troops from Vietnam, and the tuming over of the war to the Vietnamese, the Nison doctrine of "Asiatisation" lies nakedly in ruins.
Without the vigorous backing of US B-52s, LS-manned tanks, and US marines, Thien has shown himself completely unable to maintain the interests of American capital-or of anyone else for That matter in Vietnam, Every move he makes is a desperate attempt to hold on in the face of his continuing decline.
The South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) the main prop keeping him in power is completely impotent. In villages which are supposedly held by Saigon, only 20 miles from the city, NLF cadre are openly recruiting members, holding public meetings (even with the militiamen themseives), and executing headmen' and other officials of the regime with case. The much publicised drive by the ARVN to recapture the base at Le Minh near the Cambodian border has still not been completed after two months, despite the commitment of over 600 men, tanks, and massive aerial bombardments to the task.
Much less publicised has been the steady increase in domestic opposition to Thieu. Demonstrations by supporters of the "Third Force" (mainly confused Buddhists, pacifists. and intellectuals around Madam Ngo Ba Thanh) have heen held in Saigon, Demonstrations also erupted at the time of the National Assembly debate on the changes in the Constitution.
More significantly, there has been an increase in the combativity and self-organisation of the working class in the cities, All references to this in the bourgeois press are very muted feng a report of a picket line in the Times on 18 January-Implying that there was a strike). so it is unclear how extensive such actions are. But what is certain is that mass unemployment, souring inflation, and starvation have destroyed any urban base that Thiew ever had.
REGIME CRUMBLING
Far from Thieu's regime being stabilised by the ceasefire of a year ago, it has simply crumbled more and more, while the withdrawal of US troops and planes from Indochina (forced by the success of the NIF's offensivd has been shown conclusively to be a victory. Of course noose around Phnom Panh The confrontation in the Caribbean Island of Grenada between Prime Minister Eric Gairy fully implemented, hut the terms crystallised the balance of forces inside Vietnam very much in favour of the revolutionary forces. There are still US 'advisers" in Vietnam, but Thieu can no longer call on the B-52s to keep him going. US planes and tanks are still being supplied, but the trained personnel to man thems simply do but the ARVN troops who took them over have no interest in maintaining them. The International Control Commission is in ogeration, but It is in no position to prevent the consolidation of the Provisional Revolutionary Government's base.
One of the main points which has not been implemented at all is the agreement to release all political prisoners, Despite the repeated announcements of a settlement on this issue, it is extremely unlikely that Thieu will release any other than a few liheral dignitaries. All of them, hy their nature, are dedicated opponents of Thieu, and he dare not have them free in the cities -just as he dare not hold the elections he agreed to, or allow the democratic freedoms he pledged himself to maintain. His only hope of staying in power depends on the total suppression of all opposition This is why he has made no attempt to disband any of the army, despite the fact that it is a major contributor to the inflationary nature of the economy, taking over 40% of the budpet. This is also why he pushed through the Consfitutional amendments in Jamuary. Not anly did he give himself a virtually unlimited period in office, but he also abolished the (theoretical) elections of province chiefs and Cambodian Army gunner lets fly - but in vain, as Red Khmer units slowly but surely tighten the the present wave of unrest. A series of strikes not exist. The US bases have not heen dismantled. point about these manoeures is that the bureaucracy. coastline to ail concerns.
Vietrum since the neponds vu The selection of Supreme Court judges by the National Assembly. From now on, all of them will be chosen by Thieu himself.
Thes makes his grip over the executive and Judiciary total, and since the province chiefs (a hefore) are all military commanders, it means that be now directly controb the repression cutside Saigon as well. A further creation of posts dependent on total loyalty to his policies is an attempt to regain some of the hase he previously had amongst the In the Mekong Delta and the Central Highlands, the invasions of PRG territory ane still going on, As well as the obvious aim of securing rice and territory, these expeditions are intended to maintain the level of repression to strengthen their grip on the city, and this in general and to keop the Army busy. But the systematic defeats of ARVN adventures by NLF troops are ruining this part of Thieu's strategy. The ignominious defeat suffered by sections of the army and navy in the battle over the Paracels Archipelago did not exactly boost morale either. Moreover, this particular deleat also raises a big question mark over Thieu's hopes of paining foreign currency through the sale of bits of the Vietnamese SIEGE OF PHNOM PENH The situation in Cambodia is also rapidly adding to the ruin of the Nixon Doctrine. On 21 January. Sihanouk declared that the Cam hodian liberation forces would do their utmost to end the war before the end of this year, and stressed that any compromise solution was completely riled out It is quite clear that Sihanouk no longer has any restraining influence on the Red Khrer militants, and that his statement is a reflection of their determination to Iree Cambodia soon, All the indications are that they will do exactly that.
In view of the attacks, and theeals of bigne assis, by the Thieu regise against the liberated zones and the upsurge of fighring in Cambodia. which poses a conewal of US intervention, the IMG NC took the position that these is a need to step up action in solidarity with the peoples of In light of this, the committer decided: - to allocate more comrades to that actoricy: to arganise a rational school on South East Asia, to cover topics like the crisis in Thailami, Jaw the solidaricy morements in ocher countries operate. Party, but also by some Conservative Mis and the few big pushes made by regime handits, the Red Khmers have not been weakened on any front, In fact their positions to the South and South-East have been consolidated, while in the South-West arca leaflets were circulated on Tuesday warning that attacks would begin in three days time.
All roads into Phoom Penh have now been completely cut-only one convoy has been through since the end of last year. For long perious each day the airlifts of supplios into Pochentong airport have also heen halted, and the lack of any rejoicing in the bourgeois press over the arrival of convoys along the Mekong River suggests that the river route too has heen cut. Despite their lack of military supplies. the insurgent forces have continued is being complemented by the activity of Red Khmer militants inside Phnom Penh itself, amongst the workers and refugees All the indications are that by the end of this year a final victory in Indochina will be just around the comer. There are really no more options left open to Thieu, only variations of past manoeuvres. For Lon Nol in Cambodia, there are just no options at all.
It seems clear that the only way in which the situation can he savaged for imperialism is cither by it reintroduction of US military aid unlikely but aot impossible-or through the sabolaging activities of the Poking and Moscow bureaucrats. Constant vipilance is therefore necessary for socialists the world over. In the situation which is now on the cards, the weight of international solidarity could well be the vital factor in lipping the balance towards a linal revolutionary outcome to the long drawn out war.
- to appoint a delegation to meet with representatives of other organisations with a view to laying the basis for unired action in solidarity with the peaples of The committee also considered the appeal for united action on Vietnam issued by the Political Companios of the Communist Party on 21 Tanuary: It decided to wire to the CP siguesting a mecting with their representatives on the question The school will he open to ten members of che IMG. and wEt he sponsored by Red Meekiy Anyone wanting further inforciation about the school should write to: IMG Indochias Commission, 97 Caledonian Road, London NI.
----- pull-quotes -----
Red Weekly to sponsor school on Indochina The EMG Comnurce, which met on 26 January, consdered the organisation's Indochina work