1.
LS BUDDHIST MONKS AND NUNS DEMONSTRATE OUTSIDE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE
3 ft

2.
CU BANNER
6 ft

3.
MCU HIGH-RANKING BUDDHIST MONK SPEAKING THROUGH MICROPHONE TO CROWD (TWO SHOTS)
12 1/2 ft

4.
MS AMERICAN MILITARY POLICEMAN OUTSIDE GATE
15 ft

5.
MLS POLICE GUARDING RESIDENCE
17 ft

6.
MS MORE MONKS MARCHING TOWARD RESIDENCE
19 1/2 ft

7.
LS MONKS CARRYING BANNERS (PAN TO ) FOLLOWERS
25 ft

8.
MS MONKS IN PROCESSION
28 ft

9.
LS XA LOI PAGODA SPIRE (TILT DOWN TO) DEMONSTRATORS
31 1/2 ft

10.
LS MONKS SITTING ON ROAD OUTSIDE GIAC MINH PAGODA
37 1/2 ft

11.
MLS POLICE BEHIND BARBED WIRE BARRICADE (PAN TO) DEMONSTRATORS
46 ft

12.
MLS POLICE BREAK-UP DEMONSTRATION
50 ft

13.
MLS CAMERAMEN ON TELEGRAPH POST (TILT DOWN TO) COMMOTION ON STREET
53 ft

14.
MLS POLICE ARRESTS SOME DEMONSTRATORS
59 ft



Initials CAR/S/MK/MK/AMR



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF YELLOW-ROBED BUDDHIST MONKS AND NUNS DEMONSTRATED IN FRONT OF THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE NEAR SAIGON, THE CAPITAL OF SOUTH VIETNAM, ON JULY 16 AS BUDDHISTS OPENED A NEW NATION-WIDE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THEIR GOVERNMENT.

CARRYING BANNERS, THEY CLAIMED THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT NGO DIN DIEM HAS FAILED TO IMPLEMENT A JOINT AGREEMENT SIGNED ON JUNE 16 TO END RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION.

A HIGH-RANKING BUDDHIST PRIEST, SPEAKING WITH THE AID OF A MICROPHONE, SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT FAILED TO SATISFY THEIR DEMANDS WITHIN THAT PERIOD AND FURTHER THREATENED THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE PUBLIC SUICIDES BY MONKS AND NUNS.

BANNERS HELD UP AROUND THE DEMONSTRATION, WRITTEN IN VIETNAMESE AND ENGLISH, DECLARED THAT THE "FREE WORLD AND THE UNITED STATES ARE EXPECTED TO DO ANYTHING POSSIBLE FOR THE BUDDHIST PROBLEM".

DURING THE DEMONSTRATION, THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR, MR.FREDERICK NOTLING, WAS AT HIS DOWN-TOWN EMBASSY OFFICE AND WAS KEPT INFORMED BY TELEPHONE.A FEW AMERICAN MILITARY POLICEMEN, ATTACHED TO THE EMBASSY, HELPED THE LOCAL POLICE TO BREAK-UP THE DEMONSTRATION.

THE FOLLOWING DAY, JULY 17, A COMPLETE BLOCKADE WAS CLAMPED ROUND ALL BUDDHIST PAGODAS IN THE CAPITAL FOLLOWING A WAVE OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTEST DEMONSTRATIONS BY MONKS, NUNS AND THEIR FOLLOWERS.

DESPITE THE CLAMP, SOME TWO THOUSAND BUDDHISTS ASSEMBLED OUTSIDE THE GIAC MINH PAGODA IN PROTEST AGAINST THE USE OF UNITED STATE'S AID EQUIPMENT BY SECURITY FORCES AGAINST BUDDHISTS.

POLICE, RUSHED TO THE SCENE IN LORRY-LOADS, QUICKLY BLOCKED THE ROAD LEADING TO THE XA LOI PAGODA WITH A DOUBLE CORDON OF BARBED WIRE WHERE BUDDHIST LEADERS ARE ON A 48-HOUR HUNGER STRIKE IN SUPPORT OF THEIR DEMANDS.

SOME MONKS AND A NUMBER OF WOMEN FOLLOWERS DETERMINEDLY TRIED TO FORCE THEIR WAY THROUGH.AT ONE STAGE, THEY SUCCEEDED BUT WERE BEATEN BACK BY CLUB-SWINGING COMBAT POLICE.A FEW DEMONSTRATORS WERE ARRESTED AND TAKEN TO A TEMPORARY DETENTION CENTRE OUTSIDE SAIGON.