RICKSHAWS AND SCOOTER-BUSES ASSEMBLING AT MARKET PLACE; VARIOUS SHOTS OF RICKSHAWS AND SCOOTER-BUSES IN PROCESSION




Initials GEM/VS/JF/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: IN SOUTH VIETNAM'S BUDDHIST-DOMINATED SECOND CITY OF DANANG, RICKSHAWS AND SCOOTER-POWERED BUSES HAVE JOINED IN A CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT IS SAIGON.

DANANG IS THE SECOND BIGGEST CITY IN SOUTH VIETNAM. SINCE THE DISMISSAL OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL NGUYEN CHANH THI BY THE MILITARY JUNTA AS COMMANDER OF FIVE NORTHERNMOST REGIONS, DANANG HAS BEEN A CENTRE OF POLITICAL UNREST.

ON TUESDAY (MARCH 22), ABOUT SEVEN HUNDRED BICYCLE-POWERED RICKSHAWS AND SCOOTER-POWERED BUSES, PLASTERED WITH STICKERS DEMANDING THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT'S RESIGNATION, MOVED IN PROCESSION THROUGH THE STREETS OF DANANG.

THE ANTI-GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN WAS STEPPED UP AFTER PRIME MINISTER NGUYEN CAO KY'S REMARK THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT YIELD TO WHAT HE SAID WERE UNJUSTIFIED BUDDHIST CLAIMS. THE POWERFUL UNIFIED BUDDHIST CHURCH, WHICH DEMANDED A RETURN TO CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT, HAD CRITICISED THE REMARK AS HASTY AND UNCONSTRUCTIVE.

AT ONE DEMONSTRATION IN DANANG, ANTI-AMERICAN SLOGANS APPEARED FOR THE FIRST TIME. NEARLY ALL SHOPS WERE CLOSED IN SUPPORT OF A GENERAL STRIKE. AMERICAN TROOPS IN AND AROUND THE CITY HAVE BEEN CONFINED TO THEIR BASES AND BILLETS.