New York Amsterdam News — 1963-00-00727

South Vietnam <s» •w - 24 • N. Y. AMSTERDAM NEWS, Sat., Sept. 7, 1963 Behind The Revolt rZ-- By MARCELLE FOl’QUET |The remarkable Ngo family would have been in its Who really believes that there is a religious crisis element “ Renaissance IUly. Its network of relatives control most of the positions of importance. Each of the five brothers is a dominant personality in his own field. in South Vietnam? Who believes that the economic and military aid totaling about three billion dollars which the United States has poured into that country over nine years are at stake because of some “religious” difference? One of them, Ngo Dinh Nhu, chief adviser to the President and head of the secret police appears to be the real power in South Vietnam and his extraordinary wife, the great disaster. She has revolted the World by scoffing at the monks who committed suicide by “making a barbecue of themselves.” The resentment of the majority of the people of South Vietnam under the rule of that autocratic family was to be expected. Yet the weakness of President Diem, the intolerance of the Nhus are not the only reasons for discontent. The movement of protest most likely stems from social and .political dis­ content. It is all the more surprising that the religious issue suddenly has aroused such passions. First of all the Buddhists are known to be tolerant. In fact, Buddhism is neither uniform nor united in South Vietnam. Many Viet­ namese describe themselves as Con- fucians”, because most of them belong Another factor in the crisis which the American to one of the many curious sects that I Government has discovered to its consternation and flourish in the country, such as the Caodaists, who mix exasperation is that a nationalist movement consisting up Confucian, Buddhist, Roman Catholic and Spiritual- mainly of the “Intelligentsia” — students, professors, ist elements, and have even canonized public figures an(j intellectuals, allied to the left wing elements, are opposed to the feudal regime supported by American like Victor Hugo and Winston Churchill. . There is no doubt that the Buddhists have had some dollars and thb Army. In just the same way, Diem and his followers were opposed to the French colonial rulers and their puppet, Emperor Bao Dai, from 1948 to 1954. grievances, which however are not all the making of the Diem’s regime. It is necessary to search deeper for the roots of the socio-religious problems. The Buddhists’ chief complaint concerns a law enacted “We do not want to be beggars forever,” some some years ago under French colonial rule. This law students have recently declared. This statement sum- determines explicitly the privileges of the Catholic marizes the aspirations of those who refuse to live in organizations under such important categories as the the artificial prosperity propped up by American acquisition of property, the expansion of churches and “Foreign Aid.” taxes. Not only are these handouts an affront to thein . Naturally the intransigent policy of a Catholic gov- sensibilities, but their distribution generates scandalous' ernment has added to the' irritations which exploded corruption and injustice. It is common knowledge for last May, when the Government forbade the celebra- instance, that food supplies bearing the words “Not to Qan of a Buddhist feast, and nine monks were killed be sold or exhanged — Gift of the American People” in a protest march by the police forces;—This event have been sold openly in the large city of Hue, instead spontaneously rallied all those who were dissatisfied of being distributed in the country side. with the regime. The vital forces of the country and the war-weary people have organized themselves in a coalition against disapproval. Indeed a number of oppos.tion groups. abuscs whjch an arbjtrarv government and the both Buddhists and Catholics, are known to have told Americans quite unintentionally, have induced and their followers to join the “religious demonstrations”. sustajnej • Why is discontent so widespread in South Vietnam? Although Communist viet Cong may not rcprc. fort of the answer lies in the character of the regime. sent exac,iy tbe ideals of the opposition, it nevertheless, attracts more sympathy than the present regime. Therefore, an agreement between South Vietnam and Communist North Vietnam is hot so unlikely as is generally supposed. After all, the South Vietnamese case is not unprecedented. Waves of nationalism con­ tinue to sweep the Asian and African continents, and have proved to be irreversible. Thev seized on the Buddhist issue to show their Local Group Holding Benefit ForSCLC Fund A benefit card party for the Southern Christian Leaders hip by the Conference will be New York Workers for Freedom. Saturday. Sept. 14 at the C»nton Terrace Ballroom. 26X< Broad- Guests may play cards of their choice, and prizes will be award­ . „ ed. Chairman of the sponsoring group is Louise T. Moore. Mem­ bers are Edna Cohen, Christine Conner, Joya Cook, Ruby Cooper, Mayetta Fields, Rosa Frazier, Muriel Kellogg. Iona Newsome, Elizabeth Reid and Rose Ryder. toacltokills 'em fast keeps on killing! L Silverman 2783 8th Ave. New York 39, N. Y. PROGRESSIVE 3LITTLE KITTENS TV* az. caa Casa af 4S's COM The “modern math” curricu­ lum developed by Science Re­ search Associates will be Intro­ duced in all Valhalla elementary schools this fall. MERCHANTS FOOD STORES Hundreds Bags of Lipton Tea 15c off Label 99c Four Pack Chicken Noodle Soup 5c off Label 55c INTERESTED IN-4-H: William Barnes, polio victim of Pater­ son, N. J., decided after vis­ iting the U. S. Department of- Agriculture last week that he would like to organize a 4-H Club among older youth in his community to study local, state, and Federal Government. He v.as in Washington to study the Federal Government at close range. Agriculture's Adminis­ trative Assistant Secretary Jos­ eph M. Rober son, r.ght. greet­ ed the youth a.id arranged for him to tour the Department. While visiting with Dr. Lloyd H. Davis, acting Administrator of the Federal Extension Ser- vide, William became interest­ ed in 4-H—the Heat, Heart, Hands and Health organiza­ tion among young people (most­ ly rural i between the ages of .0 and 21. The director of the New Jersey Agricultural Exten­ sion Service has promised to assist William with h's 4-H project. ■ General de Gaulle’s idea of a unified Vietnam on a neutral basis is the only satisfactory solution. We should not assert too quickly that it is “premature”. An exploding situation requires immediate action, which does not. necessarily imply capitulation, but rather the application of political intelligence. No detergent powder made can do this job! New Wisk can! Here’s how... Wisk puts its strength where the dirt is! BIT SOMT-ON THE DOUBLE! A sensational, new and different strawberry ice cream made as only Sealtest knows how. 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