Viet Buddhist Chief Bars Reds

Item

derivative filename/jpeg

363-04811.pdf

Digital Object Identifier

363-04811

Title

Viet Buddhist Chief Bars Reds

Description

Article published in the New York Herald Tribune about the Buddhist monk, Venerable Thích Trí Quang's, opposition to communist government, despite his opposition to the current South Vietnamese government, page 2

AI Usage Disclosure

Draft transcripts were automatically generated via Google Document AI and are currently under review. Please report significant errors to Archives & Special Collections at archives@unl.edu.

Transcript

--------------------
- Page 1
--------------------
Viet Buddhist Chief Bars Reds
By Beverly Deepe
A Special Correspondent
SAIGON.
Thích Trí Quang South Viet
Nam's most powerful Buddhist
leader, said yesterday he op-
poses Communist representa-
tion in any elected government
here.
The military government
pledged yesterday to hold
elections for a civilian regime
as soon as a constitution is
drafted and the voting ma-
chinery is set up. But the
Buddists boycotted the prepa-
ratory congres at which the
offer was made.
43-year-old
TH Quảng
sepiritual leader of the Unified
Buddhist Church, told The
Saigon News, one of two Eng-
lish-language newspapers
here, that he is not anti-Ameri-
can.
He said he is "opposed to
American policy in so far as it
blocks the setting up of a Na-
tional Assembly."
Such opposition, he asserted,
nullifies U. S. aid to South Viet
Nam.
U. S. SAVED HIM
Tri Quang is said to oppose
comunism on the grounds it is
atheistic. And he has some
cause to be grateful to the
Americans. In 1963 he was
given refuge for 64 dasy in the
American Embassy, possibly
saving his life, as the Bud-
dhists staged a showdown con-
frontation with Premier Ngo
Dinh Diem
During this political asy-
lum, American Marine guards
lent him a radio, books, writ-
ing paper and made certain
he received three vegetarian
meals a day prepared by an
expert Chinese chef.
American Ambassador Hen-
ry Cabot Lodge, then on his
first tour here, granted asy-
lum to the enigmatic monk,
as the Saigon regime razed
Buddhist pagodas. In return,
Thi Quảng (whose name
means spiritual enlighten-
ment wrote political theses
for the American Embassy.
which baffled and confused
American officers.
When Mr. Lodge returned
to Viet Nam on his second
tour here last June. Thich
Tri Quang reportedly re-
torted: "Of course, I appre-
clate that Mr. Lodge granted
me asylum in the American
Embassy."
But, he added arrogantly,
"I don't feel it's necessary to
meet Mr. Lodge any more."
Tri Quang's tart statement
about the second appoint-
ment of Ambassador Lodge
swept Saigon, much to the
delight of his Vietnamese fol-
lowers. But
Western
diplomat explained glumly,
"The Americans presume that
gratitude is more than an
occidental quality. It doesn't
exist in the Orient--and they
should not expect it."
TRI QUANG, who
carries the Buddhist
title "venerable"
before his name,
has helped to topple
one government
with his spellbinding
oratory. Now he is
leading the Buddhist
opposition to
Premier Ky's
military regime.
Quang left the Embassy, the
not the sole-
major-if
American influence he car-
ried away was a yen for air-
conditioning. He installed a
unit in his small room at his
curve-roofed
creme-colored.
Buddhist Institute "so he can
work better," his associates
explained.
Now, two and a half years
later. Tri Quang appears bent
on toppling another govern-
ment-if he succeeds, it will
be the fourth in less than
three years by demanding
civilian rule very promptly.
Premier Ky called a politi-
cal congress April 3, to work
toward elections and a civilian
government in a bid to mol-
lify the Buddhists.
He apparently was unsuc
cessful. Not only Buddhists
but Roman Catholics and stu-
dents shunned the meeting.
attended by representatives of
political parties, unions and
civic organizations.
The government wants time
to effect the transition to
civilian rule. For the Budd-
hists, apparently, any delay is
too long and for this reason
they boycotted the congress.
DEMONSTRATIONS
Moreover, Buddhist leaders
called for massive demonstra-
tions in Saigon tomorrow to
enforce demands for the im-
mediate capitulation of Pre-
mier Ky's government.
Even as the delegates met,
an estimated 7,000 to 8,000
persons led by Buddhist stu-
dents marched through the
streets of Hue, denouncing the
Congress as a "tool of the
American CIA."
Another crowd of about
3,000 students later staged a
torchlight parade in Hue and
burned effigies of Gen. Ky
and Chief of State Gen.
Nguyen Van Thieu.
In Da Nang, 60 miles south
of Hue,
than
more
2,500
soldiers, police students and
civilians some of them armed
On Nov. 4, 1963, when Tri also participated in a neare.
ful anti-government parade.
Both cities are in the control
of the Buddhist-led anti- gov-
ernment forces.
Charges have been made
by Premier Ky among others
that the Buddrists are in-
filtrated by Communists. Tri
Quang asserted yesterday that
these charges are sheer mal-
ice." at least when applied to
his group.
"Among the most dangerous
destructive forces. we must
count Communism, and those
who oppose the setting up of
a national assembly." he told
the Saigon Daily News.
police sourers say Tri Quang
has met with members of the
Communist National Libera-
tion Front, Some of the
highest ranking officers
themselves Buddhists who
overthrew the Diem regime,
now accuse Tri Quang of
being a Red.
Others say tha twhile Tri
Quang may not be a Com-
munist, his polities and tac-
tics are openly aiding the
Communists to subvert the
country.
"It's stupid to ask if Tri
Quang is a Communist or
not, a Vietnamese govern-
ment official said, "You can
look and look for a Commu-
nist party card on him, but
you will never, rever find it.
But his policy is to make the
government so weak it can
not fight the Communists
and this is the policy of the
Communists.
He radiates 8. magnetic
spell over those who have
met and talked with him.
"I've met Ho Chi Minh."
one former Communist said.
"I've met Gen. Vo Nguyen
Giap head of North Viet-
namese Army who defeated
the French But I think Tri
Quang is tougher than both."
mixes his language with Com-
munist and Buddhist termi-
nology.
Tri Quang was born shortly
after 1920 of middle class
landowners, in the province
of Ha Tinh, one of the poor-
est provinces in the country.
He was named Pham Van
Bong, but was later to adopt
His
number of aliases.
father became a Buddhist
priest late in life; his mother
died a natural death shortly
after the Communist take-
over in 1945.
a
BURNING
His aunt, after the loss of
all family properties during
the Communist revolution,
reportedly set fire to the fam-
ily house and leaped into the
flames to commit suicide. Al-
most 20 years later. Saigonese
recalled this incident and
noted the parallel to Tri
Quang's
of
tactics
having
Buddhist clergy burn them-
selves in protest against the
Diem regime.
One of Tri Quang's elder
brothers is reportedly an im-
cadre
political
in
portant
Communist North Viet Nam.
When he was 13, Quang re-
for
studied
the
portedly
Buddhist priesthood in the Tu
Dam Pagoda, still his head-
quarters, in the old imperial
miles
capital of Hue, 440
north of Saigon, the strong-
hold of Buddhism in South
Viet Nam.
During the Indochina War.
Tri Quang was arrested by
French authorities and held
for several months, but upon
release he again returned to
Ta Dam pagoda in Hue as a
full-fledged Buddhist priest.
Reliable sources say in early
1951, he again traveled toward
Hanoi, staying a few months
in the village of Diem Ho,
known as a meeting place for
Communist Viet Minh cadres
on their way to infiltrate Into
the French-held areas of the
country. Reportedly, he stayed
in the village several months
and received some training
from the
and instructions
Communist Viet Minh guer-
rillas before proceeding to
Hanoi.
In early 1952. Tri Quang
was reportedly invited to be a
delegate to an international
Buddhist conference; but the
French "surete" refused him
an exit permit on the grounds
he was believed to be a Com-
He had previously
munist.
been arrested by French au-
thority as one.
Tri Quang admitted to a
relative of President Diem
that he had been a Commu-
nist, but had since changed
his ways. But in 1963 during
the first Buddhist crisis.
neither President Diem nor
his younger intellectual broth-
er Nhu believed him, and Mrs.
Ngo Dinh Diem startled the
very logical and talks better world by calling him a "Red
One official, after a long
conversation, said. "His face
is pale without blood-you
might say cold-blooded. He's
Than a
Communist code ITA

Date

1966, Apr. 13

Subject

Thích, Trí Quang, 1923-2019; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements--Vietnam (Republic); Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Religious aspects--Buddhism; Buddhism and politics--Vietnam (Republic)

Location

Saigon, South Vietnam

Coordinates

10.8231; 106.6311

Container

B4, F6

Format

newspaper clippings

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