BUDDHIST CABINET

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32016, 17 June 1969, Page 15

BUDDHIST CABINET

Paris Story Denied (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) SAIGON, June 16. Mr Tran Ngoc Lieng, a prominent lawyer in Saigon and a militant Tuddhist, has denied reports from Paris that a neutralist Buddhist group has set up a secret Shadow Cabinet in South Vietnam. Mr Lieng, who heads the newly-formed “Committee for the Establishment of a Progressive Nationalist Force,” which is linked closely with the An Quang Buddhists, told reporters: “The Communists are trying to spread propaganda stories like this to make the political situation in Saigon as confused as possible. If such a Cabinet had been formed I would be one of the first to know about it, and I assure you it has not” Mr Lieng formed his group, whose 43 members were drawn from several religious denominations and differing shades of public opinion, on June 5. Four days later, President Nguyen Van Thieu warned the group that if it advocated a coalition with the Communists it would have measures taken against it The Paris reports emanated from Mr Vo Van Ai, general secretary of the Association of Overseas Vietnamese Buddhists and the spokesman for a newly-formed Buddhist delegation assigned to keep in touch with the Paris peace talks. Mr Ai said that the aim of the Shadow Cabinet was to replace the present Saigon Government and negotiate a peace settlement