Saturday, May 13, 1972
Saigon Assumes Wide Powers
SAIGON (UPI) --President Nguyen Van Thieu's declaration of martial law Wednesday night authorizes government control of food distribution, unlimited police searches and the restriction of "all kinds of liberties," South Vietnamese spokesmen said Thursday.Meantime, Thieu sought even more special powers by convoking a session of the National Assembly for Sunday to take up a bill that would give him absolute power to rule by decree.Government spokesman Vuu Khanh appeared at a press briefing this afternoon to give the first official word on the meaning of the martial law declaration."In brief, all kinds of liberties must be restricted for the time being," he said.Khanh said the new measure authorizes: -Government control of food distribution. -Unlimited police searches of private homes and buildings "at any time of the day or night." -A ban on any and all demonstrations. -A ban on the "use or storage of all printed matters considered to be a nuisance to the security of the government." Asked if that included newspapers, he said it mainly applied to "books, novels and leaflets -especially leaflets." A new ban on the possession or use of any type of weapon. Thieu convoked the legislative session for Sunday to approve a measure sponsored by 100 senators and deputies giving him full power to rule for six months. The measure provides him with power to issue any law or decree he sees fit, but leaves with the assembly the power to execute international agreements and declare war or peace. The bill needs a majority of two thirds of a joint session of the Senate and the assembly to pass. Political sources here say they expect it to be approved by the end of next week."Saigon Assumes Wide Powers", by (UPI), published in the Pacific Stars and Stripes Saturday, May 13, 1972 and reprinted from European and Pacific Stars and Stripes, a Department of Defense publication copyright, 2002 European and Pacific Stars and Stripes.