Diem's Unpopularity

• Diem’s unpopularity (Refusal to carry out Land Reforms)


  Refusal to carry out Land Reforms

  • USA had encouraged Diem to carry out land reforms and redistribute land to poor peasants. This would help him gain support

  and improve the lives of the people.

  • However, Diem was not interested as most of his supporters were from the landlord class.

  • Carried out some half-hearted reforms that were abandoned by 1960.
• Diem’s unpopularity (Nepotism)


  Nepotism

  • Diem was also known to be corrupt and appointed his family and friends as key officials in the government.

  • Refused to hold elections even for local councils.

  • This drew many protests, especially from Buddhist monks.
• Diem’s unpopularity (Role of Religion)


  Role of Religion

  • Diem’s pro-Catholic policies angered the Buddhist majority e.g. Catholics are more likely to be promoted in the military and

  civil service, he forbade the flying of Buddhist flags on Vesak Day.

  • The Buddhist monks were well organised, well educated and carried out protests

  • Some set themselves on fire, which roused people’s anger against Diem
• Diem’s unpopularity→start of insurgency


  Diem's opponents :

  • Buddhist monks and their supporters

  • Former Viet Minh members who wanted to reunify Vietnam

  By 1956, the former Viet Minh members began a campaign of harassment and disruption against Diem’s regime

  Diem responded with harsh measures to crush the opposition. Thousands of suspected communists were tortured and executed.

  The Viet Cong (National Liberation Front of South Vietnam) was formed in 1960 to oppose Diem’s government.

  Made up of :

  • South Vietnamese

  • communists North Vietnamese taking orders from Ho Chi Minh
• The Viet cong


  • Carried out attacks on anyone

  associated with the SV government e.g.

  police officers, or government

  administrators.

  • Around 1700 assassinations have been

  carried out between 1957 and 1960.

  • They were supported by the North

  Vietnam Communist party and Ho Chi

  Minh.