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3/29/1965 - The February 19 Coup by Takashi Oka

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS TO P O Box The February Coup Saigon Vietnam I R H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs adison Avenue New York N Y Dear Nolte The February passed history December September January In previous newsletter I perhaps rashly predicted dawning characterized teamwork political stability Yet I would first acknowledge tomorrow could prove wrong Here informal account happened weekend beginning Friday February coupled prayer there further installment I fthere _s_been O0 Khanh I alcolm Browne Pulitzer Prize winning bureau chief Associated Press Saigon entitled AP Coupcast Tomorrow Coup Probabilities affixed front office Sha thermometer instrument tells visitor glance whether tomorrow extremely unlikely unlikely possibly likely scale graded When I pushed Friday afternoon February arrow coupcast three Unlikely Inside office deserted except Vietnamese assistant intently listening pitched voice radio The voice belonged Colonel Pham Ngoc Thao announcing overthrowing General Nguyen Khanh commander chief Vietnamese Armed Forces alcolm competent reporters already scattered throughout covering Saigon latest complicated angles I alerted friend drove house after lunch shouting tanks crashed through barricades leading General Khanh house Saigon River I hastened downtown overtaking American Embassy frien intersection As friend quiet least lunch If there against Khanh I exclaimed That sounded reassUring I settled watch people faces drove tamarind shaded Nguyen Du bustling Cong Ly ornate Gia Long Palace residence Chief State Everyone seemed going about normal business I truckloads soldiers barricades Under blazing noonday usual stream bicycles scooters buses taxis carried people nonchalantly their siesta To certain I decided AP office Gia Long Palace From moment I caught whirlwind activity until actual ousting General Ehanh three later At AP office I airport Joint General Staff Headquarters radio station office occupied coupists Teams reporters already fanned Where could individual begin The radio station perhaps This turned right decision Tanks armored drawn battle array around station drove And coming steps radio station itself surrounded cluster Vietnamese foreign journalists Colonel Thao somewhat paler thinner I September Colonel Thao Pham Ngoc Thao known friends baptized Albert Vietnam colorful contro versial figures A third generation Catholic known South Vietnamese family joined Vietminh Communist resistance movement against French during Indochina War At point headed Vietminh intelligence service South But insists never joined Communist party After Geneva Treaty partitioning country parallel returned Mekong delta awhile meager living school teacher One brothers Pham Ngoc Thuan remained Vietminh served Hanoi ambassador East Germany Chairman Commission Foreign Cultural Relations But Albert Thao friends agree insists thinking things through himself As Vietminh fighting French their cause cause But French withdrew Vietnam South Vietnam President Ngo Dinh Diem elder brother Bishop Vinh Long Mekong delta recommended Thao president employed roving inspector provinces TO Later believing colonel about Communist methods infiltration guerrilla warfare other staff president appointed chief Kien Hoa province formerly known Ben Tre cocoanut growing region where Communist penetration reached alarming proportions For eighteen months early Colonel Thao proved strikingly original effective province chief In military field outguessed Vietcong after ambushing instead being ambushed At priority rehabilitation areas recovered Communists sleeping villages civil military efforts needed As foreign correspondents Began write glowing reports about Colonel Thao unorthodox successful methods other province chiefs became jealous colonel United States study Gradually Thao became convinced autocratic arbitrary idiosyncratic President Diem would replaced along whole family before South Vietnam could Commun challenge effectively He became chief architects November military revolt toppled Diem dictator But generals nominally headed revolt feared their subordinates Colonel Thao United States again Army Command Staff College Fort Leavenworth Kansas By returned General Nguyen Khanh taken control Thao given assignment General Khanh press officer Many people identified Colonel Thao during period adherent powerful military faction headed Lt Gen Tran Thien Khiem Defense Minister Commander chief Vietnamese Armed Forces The indeed friends But Colonel Thao always enjoyed appeal transcending factional rivalries Because unorthodox background Vietminh officer preached necessity Of social revolution degree conservative general officers considered subversive Above appealed junior grade officers disgusted endless political maneuvers living indulged general staff officers Saigon Though lifelong Catholic Colonel Thao Buddhist friends Thao press officer General Ehanh In August Khanh became embroiled major crisis Buddhists students protesting imposition authoritarian constitution Vung Tau Charter AuguSt Both Khanh military junta headed forced promise restoration civilian within months Colonel Thao opposed principle civilian But disturbed Khanh firmness handling crisis It appeared Ehanh deliberately inviting unstable civilian interlude opening return Gaulle Ehanh suspected Colonel Thao ropens because latter friendship General Khiem K managed Ehiem country Ambassador Washington peremptorily exiled Thao Press Attache embassy But Khanh returned purely military duties Commander chief Vietnamese Armed Forces after installation Premier Tran Van Huong civilian government November continued Thao influence junior officers In December ordered Thao recall intending arrest after return Thao obeyed underground escape Khanh police From rumors galore surrounded controversial colonel He reported conferred Buddhist leaders Thich Tam Cham Thich Tri Quang He contacted Catholic officers effort organize against General Khanh Some friends claimed Saigon Others believed hiding countryside I known Colonel Thao province chief Kien Hoa But I doing since return United States efforts contact might jeopardize safety Thus related above until fateful February afternoon I again A Cath Coup He hurry He handshake before jumped roared downtown trailed escort tanks armored With other journalists I attempted follow police barricades within minutes sight coupists General Khanh under house arrest General Khiem return Vietnam within hours Today directed against government It internal purge being carried within armed forces That substance Colonel Thao colleagues coming radio station steps The leader Brigadier General Lam Van Phat Thao hiding discharged previous attempt General Khanh With colleague I visited Prime Minister Phan Huy Quat private residence Dr Quat named premier three before His living crowded TO ministers aides friends talking whispers almost attending Slender smoking Dr Quat himself seemed quite unflappable It thing I military telephone installed night The civilian lines order The coupists assured designs against either himself against civilian Chief State Phan Khac Suu For being I carrying governmental affairs usual I summoning cabinet meeting afternoon He touch American Embassy At point seemed organized forces stood But broadcasts Saigon radio ation jolted listeners taking seemed definitely Catholic definitely Diemist President Nge Dinh Diem devout Catholic overthrow November achieved Catholic Buddhist other officers could longer stomach dictatorial The radio however intoned statements praise President Darkness began President overthrew speaker charged Such bound infuriate Buddhists participated November revolt Definitely Catholic minister flatly Yet Colonel Thae principal architects November revolt How could allow statements Was control situation Perhaps I drove Joint General Staff Headquarters Tan Sen Nhut intent unravelling mystery Just I arrived front barricaded entrance civilia buses drove discharging scores soldiers battle array Ne bystander seemed figure whether these troops oppose We Regiment Division mortar toting trooper We ordered O morning I Chinese Chelen myself drafted years I about Just following orders Cheerfully moved JGS compound comrades under slanting clock A number generals there colleague Major General Tran Van Minh Army Chief Staff Major General Nguyen Van Thieu Defense Minister Brigadier General Pham Van Deng commander Capital ilitary District We whether prisoners Is Colonel Thao there I asked How should I The I heard barrelling around streets Saigon haranguing populatio turret The_ Ccup Fails All Saigon spent restless night Aircraft screeched across skies frequently about begin bombing against coupist strong points Air Force headquarters Tan Son Nhut occupied coupists youthful commander Air Vice rshal Nguyen Cao Ky escaped nearby Bien Hoa From threatened strafe coupists unless Saigon These tactics which helped crush previous attempt September It became clear General Khanh under house arrest coupists claimed He Vung Tau Cap St Jacques mouth Saigon River minutes before began Throughout evening seeking support units involved I talked friend Colonel Thao evening This friend already convinced failed I Thao He friend But hierarchic organization The coupists unless catch Khanh Chief State commander chief I In early hours Saturday morning Saigon Radio announced Chief State dismissed General Khanh named Defense Ninister General Nguyen Van Thieu replace But friend pointed By Khanh himself broadcast nation radio stations outside Saigon announcing remained field command No believed Saigon Radio report Colonel Thao himself later disclaimed It became evident coupist forces pitifully small They armored battalion Go Vap It tanks attalion surrounded Khanh occupied runways Tan Son Nhut closing airport The coupists couple battalion9 Regiment umber Regional Force companies notably whose duties included guarding JGS compound But regimental divisional corps commanders throughout country remained unmoved coupists appeals Some moved organize Capital Lberation Force headed Brigadier General Nguyen Chanh Thi First Corps By eight clock Saturday morning these loyalist troops Saigon reoccupied radio station With friend I JGS compound whether oupists still inside intended final stand As drove traffic jammed Cach Street truckload after truckload loyalist paratroopers Then about hundred yards troopers Finally before JGS entrance marshalled coupists armored tanks muzzles pointed straight advancing paras Ordinary civilian traffic buses scooters bicycles pedestrians continued completely oblivious seemed outbreak hostilities The paratroopers halted For perhaps glared tanks Then inside JGS signal creme The armored tanks moved their blocking positions rumbled towards Go Vap From outside entrance JGS Headquarters I could leaders including Colonel Thao General Phat arguing about something Suddenly General Phat jumped loaded bodyguards roared towards American Air Foroe complex adjoining Tan Son Nhut airbase A friend I managed follow Honda whizzing P guarded entranoes shouted explanation We caught general outside joint Vietnamese American operations center What going I asked Lean sallow faced fingers drumming nervously against windshield waited outside building General Phat answered flatly Resist He continued We going resist until demand Our demand General Ehanh should country This Catholic It government Our purpose Khanh leave because impossible government government longer Another leader stocky Colonel Huynh Van Ten building beckoned General Phat excused himself Forty minutes later general looking utterly downcast Te newsmen tracked uttered words Neus cdons Tears glinting swung along seven eight ether coupists drove To found though there piastre price Later friends managed contact leders happened Phat wanted resist But Thao advocated quiet dispersal arguing shots exchanged heavily populated urban bound cause civilian casualties nothing heightenimg bitterness between coupist loyalist soldiers Phat suggested fleeing Thailand But Thae replied You I going Vietnam Finally leaders agreed dismiss their troops counsel surrender grounds merely following their commanders orders As leaders themselves would hiding await favorable opportunity Khanh_ Depar In retrospect would appear leaders several capital errors General Phat assigned secure Bien Hoa airbase Tan Son Nhut He failed oversight allowed Air Vice Narshal Ky mebilize fighter bombers against coupists Celenel Thao carefully cultivated Buddhists befere order actions multireligious nation complexion But while other leaders securing JGS other points Catholic majer walked Saigon radio statien eulegize President Diem This certain continued Buddhists would risen pessibly bloody pretests Colenel Thao intimates coupists nearly caught General Khanh riverside heine JGS where Friday morning Vietnamese American efficials conferring Khanh JGS minutes before coupists arrival A collaborater inside JGS assigned clese gates failed letting general through But theugh failed major objective removal Khanh achieved three later Th ceupists Fridaynight Bien Hea under Safe cenduct peace talks Air Vice arshal Ey At meeting Ky premised weuld release generals captured JGS twenty member Ar Ferces Ceuncil including released generals weuld dismiss Khanh Whatever veracity repert ceupists generals Saturday merning At members Armed Ferces CeUncil including released generals Bien Hea eusted Khanh simple majerity decisien Khanh angrily demanded cenvening membership AFC Saturday night passed peacefully unday night Khanh Vung TaU Nhatrang Dalat seeking renewed suppert This hewever generals appeared solidly against At Nhatrang Sub Brigadier General LU Lan reportedly Khanh under Orders arrest weuld fergst erder Khanh departed immediately Unable Khanh plane arrived Dalat witheUt lights scarcely cupal gasoline tanks TO Nonday evening Premier Quat phoned Khanh Dalat offer ambassadorship large norable means leaving country Seeing other Ehanh accepted Two later Saigon Hong Kong United Nations clutching plastic filled Vietnamese earth symbol intention return Thao final public gesture Saturday morning Phat still considering resistance radio transmission Quang Tre Saigon Radio already loyalist hands nation farewell announce General Khanh about removed At listeners believed bravado But Saturday afternoon coupists underground Capital Liberation Force commander first press conference began spread General Khanh The Khanh strove desperately rally forces confirmed And minds citizens heard Colonel Thao image failure achieved primary As today major leaders apprehended Periodically rumors sweep Saigon attempt Those Colonel Thao still convinced needs purging after General Khanh departure As General Phat reported written American Ambassador Maxwell Taylor strongly worded letter claiming Catholics South Vietnam communism Colonel Thao views South Vietnam needs broader scope In common fellow Catholics mistrusts Quat government present armed forces leadership believing susceptible Buddhist peacemongering Repeated assurances Dr Quat intention negotiating Communists relieved Catholic anxieties score But Colonel Thao convinced movement government chance succe remains property single religion political group He recognizes setback February suffered because identification public Catholics He working least measure Buddhist support before undertaking further force Meanwhile interest Quat government armed forces collegiate leadership preventing whatever since obvious could benefit Communists Some argue leaders should seized severely punished possible The armed forces leadership jolted apparent which February attempt carried They agree discipline restored ranks armed forces condign punishment attempts accomplish At thing either government armed forces leadership revival religious controversy between Buddhists Catholics nearly nation pieces August Already there tendency Buddhists punishment February leaders Catholics other Dr Quat physician profession weigh whether under circumstances healing fairly comprehensive amnesty might preferable inflammatory spectacle arrests public trials Sincerely yours Takashi Oka Received New York April