DEMONSTRATORS OUTSIDE CATHEDRAL; MAN DISTRIBUTING LEAFLETS; POLICE; PLACARDS; AMERICAN EMBASSY; SCUFFLES.




Initials KM/V/AE/PF



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Background: CHRISTMAS EVE IN VIETNAM WAS MARRED BY A DEMONSTRATION CALLING FOR A HALT TO THE VIETNAM WAR BY THE TET LUNAR NEW YEAR NEXT FEBRUARY 5.

DURING THE DEMONSTRATION, HELD AT THE JOHN F. KENNEDY SQUARE IN CENTRAL SAIGON, AMERICAN MILITARY POLICE DISPERSED A GROUP OF 30 U.S. SERVICEMEN AND CIVILIANS. SEVERAL SOUTH VIETNAMESE ORGANISERS WERE TAKEN AWAY BY POLICE INCLUDING NGUYEN HONG LONG, AGED 27, WHO CLAIMED TO LEAD A PEACE GROUP KNOWN AS THE "DRAGON FLOWER MOVEMENT".

THE U.S. PROVOST-MARSHAL FOR SAIGON URGED REPEATEDLY OVER A LOUDSPEAKER: "ALL U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL IN UNIFORM ARE REQUIRED TO LEAVE THIS AREA WITHIN 60 SECONDS." BUT THE 20 AMERICAN CIVILIANS, EITHER MEMBERS OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN VIETNAM OR PACIFIST GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES, WENT ABOUT DISTRIBUTING PEACE PAMPHLETS AND HELD A SILENT CANDLELIGHT RALLY - UNDISTURBED BY POLICE.

THE DEMONSTRATION ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF HOLIDAY-MAKERS TO THE SQUARE WHERE THEY WITNESSED THE ARREST OF THE LEADER AND HIS FOLLOWERS. ONE PHOTOGRAPHER WHO TOOK A PICTURE OF THE ARREST HAD HIS CAMERA SEIZED BY POLICE.

AFTER THE DEMONSTRATION WAS DISPERSED BY THE COMBINED POLICE FORCE, THE DEMONSTRATORS REGROUPED OUTSIDE THE AMERICAN EMBASSY NEARBY ONLY TO FIND IT SEALED OFF BY BARBED WIRE BARRICADES AND ARMED TROOPS.