-
derivative filename/jpeg
-
363-05653 to 363-05663.pdf
-
Digital Object Identifier
-
363-05653 to 363-05663
-
Title
-
Article about Communist agitation in Quy Nhơn
-
Description
-
Original title: "The 'Mass Uprising' of Qui Nhon", Keever's title: "Qui Nhon Diary of a Communist Inspired Mass Uprising against Catholics, Americans", article about Communist agitation in Quy Nhơn, published by the New York Herald Tribune
-
Transcript
-
--------------------
- Page 1
--------------------
deepe
article 9 of 15 article cories
page 1
THE "MASS UPRISINGS" OF QUI NEON
SAIGON-Qui Nhon is a lasy provincial capital of 50,000 population
mostly people connected with fishing-suti situated on a beautiful bonoh
along the South China Sea 200 miles north of Saigon and 200 miles
south of the old imperial capital of Huo.
The
The city was quiet and peaceful until Communist agitation
began during the last days of August and continued for a month.
agitation took two formes revolt" of the Qui Nhon people; bloody
demonstrations by peasants from Communist-controlled pa rts of the
province.
this is the story of the transformation of this quiet city
into a wild state of confusion and mass mob rule. It serves as an
illustration of Comunist agitation in the post-and it is likely
to happen time and time again in cities like Qui Nhon,
This story is based on a four-hour conversation with a
resident from Qui Nhon, who can not be identified.
The verbal dairy:
It
Aug. 23, Sunday, It all started with a proh pro-Khanh demonstration for
General Khanh (premier of South Vietna, backed by the Americans).
began with a parade through the streets right past my house, lasting
about an hour.
(More)
--------------------
- Page 2
--------------------
deepe
article 9
page 2
It was a demonstration of several thousand yelling,
screaming students and many adults like fishermen and cyclo drivers. Su
Suddonly this demonstration turned anti-Catholic and they rioted in the
marketplace and then proceeded to the city square where they beat up
several youngstors. I know one boy was about 12 years old and one
girl was also about 12-and there may have been more.
The chief of police was there at the beginning, when the
demonstration was pro-Khanh, and gave a speech. He was rather courageous
to do this because later it turned anti-government and he left for his
11fo.
These demonstrations continued to about noon; then everyone
wont home for coista. I drove around town about 3 0.m. and the torm
was so quiet it was like no one was in the city. But an hour lator
they congregated in front of the Cuong De high school and had speechos
against American foreign policy in Viet Nam and anti-Khanh speeches.
All this trouble started when some strangers come in
from Hue, the old imperial capital, contor of University of Hue.
It's also the center of Buddhist movement and the headquarters of the
National Salvation Councils. Everyone thinks these two movements are
Communist exploited,
I know some students came from Iluo and enrolled in
the normal school when olasses opened the middof of August; others
came about a wook later. No one knows how many students came from Huo;
it's all invisible.
(Moro)
--------------------
- Page 3
--------------------
T
doope
article 9
pace 3
Also some now teachers came ing
school is a young man and a rabble rounor.
one of them at the normal
Thon the demonstrations began,
the students at the tochnical and normal schools wanted to continue
stayding but the Buc students forced them to join. Maybe the Hue students
wowiced on one or two and these worked on the others. Everyone follo ed
the crowd-sort of like gang warfare in New York. Their paychology was
if my friends join I don't want to be left out.
Thile the Hue students were agititating the qui Nhon students,
the school directors and teachers also began mooting for "oducational
conferences" but wore really political discussions and debates. Ordinarily
the teachers, professors and directors of the high school, the normal
school and the technical school never have anything to do with oooh
othor.
The Cuong De high school director, it seems,
started calling
the educational conferences. Ilo's short in stature, in his oerly thirties,
one and only
and evidently rather dynamic. He directs the covernmen' high school
in town. There is also a Buddhist school with high school grados but
this has boon having classos most of the time when the others wore not.
Some of the teachers from Cuong De said they were not in
favor of going alonb with their director, but they couldn't get out of
16.
As these demonstrations developed, the more important tosohors with
prestige positions-like English and French teachers--had to go along with it.
(More)
--------------------
- Page 4
--------------------
deepe
article 9
pece 3
I know they elected ropresentatives to serve on tho
which everyone things is Comunist
National salvation Committee,
exploited. One key member is a medical doctor who's hood of the
malaria eradication offico, along with the high school dirootor. But
wo don't know how many.
At one of their meetings "educational conferences"
American advisor was requested to submit several papers on educational
topics, but he me not invited to attend the conference. He threatened
to resign. The peoplezssyx are behind the high school director-the
teachers say this--como of the high school toechers say he gets orders
directly from the National Salvation Committee in Hue. This fluo group
is headed by Dr. Lo Khan Quyon, who's dean of the Modical Faculty.
Ile was a communist long ago and somo people think he still is.
During one of thier their first meetings, this qui nhon
National Selvation Committee ohose Mr. Ai, director of the pmk tochnical
school, to be cha isman. Ilo's about 29 and the most pro-American
one in cui Thong ho has B. S. and I. S. from Los Angeles State
University. He was five years in los Angelos. It was an insult to hmm
ask him to head this anti-American committee; he refused.
I saw Mr. Al when he returned from the United State
18 months ago; ho locked like a young mn n. Now he's an old man with
dra vm face and and cyos. Before hax they had alot of spra sparkles
he so much wants to help his peoples ho's very dedicated and you don't find
that too ofton.
--------------------
- Page 5
--------------------
doope
page 5
article 9
Aug. 25 Monday. At 9 a.m., students marched on the
normal and toohnical schools, wore shouting alot, but wore non-violent.
Suddently Suddenly, a truckload of adulto-ovidently cyclo-drivers
hired by someone-arrived and throw rooks breaking about 100
All the mtu 600 stod students in the normal school and the
500 students wore the technical school plus a couple of hundred high o
school students wore in all those demonstrations. Both the normal and
techin technical schools were built with and furnished with USAID (Agonoy
for International Bovolopment) funds and each abhool has an American
they are
educational advisor. Botham were finished in 1961 and were still
getting now equipment and supplies from USAID.
Thonxafter early monday afternoon-after soista, of course,
they proceeded to burn houses. Before all this happened the students
went from dor- door to door to all the shopkoopers in the city
and asked for donations for financing the demonstrations, for transportation,
for gne for vehicles and food. I know of one demonstration they
bouth b bought broad for 700 demonstrators. Maybe each shopkeeped paid
1000 plastres (US$30). Most businesses are Chinese and are not really Buddhist
in the true senso of the word, but they donate for fear of losing customers
or their property.
--------------------
- Page 6
--------------------
deepe
page 6
ps article 9
But the Catholic shopkeepers wore not asked for
donations by the Buddhists. The demonstrators burned tow
two Catholic places--one was a tailor shop and the other on Gla
Long street was an Oriental five-and 5610 selling everything from
plastic, jewelry and commotios. A friend of mine has a fabulous color
shot of the fire; the debris lay in the middle of the street for two
days nover cleaned up.
Finally, at 3 p.m. tho province chief declared martial
low and a striot ourfow. No one was on the streets.
That evening about 9 p.m., the Communist shelled mortare
into the city from one of their mountain ranges only half mile from the
oity.
The mortar attack continued for two hours the sky was
code like the Fourth of July, abla ablaze with red tracore going out
and the mortars coming in. The Viet Cong did no damages the Vietnamese
army didn't go fight them; the American helicoptors, fired oight rockets
and all was quiet.
The mountain rangos surround Qui Nhon on three sides; on
the fourth side is the sea. The Viet Cong control every mountain some of
the time and control some of them all the time--they lewe only three miles
from the city. One one of these mountains is a leprosarium two milos outside
the city. since 200m at least 1954-for ten years-it has never been
touched by the Viet Cong. But two months ago, they began entering it-in
the daytime, no long- domanding medical supplies. Of course, they get them.
--------------------
- Page 7
--------------------
Coope
pace 7
artiolo 9
AUGUST 25, Tuesday.
The market was completely closed;
the next day there was a little food but food pricos bogan to doublo
and this med everyone nadat the government. But the city was quiet for
almost two weeks.
Sopt. 20. Sunday. "Always on Sunday," I've learned to
say in cui hon. Another demonstration.
I goy in my car, but then the
demonstration came by my house I could not leave. I was going to drive
out in front of it, but neveral loaders in the group said I coull not. They
didn't look vicious, but they didn't lock very amiable either. This
crowd zombat of about 500 plus fishormon. Their signs read down
with the Can Lao Party, the party of former president Ngo Dinh Diom.
Some of the party members were evidently Catholic.
The Amorioen nuns at the Holy Family hospital got on their
scooter to see the demonstration. They said that Communist propaganda-
no doubt-suggested that sick people should not go to their hospital
for medicines because the nuns give them injections which kill them
and then the nuns dump them off the poor into the Qui Nhon harbor..
Botwoon 10-11 m., several students--plus adult advisors--
wont to the homes of two supposed Can Lao members and forced them to go
to the Cuong De high school. The people turned themmame the two men
over to the province chief demanding investigation. The province
chief released them within half an our, hour.
Noontime-odists. They don't do a damn thing-even during
demonstrations.
--------------------
- Page 8
--------------------
doope
article 9
page 8
About 3:30, it started in again. The crowd grow to about
5000 people by thon-students and fishermen armed with sharpened
spikes, metal-pointed spears, machetes, knives, but no guns. Thoy
began broadcasting over loudspeaks at the high mhool shouting down w
with the Can Lao pa rty and oir criticising Amorican foreign policy
All day the students voro riding us busses with loudspeakers
throughout the town rabblorousing people. They'd cover every street
in town every half hour.
broadcasting.
By 6 pame, they had captured the radio station and wore
Two hours lator, a mass demonstration came up the
stroot-ith students in bussos, trucks, cars, anything but cyclos.
You couldn't see a cyolo on the street for two days co ovêdontly they
wore paid to join the demonstration.
Sept. 21, Monday. Poople again rallied in front of the
rodio station and by 10 things reached a pool as 5,000 millod around.
The province ohiof tried to enter the radio station, but he was
Finally they admitted him,and then wouldn't
refused admittanoo.
let him out. Thon at 11:30, the crowd brought two Con Loo members
into the radio station acousing thom of crimes. There was constant
cheering and yelling among the crowds--a blood-curdling noise.
slowly thompoopptron tonnion mounted. An hour later,
there was a med rush of people towards the radio station and a very
hystorical voice came over the loudspeaker. It was one of the
con lao who had boon arrested dofonding himself. He sounded hysterical.
--------------------
- Page 9
--------------------
doope
article 9
page 9
I thought they were going to lynch them and I was terrified.
I was prepared for bobeading or beating them to death. I didn't
expect anything gentle like shooting. Abut But about 12 #30 it
began to settle down a little because many people left to round up
more Can Leo members. They spent the rest of the day doing this and
by the end of the afternoon had rounded up more than 17.
the province chief agreed to put those prisoners under arrest and
within three wook give thon a trial with a jury ohooon from the
Qui Nhon population. You can imagine what that will be!
Finally,
The nobs had taken over the authority of the government. !
Sent. 22, Tuesday. No school because the teachers
and directors wont to another "educational conforonce" but life
returned to normal.
I know that wouldn't last long, but I didn't expect the
"parade of the pessants" the next day.
Sept. 23, Wednesday, Exactly 49 sampane filled with about
700 people came from Tuy Phuco and Phu My, both district headquarters
on the South China Sea. These people marched on the provincial
headquartors, acousing the government of burning their villages,
the Americans of bombing their homes and accused the Viet Cong also.
It was all very confused. They were poor village peasants with
scroungy faded clothes. About noon, the provincial officials brought
food to peoify thom.
--------------------
- Page 10
--------------------
doepe
article 9
pace 10
I thought they are buying food for them only to
restore their energy to start in again. About 4 p.m. they certainly did.
Then the mass movement marched by. The 700 villagers were
in groups of 50 to 100 each with what looked like a student loador in
Goch group walking alongside directing them what to shout. The
student would shout a phrase and then the people would return it in
unison.
Well, I fled to the American helicopter company, but they
didn't know a thing. They called the American advisors to the cas
province, but they didn't know a thing either. Their colonel had
restricted them to their quartore 24 hours a day. All the Amerioan
provincial advisors about 100 of thon@mont to their compound da
and looked themselves in. All the streets to the compound were blockaded.
The next day my maid returned from market saying people were
again gathering in front of the high cohool; there was supposedly
a curfew on the city, but it was never enforced. I couldn't take any
more and I left for saigo
The problem was the mobs, students and teachers I knew
onilod at me during the demonstrations. They are not anti-American
as far as personalities go, but they are anti-American in foreign
policy. In a mass mob, no matter how many friends you have, they
would be in the minority and wouldn't stop hurting Americans.
--------------------
- Page 11
--------------------
doope
artiole 9
page 11
this whole story is just a page out of the communist
manual, they are jumping from one faction to another, causing
uttor confusion, unrest and demoralization. They say it's a popular
demonstration, but only a small group are controlling it. And the
Communists are always behind the scene. You never see the
leaders and the people do not know who the leaders are.
But now the teachers and professional people are becoming
concerned realizing this is Communist taction, but they can not seo
any solution to counteract them. They also fear for their fomilion
and their lives if they attempt to rebel. Some familios are already
leaving for Saigon--Air Viet Nam has been booked up for two solid wooks.
Then too the fishermon and ayalo-drivare were being paid for
their participation.
The Viet Cong do not control Qui Nhon physically or
militarily, but I think they nontrol the minds of the leaders and they
may as well control it all. If this trend is not reversed, we'll lose
the whole city eventually. And we'll lose other cities because of the
same tactios. It's the same thing that happoned at the French Indo-China
Only the name is different. They're called Viet
Tarith variations.
Cong instead of Viet Minh; we're called Amorionne instead of Fronah. But
we are still whito.
The funny thing is that the word Qui Nhon in English
means "A place to Assemble," and it sure is.
-
Date
-
1964, Aug. 23
-
Subject
-
Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Demonstrations; Protest movements
-
Location
-
Saigon, South Vietnam
-
Coordinates
-
10.8231; 106.6311
-
Size
-
20 x 26 cm
-
Container
-
B187, F2
-
Format
-
dispatches
-
Collection Number
-
MS 363
-
Collection Title
-
Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers
-
Creator
-
Keever, Beverly Deepe
-
Copyright Information
-
These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.
-
Publisher
-
Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
-
Language
-
English
