- Title: SOUTH VIETNAM: KOREAN MARINES KEEP PRE-ELECTION PEACE IN QUANG NGAI PROVINCE
- Date: 5th September 1967
- Summary: MARINES PATROLLING, FIRING MORTARS; HELICOPTER PATROL; MARINES CAPTURE AND CUT DOWN VIET CONG FLAG. Initials DHC/V/BOB/GC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 20th September 1967 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: QUANG NGAI PROVINCE, SOUTH VIETNAM
- Country: Vietnam
- Reuters ID: LVAAC0EQDIAPQKW5SUEPDT9HHSGF
- Story Text: MEMBERS OF THE KOREAN BLUE DRAGON MARINE BRIGADE WERE GIVEN THE TASK OF ENSURING THE PRE-ELECTION PEACE IN THEIR "AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY", QUANG NGAI PROVINCE, AT THE WEEKEND. THE SPECIFIC BRIEF -- TO KEEP DOWN VIET CONG TERRORISM AND HARASSMENT.
THE MARINES HAD 53 VOTING CENTRES IN THE PROVINCE TO PROTECT. THEY HAD TO KEEP THE PEACE IN EVERY POSSIBLE AREA UNTIL SUNDAY, WHEN THE ELECTIONS TOOK PLACE.
IN SEVERAL PLACES VIET CONG FLAGS HAD BEEN RAISED AS A DENUNCIATION OF THE ELECTION. THE KOREAN MARINES CONFISCATED THE FLAGS, OFTEN AFTER A FIERCE BATTLE WITH VIET CONG FORCES.
QUANG NGAI PROVINCE IS ABOUT 340 MILES (550 KMS) NORTH EAST OF SAIGON, AND IS MOUNTAINOUS AND THICKLY WOODED IN MANY AREAS.
THE MARINES PATROLLED ON FOOT AND BY HELICOPTER. OUR FILM SHOWS THEM MAKING A MORTAR ATTACK ON A SUSPECTED VIET CONG STRONGHOLD.
LATEST FIGURES SHOW THAT SOUTH VIETNAM'S MILITARY HEAD OF STATE, LIEUTENANT GENERAL NGUYEN VAN THIEU, HAS WON THE ELECTION AND WILL BECOME THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT. A SURPRISING SECOND CHOICE WAS MR. TRUONG DINH DZU, THE SAIGON LAWYER WHO WANTS TO SEE AN END TO THE WAR.
IN INCIDENTS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ELECTIONS, 49 CIVILIANS WERE KILLED AND A FURTHER 213 WOUNDED.
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