4 cotets, 25 . > SOME
MERCENARIES FOR SAIGON
By Pherre Le Orie Ss
~ Tithe following, article has been translated from the April 30 La ‘Gauche, the left socialist Belgian weekly. “The author. is a member of parliament from Brussels, representing the Socialist Workers: Confederation... id . , .
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A former Greek mercenary in the Congo decided ‘to try his ~ fortune in Vietnam with Ky and the Americans. He did not: know who to get in-touch: with. He found the address of a South Vietnam - Aid Committee in an appeal published in the press and naively. decided to write them, offering his services. The secretary of the committee and L. Mecided; ‘to see him in order to learn more. oe “Here is a . quite aceurate account ‘of the “conversation we had with him anda fellow Greek, who also wanted to try the adventure. ~
go you want to G0. to. Vietnam. Why?"
"To fight Communism: " : | |
- "Have you already.served as a mercenary?"
"I have. but not him." |
“ "For how; long?"
"Seven months." a
“Were you well paid?" ”
N37 000 francs a month, plug. a bonus of 175, 000 francs a0 year for the danger." Ce
"Didn't that seem enough to you?"
"No, because it was in Congolese francs and you can't get more than 50 Belgian francs for 180. Congolese francs, ue (Fifty Belgian frances = about $1, I .
"Are: you. working on a job in Belgium?"
"No, I had some trouble because the Congolese governiient didn’ t pay up my back wages.
"Could you hire on again in the Congo?
"Where would, you. do that?”
"The Congo embassy."
"Why don't you do it?"
"The pay is higher - in 1 Vietnam, the equivalent of 60,000 Belgian francs.
"What have. you tried. to get hired there?"
"y went: to the ‘American ‘embassy. ‘They “asked” me if Iwas a parachutist or specialist. I'm not either, so they advised me to get someone to invite me to Vietnam, a relative or a company, so as to have a pretext to give me a visa. I could have been hired on the spot.’ .
., "Have you. tried any other angles?
"I wrote the Vietnam embassy in London. They didn't answer."
"Are there only two of you that want to go?" |
"If it works, there are forty or. sixty ready to go.
"Your French is not very good. The letter you sent to the committee was well written. Who wrote it?"
JA, woman.
"Tf you had ‘carefully read. ‘the notice that appeared in the. press you would have seen that our committee was concerned about medical aid, and not in sending men. "
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"Besides, you would have noticed that we do not support the Vietnam you want to fight for. We are against your project because we believe that it's up to the Vietnamese to decide their fate and not foreigners who go there to commit mass murder in hope of making some quick money. If you want to give up your project we would agree to try to find work for you in Belgium and to help you in this way."
"T don't want to work for 1, 1500 francs a week and get barely enough to eat. on.
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It appeared to us that this conversation would be worth publishing, despite its banal character, inasmuch as it shows once again the mentality of the adventurers who place their "bravery" at the disposal of the imperialist cause. Also because it shows that the Congo embassy remains an active recruiting center for
mercenaries and that the American embassy does not hesitate to recruit specialists in Belgium that it can't find at home Since it became clear that the war in Vietnam is something different from a military parade.
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