- Title: SOUTH VIETNAM: BUDDHIST LEADERS IN SAIGON STAGE VICTORY PARADE
- Date: 16th April 1966
- Summary: 1. LS DEMONSTRATORS OUTSIDE BUDDHIST INSTITUTE 0.08 2. MS TRISHAS JOIN IN DEMONSTRATION 0.20 3. MLS CROWD ENTERING INSTITUTE 0.23 4. LS BOY SCOUTS DIRECTING TRAFFIC (TWO SHOTS) 0.31 5. MLS BUILDING (PAN) DESERTED ROAD 0.35 6. MS MILITARY POLICE DIRECTING TRAFFIC (TWO SHOTS) 0.38 7. LS CLOSED SHOPS 0.40 8. LS TRAFFIC NEAR CENTRAL MARKET 0.44 9. LS ONLOOKERS (PAN) MARCHERS WITH BANNERS (TWO SHOTS) 1.05 10. LS MARCHERS (TWO SHOTS) 1.12 11. LS MARCHERS DISPERSING (TWO SHOTS) 1.16 Initials CAR/VS/MK/YA/RBI Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 1st May 1966 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SAIGON, SOUTH VIETNAM
- Country: Vietnam
- Reuters ID: LVAAK1529DR7FXW6ERXQFY6U6FDO
- Story Text: SOME 20,000 BUDDHISTS DEMONSTRATED IS SAIGON THIS WEEK IN WHAT THEIR LEADERS DESCRIBED AS A VICTORY CEREMONY. THIS FOLLOWED THE SIGNING OF A DECREE BY SOUTH VIETNAM'S MILITARY JUNTA PROMISING A GENERAL ELECTION WITHIN FIVE MONTHS. THE MAIN POINT OF THE BUDDHIST STRUGGLE FOR THE PAST MONTH WAS FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE BUDDHISTS MARCHED PEACEFULLY THROUGH THE STREETS AND TURNED BACK TO THEIR HEADQUARTERS -- THE BUDDHIST INSTITUTE -- FROM WHERE THEY STARTED. THE ORDERLY PARADE WAS LED BY A POLICE JEEP. BUDDHIST BOY SCOUTS HELPED POLICE TO DIRECT TRAFFIC WAY FROM THE MARCHERS.
THE DEMONSTRATION ENDED WITHOUT VIOLENCE. BEFORE THEY REACHED THE CENTRE OF THE CAPITAL, THE MARCHERS BEGAN DISPERSING AFTER ABOUT TWO HOURS. NO TROOPS WERE IN SIGHT.
THE ELECTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY A NATIONAL CONGRESS COMMITTEE, WHICH WILL ALSO DRAFT AN ELECTION LAW. BUT THE DECREE SIGNED BY CHIEF OF STATE NGUYEN VAN THIEU, DID NOT INDICATE WHETHER THE 10-MONTH OLD JUNTA WOULD HAND OVER TO A PROVISIONAL ADMINISTRATION. PRIME MINISTER NGUYEN CAO KY HAD SAID HE WOULD STEP DOWN FROM THE GOVERNMENT IMMEDIATELY IF ASKED TO DO SO.
IN SAIGON YESTERDAY (FRIDAY), BUDDHIST LEADERS CALLED OFF THEIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT, ANNOUNCING THEY WERE SATISFIED WITH A PROMISE OF EARLY ELECTIONS. THE DECISION WAS REACHED AFTER SIX HOURS OF TALKS AT A MEETING OF LEADING MONKS OF SOUTH VIETNAM'S UNIFIED BUDDHIST CHURCH.
ANNOUNCING THE SUSPENSION OF THEIR STRUGGLE, THE MONKS WARNED THAT THE CHURCH WOULD TAKE ACTION IF THE GOVERNMENT TRIED TO GO BACK ON ITS PROMISES, AND TRIED TO PUNISH ANY AGITATORS AND IF THE ORGANISATION OF THE ELECTION WAS NOT FAIR.
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