Page 482 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

Thanh said he had intended to defect since he was sent by the Party
to a Marxist Indoctrination course. Uporr cornParing the Marxist
d.octrine with the realities of liJe, he found out that the doctrine
contains nothing but itlusions that could bring no real social progress
and help eradicate injustices of which he had been a victirn througout
his years in service of the Party and Uncle Ho. Thanh said his
regiment was decimated in the grand offensive and lost all popular
support upon returning to its base area' People who used to be
enthusiastic now became cool and indifferent' C ornrnuni st propaganda
no longer attracted them as oPposition to the party leadership was
g r owing even openly.

Thanh continued : 'rl tried hard to explain things to
the people but failed to convince any of thern... because before the
offensive we had told thern that our victorioug troops would celebrate
New Year ln (-an rJlo.
tt The people wouldnrt listen to us anyrnore' You
cannot deceive thern twice : Facing such an audience, we found our-
selves in a very ernbarassing situation. Party and Front orders
indeed had put us in a deadlock. And that's why I quit and joined

the governrnentrr .
Sirnilar staternents were made by rnany other enerny
soldiers who defected to our side after the general o{fensive. They
all indicated. that the bamboo curtain had shown signs of being shaken'

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