Banning From Saigon ?

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31277, 25 January 1967, Page 13

Banning From Saigon ?

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SAIGON, Jan. 23.

The Prime Minister, Ai r Vice - Marshal Nguyen Cao Ky, has forbidden the Deputy Prime Minister, General Nguyen Huu Co, from returning to South Vietnam from Formosa in what may be the first move in a long-rumoured Cabinet shake - up, informed sources reported today.

Early this afternoon, Vietnamese troops moved into Tan Son Nhut airfield and sealed off the main gate. Even American soldiers driving Jeeps were forbidden entry for a time. The road leading into the airport was flanked by machine-gunners.

American officials could give no immediate explanation for the sudden and unexpected move by the Government troops.

But informed sources said it was because of a report that General Co was trying to fly back to Saigon in spite of orders to go to South Korea. It was learned that before Marshal Ky left for his tour of Australia and New Zealand he met with his staunchest supporters, LieutenantGeneral Cao Van Vien, the Chief of the Joint General Staff, and Brigadier-General Nguyen Ngo Loan, head of the national police and military security services. The sources said it was agreed then that General Co who also is Minister of Defence, was tainted by reports that he had done nothing about corrupt activities he may have had knowledge of and that he would have to go. The National Leadership Council, the ruling military junta of which General Co is a member, went along with the decision, the sources said, and a telegram was sent by General Vient to General Co in Taipei. It ordered General Co to proceed to Korea and “inspect

training centres” there, rather than return directly to Saigon. However, the sources said that General Co decided to return directly to Vietnam. The troops moved into the airport when word was received here that he had left Taipei. But General Co was not aboard the China Airlines plane when it landed in Saigon. Neither was he aboard a later Air Vietnam flight from Hong Kong. The sources said General Co had been offered the post of Ambassador to Teheran, but this could not be immediately confirmed. Before leaving Australia for New Zealand, Marshal Ky said that a coup might be attempted to destroy Vietnam’s free elections.

“It is possible a minority faction will try to destroy democracy in Vietnam because they have to protect their own interests,” he said in Melbourne.

“I can assure you that they, are a minority and I will stop them.” He did not name anybody.