Nun’s Threat To Burn Herself

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30192, 25 July 1963, Page 13

Nun’s Threat To Burn Herself

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SAIGON, July 23. Four hundred persons held pro-Government demonstrations outside a Buddhist pagoda in Saigon today while inside, an aged Buddhist nun outlined plans to burn herself to death to protest against alleged religious discrimination by the Government.

The demonstrators carried signs warning Buddhists that their anti-Government activities were endangering the war against the Communist Viet Cong. The Government denied it had anything to do with a demonstration which was held by former servicemen widows and orphans. The Director of Information. Mr P. V. Tao, said the Government was '‘absolutely unaware” of the demonstration. which generated clashes between priests and war veterans. He said a ministerial committee set up by President Ngo Dinh Diem to study the conflict was concerned by •‘this shocking act.”

There was some scuffling when 20 demonstrators twice rushed toward a small irongrilled pagoda gate as if they were trying to break in. but apparently there were no injuries as the yellowrobed priests hit back. Inside the temple, Dieu Hue. a 67-year-old Buddhist nun and mother of a wellknown Vietnamese scientist, was holding a press conference to disclose her plans for a fiery death if the Government does not agree to Buddhist demands. Several weeks ago a Buddhist monk set alight to his petrol-soaked robes and burned himself to death before hundreds of onlookers in a busy Saigon street. Another monk has threatened to publicly disembowel himself if the Government does not accede to Buddhist demands to end religious discrimination.

The Government is controlled by persons of the Roman Catholic faith. Buddhists have also vowed to stage protests and work stoppages. United Press International reports it believes Dieu Hue is number one on a list of Buddhist priests and nuns who have volunteered to kill themselves to force the Government to ease its restrictions on Buddhist activities.”