Vietnam village search DPR/TV/541

After an all night march through deep jungle, troops of 5th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, moved into position shortly after dawn to surround a Vietnamese Village. They were acting in co-operation with Vietnamese government officials, who suspected the village - Binh Ba, - of harbouring members of the Viet Cong. The village is north of the Australian Task Force base at Nui Dat. The villagers have seen Australian troops before. The last time the village was searched, 17 Viet Cong were found hiding among its population of about 1000. Vietnamese national police and government officials moved the villagers into a special compound area for questioning. Outside the compound area, the children were separated from the adults. For the children it was a picnic day, as Australian soldiers gave them free soft drinks and sweets, and later showed moving pictures in a marquee theatre they had erected. While some of the Australians entertained the children, others went about the more serious part of the operation - searching the village house by house to make sure that no-one was hiding from the interrogators. Nearly all these villagers are against the Viet Cong cause, and many have suffered at their hands, but some are believed to be harbouring the enemy because of threats made against them and their families. As villagers were security cleared by the Vietnamese officials, they returned to the village, where Australian troops gave them gifts of food and clothing. Medical attention was also given where it was needed. This type of Australian assistance has made out troops popular among the Vietnamese - a telling blow against the Viet Cong cause. As a result of this operation, nine Viet Cong were identified, and several other suspects were detained for further questioning.