1.
LV & CU BLOATED CORPSES IN WATER
0.14

2.
LV MAN WITH POLE OF FERRY PULLS BODY TO SIDE
0.20

3.
LV PAN RIVER AND BODIES FLOATING
0.27

4.
LV BODIES DOWN RIVER
0.35

5.
CU MAN WATCHING
0.38

6.
LV BODIES DOWN RIVER
0.48

7.
TS ALONG ROAD PAST CAMBODIAN MILITARY TRUCKS
0.54

8.
TS TROOPS ON COACH
1.05

9.
CU CAMBODIAN SOLDIERS RESTING (2 SHOTS)
1.16

10.
LV BUILDING PAN TO VIET CONG TIES TO TREE
1.26

11.
CU TILT DOWN WIRE TYING VIET CONG TO TREE
1.32

12.
CU PAN UP VIET CONG CAPTIVE
1.37

13.
BV PRISONER BEING INTERROGATED (3 SHOTS)
1.55



Initials KM/V/JH/BJ


EDITORS: PLEASE REFER TO PROD NO. 3571/70 SERVICED 19 APRIL 1970

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE CONFLICT IN CAMBODIA TOOK A GRISLY NEW TURN LAST WEEK WITH THE DISCOVERY OF MORE THAN 200 CORPSES -- MANY OF THEM SAID TO BE VIETNAMESE -- FLOATING DOWN SEVERAL RIVERS. ABOUT 50 BODIES BLOATED AND DECOMPOSING WERE SIGHTED IN THE MEKONG RIVER ON THURSDAY (16 APRIL) DRIFTING TOWARDS VIETNAM.

A CAMBODIAN MILITARY SPOKESMAN SAID HE BELIEVED THE BODIES WERE THOSE OF LOCAL VIETNAMESE WHO HAD SIDED WITH THE VIETCONG BUT HAD BEEN WEEDED OUT AND KILLED IN FIGHTING WITH CAMBODIAN MILITIA UNITS.

HE DISCOUNTED ANY POSSIBILITY THAT THERE HAD BEEN MASS EXECUTIONS, BUT RESIDENTS IN THE AREA CONCERNED THOUGHT THERE HAD BEEN. THEY SAID THEY HAD HEARD SHOOTING AT NIGHT FROM AN UNINHABITED ISLAND IN THE MEKONG.

MEANWHILE, AS THE VIETCONG EXPAND THEIR AREA OF CONTROL OR INFLUENCE IN THE PROVINCES NEAR VIETNAM, THE CAMBODIAN ARMY CONTINUES TO POUR REINFORCEMENTS INTO THE THREATENED AREAS.

JUST OUTSIDE THE VIETCONG-DOMINATED TOWN OF PRASAUT, A BATTALION OF CAMBODIAN SOLDIERS-MANY OF THEM RAW RECRUITS-HAVE DUG IN, WAITING WITH THEIR COMMUNIST-MADE AK-47 MACHINE-GUNS. DESPITE THE TENSION, THEY STILL FIND TIME FOR THE DAILY SIESTA.

IN THE PRASAUT DISTRICT, A YOUNG VIETCONG SUSPECT WAS CAPTURED AND BOUND BY WIRE TO A TREE FOR INTERROGATION BY A CAMBODIAN ARMY OFFICER SURROUNDED BY HIS MEN. HIS FATE IS NOT KNOWN, BUT WITH ANTI-VIETNAMESE FEELING RUNNING HIGH IN CAMBODIA TODAY HE MAY NOT HAVE SURVIVE.