troops havestronglstance in their majorCp-erution begun In early December against insurgent elements in tne rugged, mountainous terrain of northern Nan Province. aan police and army force involved has suffered more than SO casualties and has beenhandicapped by poorand inadequate logistic support. The operation isagainst anommunist-led Mmho have displayed considerableskill and discipline in
arassing govarns-tnt forces.
hai Communist Party has been working with tne northern tribal people for several years and has managed to extend its influenceumber ofs stated that the party has trained several hundred tribesmen in Laos and that smaller numbers have alsoeived guerrilla instructions at the Koaraining center in North Vietnam. There are alsothat Communist cadre
from the northeast may have been moved into the north.
The commitment of substantial resources to the operation in Nan Province, as well as the high-level interest shown in Bangkok, is evidence of the government's belated recognition that it is now alsoubstantialthreat in northern The heavy-handed treatment of the tribal people during the operation, however, and theclaims that the dlssi-dence is foreign-inspired indicate that Bangkok is not yet ready to acknowledge that its own tribal policies have been largelyfor creating aripo for Communist
Meanwhile, Communist acti* ity in the more criticalhas remained at a low lev* since last spring. The guerri: there have generally limited their activity to theof food and to minor acts of intimidation against village Armed clashes with security for continue, but forced village me ings have almost ceased. The Communists have not attracted much peasant support through te rorism and, in the face ofpressure from themay have decided for t! present to concentrate on low-key political efforts.
Original document.
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