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derivative filename/jpeg
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363-07994 to 363-08003.pdf
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Digital Object Identifier
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363-07994 to 363-08003
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Title
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Article about President Diệm's actions against Buddhist leadership
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Description
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Original title: "pagoda", Keever's title: "President Diem Arrest's Buddhist Leaders and Proclaims Martial Law", Article draft about President Diệm's actions against the Buddhist leadership, for Newsweek Magazine
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Transcript
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beverly deepe
101 cong 37
saigon
pagoda -1
tuesday midnight joepfuls of steal-helmeted combat police, truckloads
of marines, paratroopers and army regulars with bayonetted 1-1 rifles
moved through streets of Saigon towards Buddhist pagodas.
"Thore goes Xa Loi," said one elderly man hawking van soups from
wicker basket.
At 12:30, combat police and troops se had "staked out" the
pagodas and stormed them. At Xa Loi, the pale yellow building in heart
of old French Quarter which had served as headquarters for Buddhist
activities in Saigon, hundreds of troops and police scaled the
barbed wire fence and spiked blackgate, which the Buddhists had
put up weeks ago to defend themselves. In a fell swoop, they nabbed
the core of the Buddhist leadership.
One young novice, about to sound large wooden drum for alert,
crumpled hat at the blast of tear gas grenade. Two monks escaped over the
wall into the carparking compound of the US AID missions
attempting to run there was shot down.
a third
Amid shouts and yells from Buddhist monks, the police and troops,
later reinforced by truckloads of marines, were thrown into trucks and
UNE 3:3
m.
ambulances and carried away. Some wore seen being driven to the navy yards
and speculation arose they might be sent to Poulo Condon--the island prison,
where thousands of political oppositionists are being held.)
At this time, there's no estimate of number that have been arrested;
how many killed or injured.
(Suggest using wire copy and New York Daily News copy for much better
eyewitness stuff-the none of the reporters were closer than half a block
to it. I'll not add to eyewitness stuff.)
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deepe
pagode-2
At 6 a.m. in Saigon, marines, pa paratroopers in mottled green
and brown camouflage outfits, and army regulars moved rapidly through
the city they stood in small clusters of 3-4 at key intersections
guarded all the key pagodas in the city; scrutinised traffic
into Tan Son Nhut airport and closed cable and post office. Half
dozen tanks and armored cars whissed through the city and environs.
Proclamation of President Ngo Dinh Dien was pasted onto corner
bulletinboards near campaign posters for the Aug. 31 elections to the
National Assembly (national legislative body)-elections that will probably
never be held.
Clusters of cycle drivers, hawkers, shopkeeprs and students
gathered to read the news:
Proclaiming martial law over the entire country.
The President of the Republic of Viet Nam,
Considering the Constitution of the Republic of Viet Nam,
specifically the Article 44 of the Decree 12124-TTP dated 28 May *61
prescribing the composition of Government,
Considering the actual requirements necessary to preserve security
and public order;
Decree st
(More)
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Deepe
pagoda-3
Article 1s
Martial law is established over the entire territoy
of Viet Ham as of the date of the publication of this decree until further
order.
Article 21
The laws which suspension is deemed necessary will be
suspended temporarily.
Article 3*
The Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam have
complete responsibility for public security and are given the following
power throughout the period that martial law is in forces
Article 4#
-conduct search of civilian houses at any time,
arrest those people considered harmful to public
security.
restrict freedom of press, control the radio
zax broadcast system, control movies and plays.
-forbid storage, circulation of printed publications,
documents, leaflets considered harmful to public
security.
All matters concerning public order are within the
jurisdiction of Military Tribunals.
Article 4*
The Secretaries of State and the Chief, Joint
General Staff are responsible, each in his field, for the execution of
this decree.
The Decree is published in compliance with the emergency procedure.
Saigon, 20 August 63
The President of the Republic of
Viet Pot Ngo Dinh 201
(End of official decree).
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Inserts
3 R.
While cluster of 2 dozen people stood around reading the dearoe
a blueuniformed paramilitary man came up and is
scattered thom. "You have no right of assembly," he told them.
from bulletinboard,
(Occurred while I was reading decree with interpreter).
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deepe
pagoda-§4
The raid of on Buddhist pagodas took place in other cities in the
provinces where situation even more tense than in Saigon. In Thue,
police and troops raided Tu Dam Pagoda, the main one, where Thursday
(tomorrow) was scheduled the funeral of the fifth bonse that burned himself
alive, on August 16 71-year-old Thich Tiou Diou.
They a seized
Buddhist leaders there, killing at least one, and snatched the charred
corpse of the monk. (Unknown what happened in other cities where situation
had bean critical-but another journalist is scheduled to arrive from
there Thursday night and I'll include details in my Friday aaammm cable).
Throughout the week, the situation had "deteriorated" in the provinces.
In the "Holy City of Hue-where the Buddhist crisis began on May 8-
government authorities dismissed Uni. of Hue rector, a Catholic Priest,
I
and students demonstrated in protest. Turing past week, city was
at at times under martial law and strict curfew with complete curtailment
of economic and social life. Thuralay was scheduled the funeral of fifth
bonse to burn himself alive.
molam on Friday and
In Nha Trang, series of demonstrations a
Saturday produced a government order that all government employees remain
in their offices over the weekend. (Unconfirmed reports that martial
law was imposted there and induxxx mountain resort city of Delat).
Nha Trang is 200 miles north of Saigon, a famous beach resort on South
Chinn Beng and 12 miles from Kinh Hoa (Ngo Dinh Nhu's constituenoy
for Aug. 31 elections-he was unopposed), where the Buddhist mun burned
herself alive on August 14. The government had blockaded the pagodas
there; which caused Buddhist leaders in Saigon to send letter of protest
to U. N. head U Thant.
(More)
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doope
pagode-5
The buddhist affair started as an accident on May 8th whon riot
ensued over in flying of Buddhist flag in and nine persons
were killed by government soldiers. This occured in Hue, the old Buddhist
cultural center of Viet Nam, hometown of President Ngo Dinh Diem,
headquarters of his brother, Archbishop Ngo Dinh Thuck, and another
brother, Ngo Dinh Can, who has no official title, but rules northern
one third of the country like a viceroy.
Vietnamese consider inex
Hue, the old imperial capital of country, a romantic city with its
gingerbreaded French mansions and old walled imperial court skirting the
Perfume River.
From there, the Buddhist problem jumped to Saigon, where it continued
to mushroom. President Diam's first policy was that of force and violence;
peaceful demonstrations turned into bloody riots, then five days after
first bonse ignited self (they're called bonze-fires in Saigon), government
signed a joint communique covering Buddhist grievances. (see last week's
file). Dien-under American pressure--officially announced policy of
"extreme conciliation" but there was consistent "undercutting" of it
most noticeably by his sister-in-law, Madame Ngo Dinh Nim, who publicly,
vociferously and ex "extravagantly" accused Buddhists of being communists
in yellow robes. Day before Nahing km U. S. Ambassador Frederick
EEE. Nolting Jr. departed country he pleaded with Dion for 20 minutes for
Diem to publicly state Madame Nhu was not speaking officially for governmente
Diem never did. (I witnessed this session was pathetic).
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deepe
pagoda-6
Less conspicuous,
the small, but influential Con Les party of
brother and political advisor, ngo dinh nim,
staged counterdemonstration of war wounded in front of Ka Loi pagoda.
the most inconspicuous, but most serious (and hardest to
verify) infractions of Dien's policy of "extreme conciliation" was
taking place in the provinces. (Buddhist government employee in Saigon
told me his young sister who participated in buddhist demonstrations
in Phan Thiet was worried that provincial officials would not allow her
Other infractions
to graduate from school and enter next grade.)
were taking place without knowledge of Buddhist leadership in Saigon--
two weeks ago, government secret police entered small pagoda on outskirts
of Hue, took com banners and shot the caretaker. (Confirmed by American
Consulate in Hue).
The government
reply to infractions was that provincial and local
authorities were acting without knowledge of the pres-that diem was
ill-informed on the situation and that "we have not one, but a dozen
governments here."
At the opposite of Diem's "extreme conciliation"
policy was to do as Mademe Nhu advocated-snatch the leadership. Brother
Ngo Dinh Nhu is knowm to have toyed with the idee "in a whimsical way"
(one American official explained) to initiate a mix false coup d'etat
whereby government troops would capture diem and nhu, raid xa loi
pagoday then in need of leadership, would zax install nhu as leader.
This was never seriously considered and the risks would have
been great. Last ng night's seizure of Buddhist leadership was only
ing a similar alternative, with a reduction of risks. And it was
within the confines of the constitution and the decree-making
authority of the president. (More)
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deape
pagoda-7
The full-scale raid of Buddhist leadership was in itself not
surprising Buddhist leaders had consistently told reportera "tonight
government agents will arrest us." Reporters made frantic checks
on the pagodas-particularly couple of weeks ago when they were blockaded
after bloody riot. Government mar employees also thought that
arresting of Buddhists were imminent.
One American official was told shy Monday that Buddhists/seriously
sonade concerned about being arresting and they were saying if this
happened they would believe it was done with approval of CIA. American
replied that CIA was in no position to approve of move of this kind
and if arrests happened Washington might disassociate itself from Diem.
(Hence, urgency of Washington bureau cheaking State Department).
It was a
However, the shocker-even to government employees-was sit the
institution of martial law. The terms are severe; and so vaguely worded.
that people can be arrested for almost any sizga reason.
"smooth transition" to military rule-but still under the dictates of Diem,
The alternative, had he waited longer (but situation in the provinces
developed too quickly and six violently), was a coup d'etat in conjunction
in with the military-which would have toppled Diem.
Historically, Diem had used his own military to crush the dissident
armies of dissident religious sects Cao Dai and Hoa Hno in mid-50s; but
in this case,
ho was fighting, if not non-violent, at least unarmed
Buddhist leaders. The Buddhist leaders themselves had never been considered
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deepe
pagoda-8
pro-communist or under dictates of communists, despite madene nhu's
(American sources). They max themselves were after religious
goals-to force government publicly and officially to adhere to
policy whereby buddhist religiou could operate without fear of arrests,
and reprisals. The disson leadership differed on ways to achieve thiss
the old-timers were interested only in religious aspects
the gm "young turks", militant monks in 30s and 40s, had two
approachess one to force diem to make accomodations, the other to
get religious ends only through getting rid of diem. these last two
agreed on tactions use of demonstrations, rallies, youth meetings and
bonze-burnings. some buddhist leaders known to have been meeting
with manim military and political oppositionists.
(I'11 attach a memo I wrote you last night before this all
happened about the coup-now the plans are vague and up in the air;
will probably never materialize).
In arriving in Viet Nam, lodge will be have to
weigh the words of one American official: "Theproblem of counterinsurgency
here is working with a hostile friendly government."
The least problem Lodge will have is explaining his name. Vietnamese
are pussled why he has two last names-Cabot and Lodge. And they are --or
were joking "Diom will have no use for Cabot".
Vietnamese, who like
puns, were nжinx implying french word for Cabot (check speeling), which
means contraceptives. They are banned in Viet Nam.
(More)
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deepe
pagode-9
Diem hx has appointed Maj. Gen. Tran Van Don as chief of the
Joint General Staff--making him the Maxwell Taylor of Viet Nam
and supreme military commander responsible for in inforcing the now
decree. I've un interviewed him twice;
speaks fluent French and
Hahn When he was
good English; has a charming, polished wife.
commander of I Corps, the northernmost military region on North Vietnamese
border which includes oity of Hue, he was known not to be completely
trusted by Diem. In Dec, 1962, with exam making of four corps
areas, he was transferred to Saigon as commandant of land forces,
* which most people considered a demotion. He had no troops to command and
little powera figurehead post. He was considered a "good guy"
and "popular with the troops."
(My personal opinion is that th Don was thought to be involved in
planned coup and Diem made some accomodations with him and other military
leaders to establish military rule without toppling diam.)
(A major general is three-star).
The military commander of Saigon is Brig. Gen. Ton That Dinh,
formerly commander of III Corps, north of Saigon.
(The biographical date on Gen. Don is attached; but I have none on
黃營營養
Sorry this is so jumbled; em trying to get this to airport to see
if US military pilot will carry it to US.)
endit
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Date
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1963, Aug. 19
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Subject
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Vietnam (Republic)--Politics and government; Ngô, Äình Diệm, 1901-1963; Buddhists--Political activity; Buddhist monks; Protest movements
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Location
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Saigon, South Vietnam
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Coordinates
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10.8231; 106.6311
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Size
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20 x 26 cm
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Container
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B2, F4
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Format
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dispatches
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Collection Number
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MS 363
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Collection Title
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Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers
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Creator
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Collector
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Copyright Information
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These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.
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Publisher
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Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
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Language
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English
