Perspectives; 9; Watch on the Mekong
- Series
- Perspectives
- Episode Number
- 9
- Episode
- Watch on the Mekong
- Producing Organization
- Associated-Rediffusion
- Contributing Organization
- Thirteen WNET (New York, New York)
- Library of Congress (Washington, District of Columbia)
- AAPB ID
- cpb-aacip/75-90dv49x0
- NOLA Code
- WOTM
If you have more information about this item than what is given here, or if you have concerns about this record, we want to know! Contact us, indicating the AAPB ID (cpb-aacip/75-90dv49x0).
- Description
- Episode Description
- The rivers of Southeast Asia including the vast Mekong are major arteries of life for the entire area. But the contemporary importance of the Mekong River rises from its location in the crucial area of Laos, uneasy, neutral in the East-West struggle. Following the course of the Mekong, the episode describes the Laotian country about the size of Great Britain but densely jungled and mountainous. Although Laos is poor by western standards, the Laotians are never without food. Buddhism is their major religion, and within it, respect is gained according to the quality of a person's poverty. The Laotians, as characterized here are acquisitive, superstitious, the most vigorous growers and traders of opium in the world, excellent friends, and dangerous enemies. Laos, like many other undeveloped countries, has jumped into the atomic age by skipping all interim stages. Its muddy streets and modern jet planes of Vientiame, the capital, are in sharp contrast. Before the advent of her present shaky neutrality, Laos was split by a three-pronged civil war. The three groups (the Neutralists under the present Premier Souvanna Phouma, the Royalists under Prince Souvannavong, and the Pro-communist or Pathet Lao under General Phoumi) are now combined in the neutralist government. To the east of Laos, Vietnam is caught in the throes of a guerrilla war. To the north of the 17th parallel, the Viet Cong or pro-communist forces control Vietnam. To the south of the parallel, South Vietnamese troops, helped by United States aid control the country. Only the barest of amenities maintain the peace in this part of the world. To discuss the present situation in Southeast Asia, and its international implications, the episode turns to Leonard Schapiro of the London School of Economics; Stewart Simmonds and Patrick Honey of the School of Oriental Studies, London; VR Bhatt of the Hindustan Times. The program concludes with statements from three Laotian leaders, General Phoumi, Prince Souvannavong, and Foreign Minister Thanat Khoman. Watch on the Mekong is a production of Associated-Rediffusion. This hour-long piece was recorded on film. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
- Broadcast Date
- 1962-10-29
- Asset type
- Episode
- Genres
- Documentary
- Topics
- War and Conflict
- Geography
- Media type
- Moving Image
- Credits
-
-
Director: Morton, Bill
Interviewee: Bhatt, VR
Interviewee: Schapiro, Leonard
Interviewee: Honey, Patrick
Interviewee: Simmonds, Stewart
Producer: Hunt, Peter H.
Producing Organization: Associated-Rediffusion
Writer: Hunt, Peter H.
- AAPB Contributor Holdings
-
Thirteen - New York Public Media (WNET)
Identifier: wnet_aacip_2883 (WNET Archive)
Format: 2 inch videotape: Quad
Duration: 00:56:27?
-
Library of Congress
Identifier: 2409478-1 (MAVIS Item ID)
Format: 16mm film
Generation: Copy: Access
Color: B&W
If you have a copy of this asset and would like us to add it to our catalog, please contact us.
- Citations
- Chicago: “Perspectives; 9; Watch on the Mekong,” 1962-10-29, Thirteen WNET, Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed April 25, 2025, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-75-90dv49x0.
- MLA: “Perspectives; 9; Watch on the Mekong.” 1962-10-29. Thirteen WNET, Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. April 25, 2025. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-75-90dv49x0>.
- APA: Perspectives; 9; Watch on the Mekong. Boston, MA: Thirteen WNET, Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-75-90dv49x0