Ambassador Pham yan Ba

Interview with
Ambassador
Pham Van Ba

By Sue Devlin

A PARIS
mbassador Pham Van Ba, head of
the Provisional Revolutionary Govern-
ment of South Vietnam’s newly created
permanent mission in France, recently
returned from a visit to South Vietnam.

“In general the situation is very en-
couraging for us,”’ he said in an exclusive
interview. “‘Saigon’s attacks on the liber-
ated zones have failed and the PRG con-
tinues to consolidate its support among the
people. The regime of Nguyen Van Thieu
is increasingly divided and isolated, na-
tionally and internationally. _

“The economic situation in the libera-
ted areas is steadily improving. With the

level of combat greatly decreased since .

the departure of the American troops, the
people are now able to organize better liv-
ing conditions in the liberated zones. The
agrarian reforms are being extended and
families that return to the liberated zones
receive land. There is a large movement
to clear the mines from the fields, to fill
in the bomb craters and to recultivate
the land that‘has been left fallow. In cer-
tain regions, like Kien Phong, the 1973
harvest was triple that of the preceding
year.

“We find a very different situation in

the zones under Saigon control. Thieu de-
pends entirely on U.S. aid for survival be-
cause there is nothing for export except
scrap metal. After a war this always exists
in large quantities, but it is not an inex-
haustible resource. Saigon now spends
$800 million on imports while it exports
only $40 million each year. Thieu is trying
to encourage oil drilling, but foreign com-
panies are circumspect about investing
their money because oil installations are
particularly vulnerable to military attack.
“The withdrawal of U.S. troops has
posed a very serious economic problem be-
cause the American presence necessitated
a large Vietnamese labor force in such
capacities as translators, chauffeurs,
cleaning women, etc. American troops

spent about $450 million yearly in Vietnam.
Now this important source of income is
gone and there is nothing to replace -it.
Graham Martin, U.S. Ambassador to Sai-
gon, continues to demand increased aid
for Saigon because he knows that it is only
massive American aid which prolongs the
existence of the Thieu regime.”

Last year the United States supplied
the resources for more than 80% of Saigon’s
budget. It pays for the oil, it gives food and
supplies arms. But very little of this money
ever reaches the people. In the last year
the piastre (Saigon’s currency) was de-
valued 13 times. Prices increased 65% in
1973, according to official figures, and
16% in January-February 1974. Massive
unemployment and skyrocketing inflation
have created such despair among the peo-
ple that collective suicides have become
frequent. Recently a father of five set
himself on fire because he was --able to
feed his family.

S.. Vietnam, which was once the
rice storehouse of Indochina, is now obliged
to import its rice. In 1939 Vietnam exported
1.5 million tons of rice. Now Saigon must

- import between 300-400,000 tons of rice

each year, The price of rice is now so high
that a government functionary who is not
corrupt does not earn enough to Satisfy the
basic food needs of his family. Working
hours in Saigon’s government offices have
been reduced to permit employees to find
supplementary jobs.

Even those long faithful to the Saigon
regime are now caught in the economic
crunch and are losing faith in Thieu’s
promises that increased foreign aid and
off-shore oil exploitation can lead them
out of their difficulties.

“Unlike Saigon,” said Ambassador Ba,
“we don’t depend upon foreign aid for
survival. We depend upon our own produc-
tive forces. Despite the extensive destruc-
tion and chemical defoliation, the people
are able to raise enough food to live on.
The rice and rubber-producing regions
which once made up the riches of South

Vietnam are concentrated. in the zones
controlled by the PRG.”

Rep. Les Aspin (D-Wisc) recently sta-
ted in Washington that according to gov-
ernment estimates, the United States has
spent 30 times more in Indochina since
1966 than the Soviet.Union and China com-
bined. The two socialist nations gave an
estimated $3.65 billion in aid to North Viet-
nam and the PRG while the United States
spent $107.1 billion.

“The economic crisis is one of the big
reasons why Saigon continues to create
tension in South Vietnam by its repeated
peace accord violations,’ the Ambassador
said. “The best thing for Thieu would be
another direct intervention by American
troops. But the internal situation in the
United States makes this unlikely, so Thieu
continues his military aetions in an effort
to try to convince the U.S. Congress to
give him more money. He is also hoping for
aid from such U.S. allies as France, Can-
ada and Japan. But these nations are pru-
dent now and no longer want to be asso-
ciated with the Thieu regime. Canada sta-
ted several weeks ago that the money for
reconstruction must be used for all the
war-ravaged nations of Indochina and not
just for the areas under Saigon control.

6 ~

Dasite Saigon’s efforts to step up
the level of combat, most military opera-
tions never result in serious fighting be-
cause the Saigon troops are refusing to
fight in increasing numbers. For every
1,000 military operations launched by Sai-
gon, only six result in actual battle. No
one wants to be among the last war dead.
The number of desertions, mutinies and re-
fusals to fight are also on the increase.
The military actions of a serious nature

“have to follow the rules set down

‘

continue to be directed and contro)
the 26.000 American military 4
who are still in Vietnam.” 4
~ Since the signing of the Paris
Accords on January 27. 1973. a¢
to the Pentagon's own data. the
States sent Saigon nearly 27 million
of ammunition. 112.000 rocket W4
and 80.000 bombs.

To maintain his power.” ambi
Ba said. *‘Thieu is obliged to keeP wai
lion men under arms and to mail!
huge police force in addition. 000
200,000 political prisoners and 15.
tary in concentration camps. Me,
pected of favoring peace and rea
are arrested. With American a
developing a computerized syste™ ©
‘trol to help the police survey the P®
tion. yl
“Without American aid Thiel :

——_— -

Peace Accords. That is why it is an ;
important that the American pe0P its
that their government is continuing vi
of aggression against the people
nam. We fully recognize the in
of the international peace mover te
helping us to establish a real cease” - abd
peace in Vietnam. We are opti ent
the development of the peace mn 50h
South Vietnam. We know that US |
desire peace, independence a!
reconciliation. They do not want
sabotage the peace accords.” _ vietnat \
To secure a lasting peace 0 top its?

Ba said, the United States must $

to Saigon; the United States-2° ac?
must correctly apply the Paris and
cords and institute an immediate #”
table cease-fire; they must liberar
political prisoners and guaran ee
cratic liberties; they must agt co
formation of a national council |
ciliation to hold general elections:

Drawing by Marat Samsonov

PACIFIC TRIBUNE-FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1974—PAGE 6