ARRIVAL OF DESERTERS FROM POLAND; DESERTERS WORKING ON MAGAZINE.




Initials PBS/VS/BOB/PF



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: AN INCREASING NUMBER OF DESERTERS FROM THE UNITED STATES ARMED SERVICES ARE FINDING REFUGE IN STOCKHOLM. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT AT LEAST ONE AMERICAN MILITARY ABSCONDER ARRIVES IN THE SWEDISH CAPITAL DAILY, AND ALREADY 130 OF THEM NOW RESIDE IN SWEDEN.

SIXTY OF THE AMERICAN DESERTERS ARE REPORTED TO HAVE REACHED SWEDEN FROM POSTS IN WEST GERMANY, SOME COMING THROUGH EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. FORTY OTHERS HAVE ARRIVED FROM THE UNITED STATES, AND ANOTHER 30 FROM SOUTH VIETNAM.

THE DESERTERS ARE CAMPAIGNING AGAINST THE VIETNAM WAR, AND HAVE PRODUCED THEIR OWN MAGAZINE, 'THE SECOND FRONT', TO PUBLICISE THEIR OPPOSITION. THE MAGAZINE, A MONTHLY PUBLICATION, IS DISTRIBUTED IN WEST GERMANY, THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN AND SOUTH VIETNAM. IT HAS A CIRCULATION OF NEARLY 25-THOUSAND.

THE DESERTERS'S ORGANISATION, ALSO KNOWN AS THE SECOND FRONT. IS SHORTLY TO BEGIN ITS WON RADIO SERVICE, TRANSMITTING THROUGH RADIO HANOI, THE SERVICE WILL BROADCAST ONE PROGRAMME A DAY. THE SECOND FRONT ALSO PLANS TO INTRODUCE A RADIO SERVICE FOR BROADCAST IN EUROPE.