1.
SV TRIBUNAL SEATED
0.05

2.
SV DO NGOC CHANH LED INTO COURT
0.07

3.
SCU CROWD IN COURT
0.11

4.
BV ACCUSED BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL
0.15

5.
SV ANOTHER DEFENDANT IS LED INTO COURT
0.24

6.
SV DEFENDANTS AND LAWYER
0.28

7.
SV CROWD AND MANY POLICEMEN PRESENT AT TRIBUNAL
0.35

8.
BV LAWYER TALKING TO TRIBUNAL
0.39

9.
SV TROOPS WATCHING THROUGH WINDOW
0.42

10.
LV TRIBUNAL
0.45

11.
CU CROWD
0.48

12.
SV ACCUSED AND TWO LAWYERS
0.52

13.
SCU TRIBUNAL LISTENING
0.55

14.
LV TRIBUNAL
1.00

15.
SV & BV ACCUSED IN DOCK
1.07



Initials DS/S/RM/EEH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE SOUTH VIETNAM GOVERNMENT TODAY (SUNDAY) DECLARED THAT IT WOULD CARRY OUT THE DEATH SENTENCE ON A VIET CONG GUERRILLA, FOUND GUILTY OF COMPLICITY IN LAST MONTH'S BOMB ATTACK ON THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN SAIGON.A MILITARY TRIBUNAL PASSED SENTENCE OF DEATH ON NGUYEN VAN HAI, A 27 YEAR OLD CARPENTER, LAST FRIDAY.

NGUYEN VAN HAI WAS SHOT AND CAPTURED BY POLICE AFTER THE BOMB ATTACK ON THE EMBASSY ON MARCH 30.THE BLAST KILLED THIRTEEN PEOPLE AND WOUNDED MORE THAN 180 OTHERS.THE TRIAL HAD BEEN SCHEDULED FOR EARLY LAST WEEK, BUT NGUYEN VAN HAI WAS STILL BEING TREATED FOR A BULLET IN THE STOMACH.

DESPITE THE SENTENCE OF DEATH, THERE HAD BEEN DOUBT WHETHER THE EXECUTION WOULD TAKE PLACE.DURING THE TRIAL, THE VIET CONG ISSUED A WARNING THAT IF NGUYEN VAN HAI WAS EXECUTED, THEY, IN TURN, WOULD EXECUTE AN AMERICAN OFFICIAL KIDNAPPED IN FEBRUARY.

THE OFFICIAL, MR.GUSTAVE HERTZ, HEAD OF THE ADMINISTRATION SECTION OF THE U.S.AID MISSION IN SOUTH VIETNAM, DISAPPEARED FROM SAIGON ON FEBRUARY 2.UNTIL THE VIET CONG ULTIMATUM, IT WAS NOT KNOWN THAT HE WAS STILL ALIVE.