The International Commission for Supervision and Control and Peace Movements in South Vietnam (1954-1956)

This article investigates the role of the International Commission for Supervision and Control (ICSC) in relation to peace movements in South Vietnam during the critical period from 1954 to 1956. Established under the Geneva Accords of July 1954, the ICSC - composed of representatives from India, Canada, and Poland - was tasked with supervising the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, which temporarily divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel and mandated nationwide elections for reunification by July 1956. The research focuses on analyzing interactions between the ICSC and prominent peace movements, especially the Peace Movement in Saigon - Cholon, highlighting how these movements sought international intervention against repressive measures implemented by Ngo Dinh Diem's Regime. Utilizing archival records and existing scholarship, this paper demonstrates that despite significant efforts, the ICSC faced severe internal and external limitations, including internal ideological differences among its member states, lack of enforcement authority, and obstruction from the South Vietnamese government backed by the United States. Ultimately, the limited capacity of the ICSC significantly constrained its effectiveness in safeguarding democratic freedoms and ensuring compliance with the Geneva Accords, reflecting broader geopolitical tensions characteristic of Cold War-era international oversight mechanisms.