When Viet students rebel
In South Vietnam

Why Are the students in Vietnam demonstrating against the government? Salient reporter John Harlow was working in South Vietnam earlier this year as a free lance journalist. He visited all three university cities, Saigon, Hue and Dalat, a few weeks before the current wave of student demonstrations. From his own observations, and information received from a friend in Hue two weeks ago, he now pieces together a report on the demonstrations.

The latest wave of student demonstrations in South Vietnam is basically a reaction of the educated against the uneducated.

The Consensus of opinion amongst students in Hue Is that Marshall Ky is incapable, and does not have the qualifications to be Prime Minister.

"He is only a pilot. He's never even been to university," one student said to me.

"Well, who have you got to replace him?" I asked.

"There are plenty of people much more capable than Ky. Ky doesn't know anything about politics or administration. I believe he is sincere. But sincerity doesn't compensate for lack of ability."

The students are clearly unable to agree on who Is better than Ky. Since General Thi was sucked by the Prime Minister early in March there has been a series of student demonstrations in all three university cities. Yet the students have still failed to produce one candidate for Prime Minister that thev can all agree on.

The students played an important role in the demonstrations in 1963 that led to the overthrow of Diem. The success of these demonstrations gave them a strong sense of power. The current demonstrations are. to a large extent, the result of student leaders wanting to flex their political muscles.

Up until now Marshall Ky has ruled South Vietnam well. He has cracked down on corruption, has tightened controls on the black market, and has made sincere (and partially successful) attempts to increase government agricultural aid. The students had no real excuse to demonstrate against him until March.

The dismissal of General, Thi as Commander of the 1st Corps was seen as a sign that the central government in Saigon was about to increase its control over affairs in the northern provinces. There has; always been a reaction in this area against, governments in Saigon. Some people would like to see Hue restored as the royal capital of Vietnam.

Government troops in Da Nang who protested against the dismissal of their commander gained the support of Buddhist leaders because General Thi is a good Buddhist and also gained student backing because student leaders in Hue were wanting to (lex their muscles again.

How strong Is the link between the students and the Buddhists? I would suggest it is the Buddhists who are supporting the students, rather than the students supporting the Buddhists. Many of the students, even in Hue. have relatively little understanding of Buddhism, let alone interest in its doctrines. There are. no doubt, some devout, Buddhist students. But I would suggest that Buddhism means as little to most Vietnamese students as Christianity means to most New Zealand students.

It suits the Buddhist cause to have university students and high .school pupils out in the streets demonstrating, and they are giving all the moral encouragement and finance the students need.

But it also suits the students to demonstrate.

To begin with demonstra-strations serve as a valuable cover for students' high jinks. They also give students a chance to let off steam on political questions. In this respect demonstrations in Vietnam serve much the same function as capping week and forums serve in New Zealand universities.

Then there is the intel-lectual arrogance that has turned students against Ky because of his limited education.

The demonstrations are also being used by students to protest against conscription— they are influenced here by, similar demonstrations in the United States.

But these demonstrations do not have the support of all students. And students who are prepared to go along with one demonstration, are not always prepared to continue their support indefinitely. A friend in Hue, who is con-temptuous of Marshall Ky and is also afraid he will be conscripted as soon as he graduates, has told me he has not joined any demonstrations. He considers the demonstrations arc tools in the hands of the Communists. He is coinvinced that a number of Viet Cong have infiltrated student ranks, and are now working hard to persuade strident leaders to press on with their opposition to Marshall Ky's government.