Word: saigon
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...disputed. The Koreans say that the civilians were killed in the artillery fire. But the villagers contend that they survived the battle by hiding in bunkers. After it was over, they say, Korean soldiers came into the village and murdered the 21 people. Tom Fox of TIME'S Saigon bureau visited the province last week. "When they gather to tell their story, they speak with passion," he cabled. "Each fights to let a visitor hear his or her own story. Tell him everything!' someone says. 'Let him know exactly what happened,' adds another. Tears come...
...power to rule by decree for six months. Thieu lost no time in issuing a series of tough decrees that, among other things, increased the income tax rate, set the death penalty for certain crimes, including kidnaping and heroin dealing, subjected some religious groups to the draft, and ordered Saigon's 40 newspapers to deposit 20 million piasters ($46,-512) each as security against government fines or libel suits...
What Thieu has done is abolish elections in Viet Nam's 10,626 hamlets. Henceforth province chiefs, all of whom are appointed by Saigon, will choose hamlet officials. The province chiefs will also appoint-without the approval of elected village councils, which has heretofore been required -the staff and administrative officers in every hamlet and village in the country. The effect of the decree is to extend Thieu's control right down to the level where most Vietnamese make their most immediate-and sometimes their only-contact with government...
...Saigon explains the abolition of hamlet elections as a means of tightening administration and providing more effective services. But, as usual in Viet Nam, the real explanation is more complex. Since the Easter offensive began, a number of hamlet chiefs have made accommodations with the Communists. The new decree will permit Thieu to appoint more loyal replacements. More important, this decree, along with the others, will strengthen his hand for the rough-and-tumble politicking that undoubtedly would follow a cease-fire (the North Vietnamese have repeatedly insisted that any cease-fire agreement must include Thieu's removal). Indeed...
...stability "at the extreme local level" during the offensive. Other Americans were less sanguine, pointing out that democracy in South Viet Nam has usually been mere window dressing for the benefit of Westerners. All Thieu has done now, said one Foreign Service officer at the U.S. embassy in Saigon, is to "take the glove off the iron fist...