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derivative filename/jpeg
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363-05664 to 363-05672.pdf
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Digital Object Identifier
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363-05664 to 363-05672
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Title
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Article about the political struggles between the Buddhist protestors, the communists, and the anti-communists
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Description
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Original title: "The Three Vietnam", Keever's title: "Three Forces Tug at South Vietnam: Allied Armies Communist Politicians, Buddhist Priests", Article for the New York Herald Tribune about the political struggles between the Buddhist protestors, the communists, and the anti-communists
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Transcript
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doepe
article 10 of norios
page 1
THE TREE VIBIBALIS
SAI00-thin this mall republic the size of Idaho,
there are really three Viet Noms.
There is a state within a state within a state-a goverment
within a covorment within a government.
Shu Two of these states are fighting on the military front-
the Communist Viet Cong and the American-backed Saigon government.
But on the political front all three states are fightin--for a third
force has emerged in which the center of gravity lies in the Buddhist
Bovonent.
On the military front, the state boundaries are clearly
visible, but fluid--they shift from minute to minute. On the political
front, the boundaries are both invisible and fluid.
During the past three years, the military var has
escola tod internallys both the Communists and the Saigon government
has increased in military strength and influence. Both have increased
their control over the "contested arongarons of mixed control, or as
the Communists graphically describe them in ponsant language, "the
rice and boen areas."
Honoe the military war effort has polarised the countryside
increasingly become either black or white. A military statel stalemate
in which neither side could win or lose was predicted.
(More)
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deope
article 10
page 2
Politically, ho over, a new aspect arose. A giant grey mass
um corgod batwoon the bied political state of the Communiste and the
white polition2 state of the pro-eatern omp. This grey mase revolves
around the Buddhist movement, but includes other olemonta also.
Melitnanirgendspitonthenint&tum9y600mtmomim
The Communists usintain a shadow government whiob
parallels that of the Saigon covermont, soaching from the contral lovol
to the inter-sone to the province to the distriot and lastly the
village. The Communist shadow government in etched in the politic
policies and aims of the National Front for the Liberation of South
Viet Man, but the People's Revolutionary Party-tye Communist Party-
dominates it.
The grey mass of the Buddhist movement is bastily and efficiently
organising a government to correspond to that of both the
Viet Cong coverment and the Saigon government, Like both covernments,
the Buddhist hierarchy pyramids at the contral level to the provinces,
districte to buddhist associations in the Villages and the "All-Buddhist
Pomilioo" in the hamlots. Individual buddhist families are being
organised in each hamlet in the some motinos that the government consus
establishoc "fomily and "inter-family" colls to choak Viet Cong
movements and penetration. The Duddhists are now issuing details of
how to organize their records and registration, not unlike a military
Bingontman staff bureau.
(More)
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dеоро
artialo 10
pago 3
There are many things oloar about the Buddhist movement and
there are many unanavored questions.
These things are clears it is a political movement of
significant dimensions--and it is growing. Second, as a political
novoment, it can survive only by being and temporarily remaining
a movement of protest. They will mushroom in nise by protesting...
and their immediate onery is the g Saigon government-end any Saigon
government. Moar from their policy statements that there will be
Man/2/2014/4 But they will oppose the goverment-
MINAN
olyan consistently, but not enough to make it to entirely collapse-
until they are ready to become the Saigon government.
Third, by remaining on opposition elemont and hence
woakening the Saigon government, the Buddhist policies are obviously aiding
the policies of the Communito. Both the Buddhists and the Communist
portion are in parallel, both directly their fire at the Saigon government.
thoir common onomy. The roal question is whether or not the Buddhiste
are directed by the Communists.
Fourth, based on this analysis, the Amorionn-backed Saigon
government must then consider the Buddhists as their "second enony," for
the Duddhists state is out of the jurisdiction of the Saigon government.
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deepe
article 10
Dago 4
To survive politically, the Buddhist state must declare war
on both the other two states. But it can not fight both simultaneously.
To continuo grabbing mass support, the Buddhists must maintain their
identity separato from the other two states.
Both the Communists and the national government treat the
Buddhiste ao soparate states, because both aro attempting in an alliance
with it to have its oupport. The Viet Cong novos say that the Buddhists
are part of thota governontonly that they hope to help the Buddhi etc.
The Saigon government aloo wanting at an alliance--do not accuse the
Buddhist leaders of being Communist, though Buddhist believers do.
Bapecially at this time, only days before a new Saigon government and
before the American elections--no Saigon official or American policymaker
would label the Buddhists as Communist. For Khanh desperately noods
Buddhist support during the uponing days. For Americans to soknowledge
this before Presidential election would imply that American policy decisions
to withdrew support from Ico Dinh Dion-helping the Buddhists-a
serious policy misoalonation last year. It would also admit that the
Amorican Embanny horoz harbored a pro-fommunist sympathiser only a year ago.
The "first onemy" of the Buddhists in the Khanh governmont
or any futuro Saigon governments- they have yet to declare war on the
Communists and its doubtful they over will. The Buddhist strategy to
remain a protost novomont means they must attack any Saigon governmont,
no mattor that form it telon or who hoads it.
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doope
article 10
pace 5
They will attempt to isolate the mm Saigon government
from the foundations of its support. Ono taction is to drive a modge
between the Americans and the notional loador-and this is the significance
of their anti-American propaganda. Like the Communists, the Buddhists
are clearly anti-mozioan and will remain so. Another tection is
to drive a wedge betmoon the Saigon government and the Oatholios, co
they are doing under the disguise of ridding the country of the old
Can Lao party. Like the Communists, the Buddhist leaders are
anti-Catholicmand will remain co. And the Buddhists will attempt
to chip away the army from the Saigon government-hich is the
significance of placing the three-man Buddhist commation oommittees
in army companies and battalions. Hence, the Buddhists penetrate
the national aray on one side while the Viet Cong coaret ondre
perform "Action Among Enomy Troop" subversion on the other hand.
Hence, the mutant Saigon government realises it has
the Buddhists are it"second enemy." It must fight the Communists--
militarily and politically-at their bas of support, the hamlet and
village level. And it must fight the Buddhists-eficium politically
at their base of support, the district and provincial level.
Logically in any militery war there are two solid
ommps of enemies, and everyone else is a satellite or neutral. Logically
the Saigon government should spend 100 per cent of its time fighting
the Viet Cong-and vice versa. But the government now must spend up to 90
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Coope
artiolo 10
page 6
percent is during orucial moments fighting the Buddhiste inotond
of the Viet conce
The short-term Duddhist strategy is obviously to ronnin
in the pm opposition to the government, which means they must
sofuse to a booooo a significant part of the government, The Buddhists
will continue this strategy until they are ready to booooo the governmont,
shon they have the politionl personalities to take it over. One thing is
cloars that time is not this year. A soprocontative of their movemont
has already rolinquished his sight to be considered for the position of
chief of stato; the Puddhists will not ads for the premiership-to do
they became the government and lose their identity.
No one will knows when the Buddhists will decide
to allow up the Saigon covormont, but one may sugpost their aim
1s the portamont constitution and ponnont conaltution to be
Roverbor.
compleated completed next year. For the Buddhiste 24to the Communiete
operate in phanos. Possibly the date to match is not Movember, 1964,
but Novembar, 1965.
The Communist state is headed by guyen But Tho, no
chairman of the central committens of the National Liberation Front
of South Viet Nam. Behind the LP ie the Communist Party of South Viet Nam->
and behind that is llenol.
tho ngroy onl oninonoo" of the Buddhist
novemont is a frail monk name? Thich Thi Quang-it's yet unknown if anyone
in behind him. The saigon government is now honded by Prondor guyon Khonb
the external force behind him is the American
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deepe
article 10
pace 7
Thanh is clearly the koy figure within one of the Three
In the wrangling and maneuvering about the future
one thing in highly
constitution and the future government,
proba ble,Khanh will again emerge as the strongman.//aftor his
government officially resigns on Tuesday, October 27.
For no matter how the constitution in vitoon-no matter
what Khanh is titled, he will probably again it be the key figure.
Ho may be chief of state, he may be prino minister, he may be
commander-in-chief. He may only be the chairman of a yet-unformod
committoo. But he will again be the strongest within one of the Shree
Viot None.
But the important point,
end
the sise, author.8% of
jurisdiction of his Viet Nem will have shrunk drastically. The "square miles"
* formorly within the plunderin territory of his state will have endodo
tom boon for oitod to the Buddhists. For to omorge so the strongman,
Khanh will have relinquished part of the authority of his state to the
Buddhists in the form of major concessions. It's too only to know
what thopo concessions will bog butin
Government will have made importent on concessions to its "second
onomy."
The Buddhists already have been given major concessions-and
porcum presumably they will want only moro of the same. The Buddhisto
within the past months have been usurping the powers of the Saigon governments
they ha con block appointments of military corps commander, or
cabinet ministers--or prime ministers.
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doope
article 10
Page 8
This
They have already requin demanded from the government-and
received the destruction of polioo records on Buddhist lontors.
lead the Saigon police chief to gasp several months ago, "It's the
first time in my life I ever heard of a police official handing over
police records to Buddhist bonsos."
During recent weeks in provincial capitals, pro-Buddhist
mobe have "arrested" Can Leo party mombers-end turned them over to the
# provincial government for proccoution. Storm the military onfcore
of young district chiefs and province chiofs are no longer broken by
their military superiors--but by Buddhist bonses.
Clearly, the Buddhists will move more into the educational
fiold to widen their influence over studentes into the social welfare
and cultural field to increase their influence over labor unions and
other organisations.
In short, on the one hand, the government has consolously
nado major concessions to their "scoond enony" while on the other hand,
the Communists have been effectively penetrating it at all levels.
This is the most aruolall factor in the detio dotoriation
of the Tin altuntion in Viet Nam in the past year.
According to this line of analysis, once the Buddhiste omallow
the Saigon covermont, they should thon declare war on their other enomy--the
Communists. Theoretically, to do this, the Buddhist must move thoir
influence & downwards from the distriot and provincial lovol to the village and
hamlet level, whio is the Communist base of support.
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Geopo
article 10
Bovovoz, fox years, the Buddhist monits in villege
pagodao have co-istod with Communist code without coming in conflict
with them, hike the Communists, the Doddhiste proach family life, which
is aimilar to Communist collectivion-hile the American-backed government
has been preaching individualism. The Buddhists like the Communists
presch austerity to the villagers, while the Saigon government is
proaching econondo betterment,
The key An intox of this co-existence in that coldom in
a Buddhist print killed by the Communiata; but Catholic priests are
often targots for Viet Cong for?ortato.
For the Communists will never allow any octpetition with the
cpdf 10 arfoos they will crush it so they now attempt to arush the
Government village chiefs and hemlat militis. But the Consuntate vill
allow a posceful co-ozintense at the village level betmoon Beddhist bonnes
and Communist andre. Shie poscoful co-existence, operating for years at the
bomlot and village level already equates at the national a loval en
un-announced state of neutrality. She is clos
Bonaver, the question So whether or not the Buddhist movement is
not just as nooon front for the Communists an the National Liberation Frout
for South Viet Tom is its first front.
That question must be anamored by an anondo locking mont
nyetoricus moti: mamod thich Ard Cunn.
azzos The Air-Conditioned Moni
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Date
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1964
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Subject
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Vietnam, 1961-1975; Demonstrations; Protest movements; Buddhists--Political activity; Vietnam (Republic); Anti-communist 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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B187, F2
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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
