IN EMBATTLED VIETNAM,
BUDDHISTS CONTINUE TO DEMONSTRATE AGAINST THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT OF PRIME
MINISTER NGUYEN CAO KY. THEY ARE DETERMINED TO KEEP UP THEIR PRESSURE FOR A
POLITICAL CHANGE AS WELL AS TO CONDEMN THE GOVERNMENT FOR ITS RECENT USE OF
FORCE IN CRUSHING THE BUDDHIST-LED REVOLT IN THE NORTHERN CITY OF DANANG WHERE
76 PEOPLE DIED IN EIGHT DAYS OF FIGHTING.

IN THE LATEST DEMONSTRATION IN SAIGON YESTERDAY (FRIDAY), MORE THAN 100 BUDDHIST
MONKS AND HUNDREDS OF THEIR FOLLOWERS SET FIRE TO WOODEN CRATES WHICH THEY
FORMED AS BARRICADES TO STOP ADVANCING COMBAT TROOPS.

THE DEMONSTRATION QUICKLY TURNED INTO RIOTING IN WHICH TROOPS USED TEARGAS TO
DISPERSE ROCK-HURLING STUDENTS. THE RIOTING WAS SPARKED OFF AT THE WAVE OF
BUDDHIST FLAGS BY MONKS WHO STOOD ON BOXES PLACED IN THE CENTRE OF THE ROAD.

SOME OF THE RETREATING MONKS PICKED UP THE SMOKING RED AND BLUE TEARGAS
CANISTERS AND HURLED THEM BACK AT THE POLICE. THE CHOKING FUMES CAUGHT
VIETNAMESE ON THEIR WAY TO WORK AND ENTERED TWO OF THE CITY'S BIGGEST HOTELS
WHICH ARE BOTH NEAR THE DEMONSTRATION SITE.

IN HUE, 200 UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SACKED THE UNITED STATES INFORMATION SERVICE
LIBRARY ON THURSDAY. THEY SMASHED GLASS WINDOW PANES, HURLED BOOKS INTO A FRONT
YARD BONFIRE THEN SET FIRE TO THE BUILDING ITSELF. THE OFFICE OF THE
VIETNAMESE-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION WAS ALSO SET ON FIRE.

THE INCIDENT WAS THE SECOND IN TWO YEARS. POLICEMEN IN THIS REBEL CITY MADE NO
MOVE TO HALT THE STUDENTS AND GUARDS IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING QUIETLY WITHDREW
WHEN THE MOB ARRIVED. THEY WERE PROTESTING AGAINST AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR PREMIER
KY'S GOVERNMENT.

THE NORTHERN UNIVERSITY TOWN OF HUE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MAIN CENTRES OF
AGITATION AGAINST THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT.

MEANWHILE, AMERICAN CIVILIAN HAVE STARTED TO EVACUATE FROM HUE BECAUSE THE
AMERICAN CONSULATE COULD NOT GUARANTEE THEIR SAFETY IN BITTER CLASHES BETWEEN
REBEL BUDDHISTS AND GOVERNMENT FORCES.