The political crisis that had been undermining the South Vietnamese government and military for months is aggravated when thousands of antigovernment demonstrators in Saigon clash with government marines and police. There was also rioting in Hue, where students organized strikes against the local government. The main resistance to the Saigon regime came from Buddhists, who were strongly opposed to Tran Van Huong. Huong was a civilian who became premier on November 4, 1964, after a series of military governments had failed in the aftermath of November 1963 coup that resulted in the death of President Ngo Dinh Diem. The Buddhists were alarmed that Huong's government might pave the way for a return to power of Catholics and those faithful to Diem and his policies. In addition, many Buddhists had become increasingly concerned about American influence in South Vietnam and saw Huong as a puppet of the United States.
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Jan 3, 1965:
Antigovernment demonstrators clash with police
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This Week in History, Jan 3 - Jan 9
- Jan 03, 1965
- Antigovernment demonstrators clash with police
- Jan 03, 1968
- McCarthy announces his presidential candidacy
- Jan 04, 1965
- Johnson reaffirms commitment to South Vietnam
- Jan 04, 1974
- Thieu announces war has resumed
- Jan 05, 1967
- Amphibious operations conducted in the Mekong Delta
- Jan 05, 1969
- Lodge succeeds Harriman as chief negotiator
- Jan 06, 1971
- Army drops charges of My Lai cover-up
- Jan 06, 1975
- Phuoc Binh falls to the North Vietnamese
- Jan 07, 1965
- Civilian government is restored in Saigon
- Jan 07, 1971
- Laird visits Saigon
- Jan 08, 1967
- Operation Cedar Falls is launched
- Jan 08, 1973
- Peace talks resume in Paris
- Jan 09, 1965
- Support is pledged to civilian government
- Jan 09, 1967
- U.S. officials try to counter claims of Saigon corruption
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