Page 117 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

frorn their training center at Vung Tau. Arriving in Saigon aboard Navy
shj.ps on 5 Februaryrthey irnrnediately opened dozens of refugee relief
centers throughout the city. Prior to sending thern to their new assign-
rnent,Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky visited thern on 7 February.

A total of 37 refugee centers were established by the RD
cadres, Most were located in schools and churches and catered to an
estirnated 86,000 refugees. These refugees were located at the Dinh
Tien Hoang kirnary School, the Tan Dinh Church, the Vinh Nghiern
Pagoda, the Chua Cuu The Church, the Thanh Can Center, the Labor
Inspectorate Carnp, the Saint Thornas Church, the Phat Diern Church,
the Vuon Chuoi Prirnary School, the headquarters of the Red Cross,
the Nhi Dong Hospital, the Bac Ha Church, the Hoi Duc Anh Associa-
tion, the Cho Ray Hospital, the Cha Tarn Church, the Duc Minh
School, the Giac Ngan Pagoda, the Chan Phuoc Liern School, the Don
Bosco School, the Bui Phat Center, the Vinh Son Church, the Huyen
Si Church, the Tu Du Hospital, and rnany privately contributed sites.

Along with the troops all other segrnents of the South
Vietnarnese population joined in the cornrnon {ight. On ! February 1969
both Houses of Congress rnet in a joint session at Dien Hong Palace
following the publication of a five Point resolution grouping the signa-
tures o{ 4l rnernbers o{ the Upper House. These points are roughly as
follows:

(I) Denounce the Viet Cong for taking advantage of the
truce order to assault the cities of South V ietnarn,br ing ing about
death and destructj.on on an unPrecedented scale,and for rnaking use
of pagodas, churches, hospitals and school for rnilitary purposes;
(2) Request the governrnent to help war victirns and dernand better
protection for the people; (3) Welcorne the effective assistance of
lilied troops; (4) Express their gratitude for all. those who have con-
tributed to the defense oI their fatherland; and (5) Welcorne all efforts
that rnay result in better unity and stronger solidarity arnong the
peop).e and the governrnent in their task of self-preservation.

The House of Repr e sentative s, too, was to issue a
sirnilar proclarnation, giving their support to the fight against Corn-
rnunisrn,
A few hours aJter the Representatives and the Senators
rnet,the Viet Cong again launched an attack on the Nguyen Van Qua
Police Station on Nguyen Tri Phuong Boulevard. Frorn the corner of

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