on Viet-Nam. The Center's Associate Director is Prof. Nguyen Dinh Hoa, former Counsellor for Cultural and Educational Affairs at the RVN Embassy in Washington, Professor of Linguistics and Chairman of the English Department at the Faculty of Letters, University of Saigon. Prof. Hoa is taking charge of elementary and advanced Vietnamese courses at the Center. Accompanying Prof. Jacobini was Mr. Danny J. Whitfield, Assistant to the Director for Administration who had assumed the post of Party Chief of the International Voluntary Service, Viet-Nam from ~~cial Feature (1) ARVN SHOWS MILITARY SKILL, RESTRAINT IN CAMBODIA Saigon, May 26, With Vietnamese forces in Kep, Cambodia--on May 17, the Commander of South Vietnamese Army and Navy Forces operating in the Southeastern corner of Cambodia was given the mission of securing four Communist-occupied towns. Troops of the 21st Army of the Republic of Viet-Nam (ARVN) Infantry Division were allotted five days to accomplish the task. They did the job in three days. This type of success is occurring frequently in the current Cambodian operations of ARVN. In little more than three weeks of operations, South Vietnamese forces are pushing North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces ba~k from the Cambodian-Vietnam border, capturing tons of weapons, ammunitions and rice (3,320 tons of the latter, so far.) South Viet-Nam army officers were confident of success from the start. 'I never had any doubts about my men, said Bridagier General Nguyen Vinh Nghi, Commanding General of the 21st Division. They are good fighters and well-disciplined.' General Nghi spoke about his men from a small command post four kilometers outside Ha Tien, a Vietnamese fighing village on the border of Cambodia and Viet-Nam on the Gulf of Thailand. To the west lies a series of small mountains, and on the other side of these mountains are 4,620 men of the 21st Division, now sweeping the rugged Cambodian terrain. The mission given General Nghi was to clear the Cambodian towns of Kompong Trach, Tani. Tuk Meas and Kep of Communist troops which had occupied them since April. Employing its armored calvary and infantry, the 21st Division was able to enter the towns without much difficulty. -11-

12 To avoid mass destruction of the Cambodian town General Nghi ordered his men to use only small arms weapons. Thus, little damage had been done to personal property by South Vietnamese soldiers when they had entered a new territory. We are trying our best to fight a friendly war, if such a thing is possible, explained the General. When South Viet-Nam army forces entered Kompong Trach they discovered 400 Cambodian soldiers who had been held as prisoners by the Communists. Many of these Cambodian soldiers were sick and exhausted. The South Vietnamese fed them and provided needed medical attention. Vietnamese field commanders are particularly careful in their relations with Cambodian villagers. Outside of Kompong Trach a resupply helicopter landed on a farm. The wind from the helicopter's blades blew the mangoes out of the farmer's trees. The Vietnamese ground commander immediately ordered his men to stack the fallen fruit in piles, and then he personally apologized to the farmer for the accident. Working under General Nghi's command are 30 vessels of the South Vietnamese Navy. Although less publicized than the army soldiers, the Vietnamese sailors playa vital function in the Cambodian operations. Commander Do-Kiem, chief of the Fourth Coastal Zone, explained the Navy's role. 'Our boats patrol along 70 kilometers (44 miles) of Cambodian coastline, we are here for several reasons; to guard against enemy coastal infiltration, provide gunfire support, bring in supplies, and transport any refugees who want to return to Viet-Nam.' The off-shore waters are crowded with fishing boats which must be stopped and searched. The coastal town of Kep, about 20 kilometers, 12.5 miles west of Ha Tien, was taken by the 21st division soldiers who were brought into the area by helicopter. The Communists were prepared for an invasion by sea. All their gun emplacements were facing the Gulf of Thailand and foxholes were dug along the beach road. Vietnamese inhabitants of Kep revealed that the Viet Cong made everyone remain indoors at night while they roamed through the town looking for schoolteachers and other educated people, the leaders of the town who were marked for execution. For the local people, the arrival of South Viet-Nam army troops means the end of uncertain frightening nights with the Viet Congo The 21st ARVN Division is combining tactical know-how with individual restraint in a campaign designed to inflict as little damage as possible on the local people and land. -12-

13 Special Feature (2) U.S. AUTHOR SEES VIET NAM COMMUNISTS REVERTING TO TERROR TACTICS Saigon, May 16, The Communists may stress terrorism rather than large-unit military actions, as their principal tactic in Viet-Nam during the next year or so, according to a veteran observer of the Viet-Nam war, Douglas Pike. This assessment of Communist intentions appears in a monograph by Mr. Pike entiled 'The Viet Cong Strategy of Terror', issued May 15 by the U.S. Mission in Saigon. Mr. Pike who has spent most of his adult life in Asia, is the author of two wellknown books on Viet-Nam: 'Viet Cong, the Organization and Techniques of the NLF of South Viet-Nam,' and 'War, Peace, and the Viet Cong' both published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press. In a foreword to the monograph Mr. Pike, a career foreign service officer with the U.S. Information Service, says the l25-page publication is intended to be 'of some aid in understanding Communist doctrine and strategy as they unfold during the crucial next year or two. Mr. Pike says, 'it is quite possible that the Communist leaders may during 1970 restructure the war and put the chief burden of the struggle on the shoulders of the terrorists. Indeed an increasingly impressive body of evidence from captured documents points clearly toward this eventuality.' He adds that the Viet Cong recently have stepped up their use of large-scale terror attacks, in the form of commando raids that primarily terrorize rather than accomplish military objectives. 'The capability, scope and importance of this sort of mass terror operation has broadened steadily in the past 18 months,' Mr. Pike notes. 'We can expect it to continue to grow in importance. This is a reflection of the steadily changing nature of the war since mid For the Communists it is a trend toward less costly warfare, especially less lavish expenditure of men and materials.' Mr. Pike presents a well-documented history of the Communists' calculated use of terrorism as an integral feature of their program to conquer South Viet-Nam. The reason for that strategy: 'It has become an axiom for the Communists that their successes are a direct function of the degree of people's sense of insecurity. The greater the insecurity, the better their prospects.' However, the effectiveness of terror as a political and psychological weapon has been overrated by the Communist leadership, Mr. Pike says. 'Despite intensive effort the villagers sense of insecurity is not driven upwards, or if it is refuses to stay there. The villagers anxiety is converted into hatred and increasingly they have taken calculated risks to strike back. -13-

14 The Communist leaders are prisoners of their own policy, Mr. Pike adds. 'If they were to eliminate terror as a base,' he says, 'they might win worldwide commendation but would commit suicide, and theirs is a power struggle, not a popularity contest. We can expect them to continue increased efforts to terrorize, but with diminished effect.' Besides sowing fear through terrorism, Mr. Pike says the Communists also count on terrorism as a means of 'eliminating' their most effective opponents at all leve!s of Vietnamese society. Terrorist squads regularly assassinate religious figures, school teachers or simply people of integrity and honor. 'Because they are superior individuals, they are the Communists most deadly enemy' he says. Mr. Pike reports: 'Steadily, quietly and with a systematic ruthlessness the Communists in ten years have wiped out virtually a whole class of Vietnamese villagers, and many villagers today are devoid of natural leaders, this loss to Viet-Nam is inestimable; its replacement will take a generation of more. ' During 1969, the Communists assassinated an average of 33 village officials every month, Mr. Pike says not counting rural development officials and other leaders were killed. Mr. Pike points out extensive references in Communist documents to 15 types of South Vietnamese_government officials and trade union leaders, forexample--who are slated for assassination if the Viet Cong ever are able to carry out their worst intentions. As estimated three million South Vietnamese would die if this Communist 'blood debt' list could be effectively implemented, Mr. Pike says. The Communists' killing of more than 4,000 civilians at Hue, Viet-Nam's cultural capital, during the 1968 Tet offensive is a grisly example of Viet Cong terrorism fully implemented, Mr. Pike says. During the Communists 26-day occupation of Hue, they murdered thousands of citizens simply because they were connected in some way with the government, because of personal revenge, or because--when allied forces began retaking the city--they wanted no witnesses to the crimes committed during their occupation of the city. 'The meaning of the Hue massacre seems clear,' Mr. Pike says. 'If the Communists win decisively in South Viet-Nam, what is the prospect? First, all foreigners would be cleared out of the South especially the hundreds of foreign newsmen who are in and out of Saigon. A curtain of ignorance would descend. Then would begin a night of long knives, all political opposition--actual or potential, would be systematically eliminated. 'But little of this would be known abroad. The Communists in Viet-Nam could create a silence. The world would call it peace. ' Books INTERNATIONAL BIOGRAPHIC~L DIRECTORY OF SOUTHEAST ASIA SPECIALISTS. Compiled by Robert O. Tilman $3.75. A collection of about 1,000 vitae of Southeast Asia specialists throughout the world preceded by an introductory analysis of the data collected. The study was undertaken as a project by the Interuniversity Southeast Asia Committee (ISAC) of the Association for Asian Studies. It is being distributed by the Center for International Studies, 98 University Terrace, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio U.S.A

15 VILT-NAH BULLETIN is a weekly publication of the 2mbassy of Viet-Nam, provided free of charge to all persons and organizations interested in vr,. All inqulrles and requests should be directed to VI2T KA~l BULLETIN, Embassy of Viet Nam, 2251 "R" Street, N. 'w., Washington, D.C Tel: In addition to VIET-NAH BUL LETIN, the Embassy of Viet Nam also publishes a Vietnamese-language monthly called TROI NAH. Readers who are interested in recelvlng this publication are kindly advised to fill in the opposite mailing form reserved for TROI NAM. VIET-NAM BULLETIN Vol. IV, No. 13 June 1-6, 1970 In this issue: Former Chief of State Phan Khac Suu Dies 1 Cambodian Government Adopts Active Measures to Protect Vietnamese Nationals. 3 Cambodian F.M. Welcomes ARVN Cooperation 3 Mutual Assistance to Vietnamese Repatriated From Cambodia. 4 Relief Fund for Repatriated Vietnamese 5 Cambodian-Vietnamese Joint Communique Released. 5 INNOTECH to be Set Up for Viet-Nam 6 RVN Stand at Paris International Fair Honored. 7 Min. of State Thuc: Economic Difficulties Stem From Change of War S ituation. 7 Additional Measures on Equalization Tax Promulgated. 8 Finance Minister on Draft-Law Program. 9 Communist Acts of Terrorism Denounced to ICSC. 10 Prof. H.B. Jacobini Visits Viet-Nam. 10 ARV~ Shows Military Skill, Restraint in Cambodia. 11 U.s. Author Sees Viet-Nam Communists Reverting to Terror Tactics 13 VIET-Nl\M BULLiTIN Kame of person (or friend) or organization wishing to receive the Bulletin: MR "1IS5... Address: S'T"lIIef.T NO. Is it a new Y<S 0 one?).io 0 ctty 5TJI,T~.,p iulticipated duration of stay at this address: Permanent 0 Until A""

16 \/1E. T -NAM BULLE. TIN A ',;eekly publication of the Embassy of Viet-Nam 2251 "R" Street, Washington D.C Telephone: U. S. POSTAGE PAID Washington, DC Permit No BULK RATE Vol. IV, No. 13 June [-6, 1970 liir. & Mrs. Et:.rnett Potaskl VN 5 38 Church St. Linwood, MA