South Vietnam's premier ky visit's nz - january 24th 1967
Auckland Star January 24th 1967- Key Idea: South Vietnam's premier Ky's visit to New Zealand was an immediate cause of protest against the Vietnam War in NZ.
In 1965 Ky emerged as the Prime Minister of South Vietnam. A flamboyant individual with a taste for high living he was a controversial figure with his statements to the West not carefully considered such as the announcement that his historical hero was Hitler in July 1965 (although he claimed this was taken out of context) and that bombing should continue in North Vietnam.
Holyoake who was unenthusiastic towards a visit from President Johnson was even more so towards a visit from 'a non-elected leader whose commitment to democratic principles seemed tenuous'. Despite this, declining the 'thank you' for the forces visit from Ky would be an even more awkward prospect
In preparation for Ky's arrival a Ky Protest Committee was created by the COV. This committee organised many protests against Ky's visit across the nation with substantial planning done in Auckland where the news drew more support than anticipated with around 200 people. This committee expanded into six sub-committees working tirelessly from the 15th of January to prepare the protests that would greet the leader in just 10 days.
The article to the left reports police were called into intervene when Marshal Ky visited the airport only to be greeted by a group of no more than 40 protesters shouting 'Fascit Ky'. Around a quarter of people present at a speech given by Ky in Wellington were protesters waving banners including 'Fascist Ky go home' and 'Ky Kiwi Killer'. Other papers describe the scene as 'a battlefield' where 'ugly scenes erupted' when protesters in Auckland tried blocking official cars. The New Zealand Herald describes the protests as a 'squalid show of mob hysteria'.
Tim Shadbolt described the scene when the crowd descended on the Star Hotel for Ky's second reception saying 'the crowd swelled to over 3000. The police-with their usual delicate sensitivity-decided to bring in a pack of dogs. The thought of turning dogs on the New Zealand public (which included lots of wives and children) really incensed the crowd...'
The Labour government agreed with protesters to boycott Ky's visit as 'he was not a democratically elected head of state' and not attend official events associated with the visit. It did not sit well however with protesters, when Kirk said he would equally oppose a visit Ho Chi Minh. In the media newspapers agreed that the visit was unnecessary with the Dominon stating that Ky may have 'forced his presence upon us', and the Waikato Times claiming Ky represented 'most of the things and people and the social attitudes we despise'. Alternatively the New Zealand Herald 'argued that the South Vietnamese leader had every right to be here and should not be subjected to embarrassing protests'.
a moral and social leper...a butcher...a little Quisling gangster...the fascist dictator - Australian Labour Leader Arthur Calwell describes Ky in his own words.