HUNGER STRIKE IN HUE

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31071, 28 May 1966, Page 17

HUNGER STRIKE IN HUE

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright >

SAIGON. May 27

Buddhist monks endured tear gas in Saigon and began an antiAmerican hunger strike in the northern ! city of Hue todav as , they kept up their pressure for political change in South Vietnam.

Saigon police hurled canisters of gas to break up a crowd of more than 100 monks staging a demonstration in the centre of the city. Some of the retreating monks picked up the smoking red and blue canisters and hurled them back into the police ranks. The choking gas from the running battle penetrated into two of Saigon's biggest hotels, the Caravelle and Continental Palace.

In Hue. a group of 116 nuns and monks made their way through barbed wire barricades to begin a 48-hour hunger strike in front of the American Consulate. Letters in Blood

Two of the monks cut themselves and wrote letters to President Johnson with their blood, the associated Press reported. The Vice-Consul, Mr James Bullington. accepted the letters, which demanded that President Johnson withdraw American support from the

military regime of the P.M.. General Nguyen Cao Ky. These letters complained that American arms and equipment were being used to suppress the Buddhist movement.

The demonstrators carried ( banners, some of which said: "Kill us. Americans, if you want to protect Thieu and Ky." Nguyen van Thieu is South I Vietnam's head of State. The 79 monks and 37 nuns marched from the Tu Dam pagoda to the Consulate. Ky In Da Nang

General Ky arrived in Da Nang at midday today aboard a United States Air Force jet aircraft. He came to investigate the situation in the city and to discuss developments in Hue. 40 miles to the north. In a brief news conference he said the Central Govern ment would take measures to protect both Vietnamese and Americans in Hue. Orders went out yesterday to take action to protect American lives and property, he said, but he did not elaborate. However, American civilians were evacuated from Hue today after the United States Consulate decided it

could no longer guarantee their safety.

A party of 45 civilians were flown to the capital. Saigon. General Ky said that the sacking of the U.S. Information Service library in Hue yesterday was the work of "minority fanatics.” Blockade Hurts

In Hue observers said the General's economic blockade of the city is beginning to hurt

A critical oil shortage threatens to leave 100.000 citizens without electricity and tap water by the end of the month.

Hospitals say they are running short of vital medical supplies and have no petrol for ambulances. Anti - Government leaders in Hue. who vow to continue their struggle against the Ky regime, shrug off the economic blockade and say it affects only the rich minority. "Most of the population is used to hardship.” the deposed commander of the northern military zone, Lieutenant-General Nguyen Chanh Thi. said. "Hue survived for three years without outside supplies at the end of the Second World War, and it can do it again.”