Ba Cụt

Who Was Ba Cụt?

Ba Cụt, also known as Lê Quang Vinh, was a Vietnamese military commander who fought in the tumultuous years of Vietnam’s history from 1943 until his capture and execution in 1956. Born around 1923 in Long Xuyên, Ba Cụt’s life was marked by alliances, betrayals, and fierce battles against various factions.

Early Life and Orphanhood

Ba Cụt’s early years were as tumultuous as the region he would later fight for. He lost his parents at a young age, leaving him to fend for himself in a land where landlords often confiscated rice paddy fields from peasants. Ba Cụt adopted one such field and became fanatical about landowners, even going so far as to sever his index finger as part of a vow to defeat the French.

Joining the Hòa Hảo

The Hòa Hảo religious movement, founded by Huỳnh Phú Sổ, gained popularity due to its mystical healing abilities and prophecies. Ba Cụt joined this sect in 1943-44 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a feared commander known for his cruelty and ruthlessness.

Allegiances and Betrayals

Ba Cụt’s life was a series of alliances and betrayals. He made deals with various factions, including the French, but broke agreements multiple times. The French attempted to use him as an anti-Việt Minh ally through divide-and-conquer tactics, offering material aid in exchange for loyalty. However, Ba Cụt often broke these deals, fighting other factions or turning his attention back to the Việt Minh.

French Involvement and Disloyalty

The French continued to furnish him with supplies despite his disloyalty because they lacked the personnel to patrol all of Vietnam but had spare equipment. Some historians claim that Ba Cụt’s anti-French activities were not taken seriously as he was able to pass through French checkpoints without incident, and there are reports that he was accompanied by French intelligence agents during periods when he was nominally opposed to the French.

Final Days

Ba Cụt’s final days saw him fighting against his former allies. In mid-1953, he ordered his men to evacuate their French-supplied bases and withdrew from a string of military posts in the Plain of Reeds, retreating to Châu Đốc. This move severely dented the French-aligned presence in the Mekong Delta and allowed the Việt Minh to make substantial gains.

Diệm’s Rise and Ba Cụt’s Capture

The partition of Vietnam angered Ba Cụt, leading him to vow not to cut his hair until the nation was reunified. He criticized Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm’s State of Vietnam government for being too passive in rejecting the partition. In early 1955, during a battle with the Cao Đài forces of Trình Minh Thế, Ba Cụt was wounded and refused to surrender.

Operation Ecaille, an initial military offensive by the VNA against Ba Cụt, failed. Diệm’s government launched a sudden offensive against Ba Cụt’s forces on March 12, shelling their area heavily. The battle was inconclusive, but soon Diệm attacked the Bình Xuyên’s headquarters, crushing them. Ba Cụt then blockaded the Mekong and Bassac rivers, causing food prices to rise.

Final Capture and Execution

Ba Cụt was surrounded and sought to make a peace deal but negotiations ended in a stalemate. He was arrested on April 13, 1956, and his remaining forces were defeated. Ba Cụt’s capture marked the end of domestic military opposition to President Diệm. Diệm saw him as contrary to Vietnamese values of struggle and self-sacrifice, leading his government to put him on trial for treason under Article 146 of the Military Code of the Republic of Vietnam.

Ba Cụt was found guilty of arson and multiple murders and sentenced to death twice before being executed by guillotine on July 13, 1956. The execution was met with protests from the Hòa Hảo party and the CIA’s Edward Lansdale, who felt it would tarnish Diệm’s reputation and antagonize Ba Cụt’s followers.

Ba Cụt’s story is a complex tale of loyalty, betrayal, and the harsh realities of war. His life serves as a reminder of the intricate web of alliances and conflicts that shaped Vietnam during its tumultuous years.