The Press TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1964. The Buddhist Campaign

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30630, 22 December 1964, Page 16

The Press TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1964. The Buddhist Campaign

When Buddhist monks burnt themselves in grisly and uncharacteristic demonstrations against the regime of President Ngo Din Diem, their purpose had a horrifying simplicity, because the Roman Catholic Ngo family was a symbol of an alien minority in a predominantly Buddhist land; the religious leaders were the champions of a revolution. What is their purpose now? Since last year, South Vietnam Governments with Buddhist backing have staggered along briefly, then fallen; and, recently, Buddhists demonstrated against a Government led by a Diem opponent, Tran Van Huong. The friends of South Vietnam must wonder whether the Buddhists, going from one riot to the next, really know where they are heading. But if South Vietnam is to survive, some understanding must be reached with the Buddhists. That is a goal of vital importance for all countries supporting South Vietnam, including New Zealand, which share a common frontier there against Chinese expansion. In spite of regional and sectarian differences among the Buddhists, their religion is the only organisation that represents nearly the whole population and that has devised a shadow administration of its own. Until the Buddhists’ energies are no longer directed against their own Governments, the peace and independence of South Vietnam, perhaps even the future of Buddhism, are in jeopardy. United States officials suspect that some Buddhist leaders are Communist infiltrators and that the rest might come to unsatisfactory terms with the Viet Cong in spite of the apparent clash between the principles of Buddhism and Communist doctrine. If Buddhists are unwilling or unable to provide an effective, alternative Government, they may destroy themselves. A religion devoted to the realisation of the individual soul, self-enlightenment, and gentleness, has suddenly become militant.

Antarctica And The

Museum

If the choice lies, as it seems to do, between an inadequate atom science hall at the Canterbury Museum and a first-class Antarctic hall, the museum trust board should not hesitate to abandon its first idea and accept the second. From the report of the senior preparator (Mr R. J. Jacobs) it seems only too likely that an atomic science section of any value is quite beyond the resources of the museum; and Christchurch, the traditional gateway to the Antarctic, is uniquely favoured as the site of an Antarctic museum. On the one hand the city is only on the fringes of nuclear science. On the other it has been intimately associated with continuing exploration in the south for more than 50 years. On the foundation of a museum section a centre of polar research might be developed. Nor would there be anything incongruous in associating the project with the name of Lord Rutherford in a hall of discovery—he advanced the frontiers of man’s knowledge in one direction, Scott and Amundsen and the men who have followed have advanced them in another.