KHANH MAY HAVE SETTLED REVOLT

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30560, 1 October 1964, Page 20

KHANH MAY HAVE SETTLED REVOLT

fN.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyrioht)

SAIGON, September 29.

South Vietnam’s Prime Minister, Major-General Nguyen Khanh, yesterday attended a flag-raising ceremony marking what may be the end of an armed uprising by tribesmen in the Central Highlands.

The South Vietnamese flag flew again over Bon Sar Pa jungle training camp, where mercenary troops of the Shade tribe eight days ago killed their Vietnamese instate* tors and revolted against Government authority. A Government spokesman said: “The rebellion is considered finished.” General Khanh is expected to declare an amnesty con-

cerning the killing of about 30 Vietnamese special forces men in Bon Sar Pa and four other camps which rebelled. The flag was raised about two hours after Government troops entered the camp without resistance from the Rhade soldiers, who are trained by United States special forces personnel. The revolt came from traditional resentment of Vietnamese authority by the mountain tribes—of which

the Rhades are the most advanced—and began in support of demands for more tribal representation in local government and equality with the Vietnamese. Agreed To The Government spokesman said tonight that some of the demands of the Montagnards (mountain tribesmen) had already been agreed to, but a demand for complete autonomy over an area comprising three or four provinces could not be granted. He said the Montagnards would receive more help from the Government in such fields as land development and education and greater tribal representation in local government. The Government has not established contact with the leaders of the revolt, who, it is believed, may be hiding in jungle across the nearby Cambodian border.

In Saigon today, nearly 200 students, mainly Catholics, met and declared that they would demand the Government purge political elements among teachers and students, apparently the Buddhists. The students threatened nation-wide demonstrations if their demands were not met. Three people were killed and 16 wounded in clashes between demonstrators and security forces near the central Vietnamese city of Qui Nhon during the week-end. Pitched Battle Strong Communist Viet Cong forces lost an estimated 60 dead in a 24-hour pitched battle with a Government Ranger battalion over the week-end, according to a military communique. The Rangers flushed out the Communists on Saturday morning during an operation in Vinh Binh province, 75 miles south-west of Saigon. The Viet Cong instead of retreating, dug in, using heavy mortar and machinegun Are against the Rangers, and armoured amphibious vehicles. The pitched battle lasted until the middle of Sunday morning when the Viet Cong faded away leaving 20 bodies and carrying away an estimated 40 more. One American adviser with the Rangers reported missing in the battle on Saturday was found dead on Sunday. The Vietnamese Government casualties were 12 dead and 37 wounded.