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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 9. 1ts May 1973

Thieu's subversion of the Peace Agreement

Thieu's subversion of the Peace Agreement

Thieu has repeatedly reiterated that he will never recognise a government "of 3 parts", a position which subverts article 12 of the Agreement. This article provides for the establishment of a National Council of National Reconciliation and Concord of three equal segments, after consultations between Thieu and the Provisional Revolutionary Government.

On October 12th 1972, Thieu declared: "Let those who continue to advocate a coalition government of three parts stand up and be counted. I am certain that the people and the army will not let them live more than five minutes". The San Francisco Chronicle reported on November 4th that Thieu had stated that persons who supported a coalition government were "pro-communist neutralists" and would riot be allowed to live five minutes.

That statement was a direct reference to the 'Third Force' of Buddhists, Catholics, students and other neutralists, thousands of whom have been imprisoned, tortured and executed. Don Luce, for 14 years a social worker in the south before his expulsion, writes: "On July 8th 1972 the Far Eastern Economic Review reported that 'reliable Opposition sources estimate that 50,000 people have been arrested throughout the country in the past two months'. Thieu's press secretary announced in May of last year that: 'We've arrested the entire student body of Hue' "