Unrest Found Again In South Vietnam

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31319, 15 March 1967, Page 13

Unrest Found Again In South Vietnam

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SAIGON, March 14. Political and religious unrest is stirring again in South Vietnam. There is a tinge of anti-Americanism along with it, the Associated Press reports.

United States and i South Vietnamese informants say it is re- > lated to the switch from military rule to civilian rule in the next six months. They gave these reasons for the potential trouble: Remnants of the Buddhist struggle movement which tried to bring down the Government with wild street demonstrations a year ago are trying to regroup in Hue and Da Nang in Central Vietnam.

Demonstrations in Saigon and other cities ostensibly against “false peace” proposals could get out of hand. Record high prices for rice is causing disgruntlement. Faction-ridden political parties are jockeying for position in anticipation of national elections. Air Vice-Marshal Nguyen Cao Ky so far appears unwilling to promote national reconciliation with the forcefulness expected by United States officials. Intelligence sources say radical Buddhists plan to renew the anti-Government struggle movement next month to coincide with school holidays at the University of Hue. Prayer meetings, student demonstrations, seminars and strikes will condemn the war and the United States role in it, according to communiques

circulating among militant Buddhists in Saigon. The Buddhist leadership remains fragmented between moderate elements and those who took part in street demonstrations last year against Air Vice-Marshal Ky’s regime. On the other hand. Govern-ment-sponsored street rallies protesting “false peace” advocates overseas have been held almost daily for more than two weeks throughout South Vietnam.

Effigies have been burned of Senators Fulbright and Robert Kennedy, the French President, General Charles de Gaulle and others who criticised the way the war is going. The demonstrations have generally met with public apathy. Informed Vietnamese say many of the demonstrators are paid and others are civil servants and students performing on orders. Diplomats in Saigon view

the marchers with unease. They question the wisdom of permitting street protests in South Vietnam’s unstable circumstances.

The price of rice reached record heights last week because of scare buying, speculation and hoarding. Delayed imports of United States rice and laggard shipments from the Mekong delta caused a crisis in this country’s staple food. American rice is being hurriedly unloaded from three ships in Saigon in an effort to hring prices down. Party politics is springing to life with the promise of Presidential elections by September under a new constitution. The Dai Viet (Great Vietnam), an old revolutionary party, has been active in Central Vietnam. Its expansion is causing increasing friction with the Vietnam Quoc Dan Dang party in the same area.