Refugees, their movements, and the problems associated with their survival and maintenance in combat scenarios are a constant problem in the search for peace in war zones. In the American conflict in Viet Nam, the tra...Refugees, their movements, and the problems associated with their survival and maintenance in combat scenarios are a constant problem in the search for peace in war zones. In the American conflict in Viet Nam, the traditional village structure with its communal character created the perfect situation for seminal revolutionary movements and the ensuing conflict. These same villages then became targets for search and destroy operations and later wholesale clearing operations in which entire populations were forced into resettlement. In Quang Nam Province, in Central coastal Viet Nam, over 50% of the population or 500,000 people were in refugee status by 1969. The concept of "pacification" in 1970 focused on putting people back on the land in their original village areas or a return to normalcy for some of the population. This case study, by a former civil affairs officer, details movement of a population in refugee status to a "return to village" project, as pacification and an attempt at creating a manageable strategic population area. It failed on both counts. The mistakes inherent in this project illustrate some of the more widespread problems which plagued the conduct of the conflict in Viet Nam. It also calls into question, the concept of the military planning and execution of resettlement. The lack of a thorough understanding of local culture and subjects involved by planners and project officers alike contributed to a village which neither replaced the original nor survived as an improved model.展开更多
文摘Refugees, their movements, and the problems associated with their survival and maintenance in combat scenarios are a constant problem in the search for peace in war zones. In the American conflict in Viet Nam, the traditional village structure with its communal character created the perfect situation for seminal revolutionary movements and the ensuing conflict. These same villages then became targets for search and destroy operations and later wholesale clearing operations in which entire populations were forced into resettlement. In Quang Nam Province, in Central coastal Viet Nam, over 50% of the population or 500,000 people were in refugee status by 1969. The concept of "pacification" in 1970 focused on putting people back on the land in their original village areas or a return to normalcy for some of the population. This case study, by a former civil affairs officer, details movement of a population in refugee status to a "return to village" project, as pacification and an attempt at creating a manageable strategic population area. It failed on both counts. The mistakes inherent in this project illustrate some of the more widespread problems which plagued the conduct of the conflict in Viet Nam. It also calls into question, the concept of the military planning and execution of resettlement. The lack of a thorough understanding of local culture and subjects involved by planners and project officers alike contributed to a village which neither replaced the original nor survived as an improved model.
