LAOS: HIN HEUP -- TRUCE VILLAGE IN A DISPUTED COUNTRY.

Record ID: 636785

  • Title: LAOS: HIN HEUP -- TRUCE VILLAGE IN A DISPUTED COUNTRY.
  • Date: 31st August 1969
  • Summary: 1. LV HIN HEUP VILLAGE PAN TO BRIDGE 0.09 2. MV TWO SOLDIERS WITH BOY ACROSS BRIDGE 0.14 3. MV TRACK SHOT OF BRIDGE TOWARDS NORTH (2 SHOTS) 0.22 4. MLS SMALL VILLAGE AT NORTHERN SIDE OF BRIDGE 0.27 5. MLS BRIDGE PAN TO SOUTHERN SIDE OF VILLAGE 0.35 6. MLS RIVER BANK PAN MAN UNDER TREE MAKING GUN FOR HUNTING 0.40 7. CU SAME MAN AND ANOTHER MAKING GUNS (3 SHOTS) 0.52 8. CU BOY PAN TO WOMAN WEAVING OWN MATERIAL 0.57 9. MLS VILLAGE AND ITS ACTIVITIES (3 SHOTS) 1.07 10. MLS MAN FEEDING PIGS AND PAN TO HOUSE ON STILTS 1.13 11. MLS MAN BATHING CHILD WITH WATER FROM RIVER 1.18 12. LS DITTO PAN TO VILLAGE 1.32 Initials GL/VS/AS/LAD Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 15th September 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: HIN HEUP/LAOS
  • Country: Laos
  • Reuters ID: LVA37CCR2QNR13SRXGJFPVCVWXOP
  • Story Text: HIN HEUP (PRONOUNCED HIN HEP), A TRANQUIL VILLAGE WHICH DOZES ON BOTH BANKS OF A LAOTIAN RIVER-BANK, COULD BECOME AN IMPORTANT NAME ON THE WORLD NEWS-MAPS. IT IS THE TRUCE VILLAGE IN A DISPUTED COUNTRY.

    HIN HEUP IS 60 MILES (96 KM) NORTH OF THE VIENTIANE AND LIES ON THE NAM LIK (LIK RIVER) WHICH FORMED THE CEASEFIRE LINE WHEN THE GENEVA AGREEMENTS WERE DRAWN UP IN 1962. EARLIER, IN 1961, THE LEADERS OF THE THREE PRINCELY FACTIONS, LEFT-WING, RIGHT-WING AND NEUTRALIST, HAD MET ON A HOUSE BOAT IN MID-RIVER AT HIN HEUP TO TALK ABOUT A CEASEFIRE.

    NOW THE COMMUNIST-BACKED PATHET LAO CLAIMS IT HAS GUERILLA UNITS IN THE NAM LIK AREA, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE CONFLICT BEGAN IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINING THE OFFENSIVE THROUGHOUT THE RAINY SEASON. IT SAYS IT PLANS TO PUSH SOUTH AGAINST THE VIENTIANE GOVERNMENT FORCES UNTIL IT REACHES THE RIVER. THEN IT WILL HALT, PERHAPS AT HIN HEUP, AND OFFER TO NEGOTIATE NEW TERMS.

    MEANWHILE THE VILLAGERS LIVE AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE, RAISING PIGS AND POULTRY, FISHING IN THE RIVER, GROWING CROPS, WEAVING CLOTH AND HUNTING WITH HOME-MADE FLINTLOCK GUNS.

    THE VILLAGERS ARE NOT VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF PATHET LAO TAKING OVER THE VILLAGE. THE FEW GOVERNMENT TROOPS IN THE AREA ARE MORE CONCERNED AT THE REPORTED PRESENCE OF NORTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS IN LAOS; THEIR OTHER FEAR IS THAT THE UNITED STATES-BACKED GOVERNMENT FORCES MIGHT BOMB THE VILLAGE IF THE COMMUNISTS MOVE IN.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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