Co Dismissed From Junta

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31279, 27 January 1967, Page 11

Co Dismissed From Junta

(N.Z P. A.’Reuter—Copyright)

SAIGON, January 25.

South Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister, Lieutenant-General Nguyen Huu Co, has been dismissed from the

country’s ruling junta, reliable military sources said in Saigon today.

The dismissal of the 41-year-old general, who was also Defence and War Minister, was seen as a possible first move in an extensive Government reshuffle. General Co, now in Hong Kong, was under orders to stay out of South Vietnam until further notice, the sources said. If he returned and caused Government trouble, he would be brought before a military court and charged with corruption while in office, according to some sources. Heavily armed police watched Saigon airport today in case General Co tried to return from Hong Kong where he is staying on the way back from a visit to Formosa. The visit coincided with Prime Minister Nguyen Cao Ky’s tour of Australia and New Zealand. Political observers believe Marshal Ky wanted General Co out of the country during his own absence, fearing a threat to his position. Marshal Ky, on his way back to Vietnam, spoke to reporters behind a barricade as he walked out to his aircraft at Sydney airport. Asked if he had heard anything abou. the reported dismissal of General Co, he said: “I have heard nothing. 1 have been away for a week and I haven’t heard anything.” Asked if he would regard the expulsion of General Co as a crisis, he answered: “I’ll

find out when I get home toI night.” | In answer to another question, Marshal Ky said he didn’t know who the new Min[ister would be. I One journalist asked the I Prime Minister if he was ! afraid to answer questions (about the subject to the I press. I Smiling, Marshal Ky said: “No.” i Earlier one journalist had (been allowed into the lounge to watch the proceedings. The journalist was told not to ask any questions. The journalist approached Marshal Ky and asked if it was true he was not to ask questions. Marshal Ky answered that the journalist could ask one only. The journalist asked: “Did you authorise the banishment of General Co?” Marshal Ky answered: “1 will discuss that when I get home with my directorate.”