WASHINGTON: The Defence Department ploughed on with its investigation into the Song My village massacre today [Nov 22] after slightly lifting its veil of silence over the mass murder of South Viet-Namese peasants. Two decorated Viet-Nam war veterans already face charges arising from the alleged slaughter in March last year, and the army disclosed yesterday that about 100 other soldiers are under investigation. ...

(In Saigon, the South Viet-Namese Defence Ministry claimed today that 125 Viet-Cong and 20 civilians were killed on March 19, 1968 during a battle for the fortified Viet-Cong hamlet of My Lai at Song My village in northern Quang Ngai province. The Ministry in an official communique described as “completely untrue” foreign news reports that 567 civilians had been killed by American troops in the hamlet).

The army disclosed last night that platoon commander Lieutenant William Calley was charged on September 5 with “the premeditated murder of approximately 100 Viet-Namese civilians”. It was the first time any figure had been officially given by the Pentagon, although other reports have put the number killed as high as 500. The army said the alleged murders occurred during an operation against the village during which “a small group of American soldiers reportedly shot many (possibly 100) Viet-Namese civilians”.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2019