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U.S. Out Of Indochina!By VVAWSince the signing of the Peace Agreement on Ending the War in Vietnam, the United States government has been supporting the regime of Nguyen Van Thieu in Saigon, through increased military assistance and through continued economic aid. Without this aid Thieu's government would collapse. With this aid the Saigon regime continues its repressive measures and attacks on the areas controlled by the Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG). According to Ly Van Sau, PRG spokesman in Paris, the Thieu regime with military aid from the US has conducted over 32,000 military operations since January 27th, aimed at capturing PRG-controlled areas. Of these attacks, 34 were division sized, 5,000 regimental sized and 27,000 at battalion size. Originally the Thieu government maintained that these operations were of a defensive nature but since October 1, they brazenly announced that these attacks were 'pre-emptive', giving up all pretenses of abiding by the Paris agreement. The PRG further states that these attacks were supplied by US arms and air power, as witnessed that since January, Thieu has bought 500 F-5s. It was also recently disclosed that the US is providing 71 of the new F-5Es, directly violating the accords of Paris. US military 'advisors' are being used in Vietnam also. Ly Van Sau states, "Nearly 3,00 US officers are attached to the Saigon defense ministry... 9,000 to... infantry units, 6,000 to the Air Force, 1,500 to the police and 800 to so-called pacification teams." The Saigon government continues to hold over 200,000 political prisoners in jails in violation to the agreements. The conditions of these prisons and refugee camps are barbaric. John Naveau, a VVAW/WSO member who was in Vietnam during 1973 stated that at one camp over 28,000 people were being held in conditions that were horrifying; no shade in 100 degree temperatures, little water and food and in terribly overcrowded conditions. These jails and refugee camps are being supported by the US tax dollar. For the fiscal year 1974, the United States will be supplying $1.6 billion in aid; with $1.4 billion for the military and $19.5 million in aid for the police and support of the prisons. In addition to the violations by the US of the Paris agreement it has continued the bombing of Cambodia in direct violation of the laws passed by Congress effective on August 15, 1973. Just six days after the bombing halt the US Embassy in Phnom Penh reported that there were 200 military men attached to the embassy and that some of them went on patrols with Lon Nol's troops. This is illegal, as the law states that no American combat troops or advisors are allowed in the country. In October, the US General Accounting Office reported that Americans were acting as advisors to Lon Nol troops in fighting that took place in Kompong Cham in September. According to Thiounn Mumm, of the Royal Government of National Union in Cambodia, the US military is fully involved in the bombing. The air attacks on Kompong Cham were made by US planes piloted by Thai, Saigon and American men. Mr. Mumm also disclosed that all air attacks since the August 15th 'cutoff' were made by US planes and were carried out only with the aid of the US military. On December 20, Reuters wire service reported that a US F-111 bombed an area along the Mekong River. Supposedly the US has not given these type planes to the Lon Nol forces. The fact remains that US planes and US trained pilots are responsible for the continuing bombing of Cambodia. TRAITOROUS REGIMES IN SAIGON AND PHNOM PENH The US supported governments of Thieu and Lon Nol are becoming increasingly isolated from the people of south Vietnam and Cambodia. At the peak of the war with American troops numbering 500,000, the flow of American dollars to Thieu was able to support all facets of the economy. It was able to maintain an army of 1.5 million, a police force of 200,000 and a black market that sold all kinds of products at comparatively lower prices than now. The Thieu government also employs 700,000 administrative workers. Now this money has dried up. All that the US pays for is the army, the police and the high ranking government officials. The inflation is uncontrollable. Since the signing of the peace agreement the Thieu regime has had to increase its imports of rice by 80%. Thieu has been sending missions to countries other than the US to try and bolster the money supplies for this and other necessities. Only Taiwan and West Germany have responded, with the $1 million Taiwan dollars being immediately eaten up by inflation and the German money being used to print bank-notes in order to keep up with the inflation. But the aims of the US government in Vietnam continue to be the establishment of a neo-colonial regime in Saigon. This is why, in spite of the fact that Thieu can no longer respond to the needs of the people, (including keeping 200,000 civilians in prison), the United States pumps in money to support the military and the police. The PRG is adamant that the only resolution to the internal problems of Vietnam are through political means, but Thieu cannot afford this for fear of being thrown out of power. As he continues his military maneuvers to thwart the popularity of the PRG the people of Vietnam will fight back. In Cambodia the situation for Lon Nol is as acute. His regime is being kept alive only by the massive influx of war materials, food and fuel being supplied by the US government. The United States has pumped in $133 million since July 1st out of a total of $173 million it had originally alloted for military expenditures in Cambodia. The government is requesting an additional $200 million to bolster the sagging regime of Lon Nol. Prior to the overt US operations in Cambodia, the country was able to produce enough rice for the population. Since that time rice production of the Lon Nol regime has fallen to 1/3 of its pre-war level. The Phnom Penh government must now import 265,000 metric tons of rice to feed its people. These rice imports point out most clearly that the Lon Nol government has no control, whatsoever, of the countryside that it supposedly represents. The cost of this rice for the average working family consumes 95% of their family budgets. This rice is being consumed in the Lon Nol controlled areas of Cambodia, which amounts to a small part of the countryside. As with Thieu, Lon Nol must depend on the military to remain in power. Phnom Penh has been recruiting mercenaries from south Vietnam and from Thailand and Taiwan. All of these mercenaries are being paid with money from the US government. It is evident that Lon Nol cannot recruit Cambodian civilians into the military and that he must draw from outside the country. The military in Cambodia is filled with corruption. Last year it was disclosed that high military officers were pocketing money that was to have been paid to soldiers in the army. Now they sell supplies to anyone interested in buying them including the Cambodian liberation forces. The regime of Lon Nol is rapidly deteriorating. Recently, In Tam, the premier of the government resigned. Phnom Penh is in a state of total collapse. It is only a matter of time before the liberation forces completely obliterate Lon Nol and his regime. RECOGNITION OF THE PRG AND GRUNC In stark contrast to the corrupt regimes in Phnom Penh and in Saigon, progress in the liberated areas controlled by the Provisional Revolutionary Government and the Royal Government of National Union of Cambodia (GRUNC), is rapidly being achieved. In south Vietnam it is estimated that the PRG controls 80% of the land. Since the signing of the peace agreement in January of 1973, the PRG has initiated free medical clinics in most towns where there were never any before. Many people are resettling in these towns as a result of this medical care, which is unattainable in the Saigon controlled areas. In the past year 65% of the people in the liberated areas have become literate as a result of the emphasis that is being put on schooling. The PRG prints textbooks in Vietnam and they range from elementary books to complicated math texts. In Quang Tri Province, the first rice crop has been harvested in ten years. Madame Nguyen Thi Binh, foreign minister of the PRG stated, "The destruction of the war is indescribable. If only our people could enjoy a permanent peace, we believe we could rebuild our country rapidly." In Cambodia, the GRUNC has the solid support of the people also. GRUNC controlled areas account for 90% of the land and 80% of the people. During the last six months over 200,000 people have left fro the liberated zones in response to the chaotic economic conditions of the Lon Nol regime. The liberated areas are producing twice as much rice now as in 1970 and are capable of not only feeding themselves but of exporting it to help the PRG and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. All of the rubber plantations in the liberated areas are now in operation that was given to them by the People's Republic of China. It is evident that the PRG and GRUNC are the sole legitimate governments in south Vietnam and Cambodia. Both the PRG and GRUNC are operating their governments in the liberated areas. Approximately 60 nations recognize them as such. The only reason why Thieu and Lon Nol remain in power is through the 'generosity' of the United States government. Without this support both the Thieu and Lon Nol regimes would collapse. A government whose existance is based solely on the support of another government, and has no support of the people that it claims to represent deserves nothing more than total isolation and the wrath of all the people of the world. It is for this reason and because it is our government that perpetuates them on our money that the American people should demand that the United States implement the treaty of January 27th and end all aid to Lon Nol and Nguyen Van Thieu. President Nguyen Huu Tho, of the National Liberation Front of south Vietnam stated, "The experience of history has proved that those who are against the people will suffer ignominious defeat. No violent force can resist the iron will of a nation which is fighting for independence, freedom, peace and reunification." The facts make it clear that only the PRG and GRUNC represent the will of the people. IMPLEMENT THE TREATY WITHDRAW ALL SUPPORT FOR THIEU AND LON NOL RECOGNIZE THE PRG AND GRUNC NOTHING IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN FREEDOM&INDEPDENDENCE
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