Longer presidency

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33445, 29 January 1974, Page 23

Longer presidency

. (X.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) SAIGON. j South Vietnamese legislators have taken steps i towards enabling President Nguyen Van Thieu to stand for an unprecedented third term.

Six legislators presented

to the Senate office a petition calling for three constitutional amendments, including the extension of the

presidential term of office (from four to five years, and allowing for any president to ;be re-elected twice instead of] | once, as at present. The petition carried about; ■ 140 signatures of deputies; mud senators —many more; than the 110 majority of the I two Houses needed for con-* sideration of Constitutional amendments. The leaders of both Houses met to consider the amendment proposals, and the second vice-chairman of the Senate (Senator Pham Nhu Phien) said later that another special committee would devise an agenda for an emergency plenary session of; both Houses now in recess, probably next Friday or, Saturday. President Thieu was elected in 1967. and re-1 elected unopposed in 1971. He will be able to stand for a five-year term next year if the proposed amendments are made law. Political observers said the joint session of the two Houses was expected to pass the amendments, as the Government had a majority in both chambers.

Commenting on the Constitutional moves, the Viet Cong spokesman in Saigon (Major Phuong Nam) said, “He who slanders peace, concord, and national reconciliation is the chief of the Saigon Administration, which will continue to slander the Paris agreement, peace, and national reconciliation in order to oring about American neo-colonialism in South Vietnam.’’ The Viet Cong today rejected out of hand a new South Vietnamese Government peace proposal aimed mainly at halting attacks against civilians in Vietnam. The four-point plan was made yesterday at a five-hour I meeting between the two| sides, the longest talks since' the cease-fire agreement a year ago. “The Viet Cong stubbornly' and arrogantly rejected the; proposal,” said a statement l by South Vietnamese negoti-. ators after the meeting. The new plan for a partial peace called for a halt by I both sides in shelling of I

| cities, towns, and villages, and a stop to terrorism, ‘assassinations and the use of imines. ] The Viet Cong has not yet I said why it rejected the plan, but the Communists have icalled for full implementation lof the armistice agreement •signed in Paris last year. Fighting continued throughout the country today. The Saigon Command said Viet Cong committed another 68 violations of the cease-fire accords in the 24 hours ending at dawn. North Vietnamese troops, i finally reacting to the surprise" Government attack on) !Monday that recaptured Le Minh base yesterday attacked 'South Vietnamese reinforce'ments trying to reach the' base. Military spokesmen said a heavy battle broke out ] near Le Minh, 225 miles] north of Saigon, between Communist forces and Government militia. Government forces claimed 47 North Vietnamese dead at a cost of four Government soldiers killed »nd nine wounded.