1.
GV PAN.. PRESSMEN GOING TO THE CEMETERY TO INTERVIEW BUDDHIST MONKS AND NUNS.
0.10

2.
SV MONKS AND NUNS ON VERANDAH.
0.13

3.
LV MORE DETAINED MONKS AND NUNS LOOKING OUT OF WINDOW.
0.17

4.
SV NUNS BEING RELEASED
0.26

5.
CU PRESSMEN INTERVIEWING RELEASED MONKS
0.29

6.
SV VENERABLE THICH CHANH LAC SPEAKING TO PRESSMEN (2 SHOTS)
0.39

7.
LV PRESSMEN SURROUNDING RELEASED MONKS AND NUNS.
0.46

8.
GV MONKS AND NUNS LEAVING CEMETERY (THREE SHOTS)
0.56



Initials AA/V/AW/PB


EDITORS: PRODS. 5457/63 (19 JULY) 5373/63 (16 JULY) AND 5441/63 (18 JULY) ALSO REFER.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: SOME TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY-EIGHT SOUTH VIETNAMESE BUDDHISTS, MAINLY MONKS AND NUNS DETAINED AT EH BINH CHANH CEMETERY, JUST OUTSIDE SAIGON, THE CAPITAL, LAST WEDNESDAY FOLLOWING ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS, WERE RELEASED LAST SATURDAY (20, JULY).

THEIR RELEASE COINCIDED WITH A LETTER FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO BUDDHIST LEADERS PROPOSING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE BUDDHIST CHARGES OF RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION.

THE BUDDHISTS SAID, HOWEVER, THAT THEY COULD NOT DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH THE GOVERNMENT UNTIL THEIR EARLIER DEMANDS HAD BEEN MET, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT ADMISSION OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEATH OF BUDDHISTS KILLED DURING A DEMONSTRATION IN THE CITY OF HUE ON MAY 8 THIS YEAR.

THE BUDDHISTS RELEASED FROM DETENTION REFUSED TO TRAVEL BACK INTO THE CITY IN TRANSPORT PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES.FINALLY, HOWEVER, THEY AGREED TO BOARD THE BUSES WHICH TOOK THEM TO THE XA LOI PAGODA WHERE SOME BUDDHIST LEADERS ARE STAYING.

VENERABLE THICH CHANH LAC, A BUDDHIST SPOKESMAN, TOLD PRESSMEN OUTSIDE THE CEMETERY, AFTER BEING RELEASED, THAT DURING THEIR DETENTION THEY COULD NOT COMMUNICATION WITH THE SUPERIORS AT THE XA LOI PAGODA.