Monk Refused To Help Viet Cong

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31598, 8 February 1968, Page 11

Monk Refused To Help Viet Cong

(N Z.P A.-Reuter—Copyright)

SAIGON, February 7.

The Buddhist monk, Thich Tri Quang, refused to help the Viet Cong when they came to his Saigon pagoda, according to sources quoted by the Associated Press.

He ordered the destruction of equipment which might have been useful to the Communists, the sources say. The politically powerful monk, whose activities in opposition to the Government have often led to speculation

that, directly or indirectly, he supports the Viet Cong, is reported to have left the An Quang pagoda when the Viet Cong moved in last week. The sources give this account:—

When members of the Viet Cong arrived at the pagoda and demanded the use of its public address system, Tri Quang refused and they left. The monk then ordered the destruction of the public address system, and early next morning sought, refuge with his doctor.

The South Vietnamese police believe that Tri Quang’s followers include Communists and that some of the monks in his pagoda are members of the Viet Cong. There was some fighting in the pagoda area last week and a few buildings were burned, but the pagoda suffered only slight damage. As far as is known, Tri Quang is still staying with his doctor, who attended him during the hunger strikes he staged in 1966 and 1967 to protest against Government policies.