What caused protests in south vietnam during the presidency of ngo dinh diem? diem started reforms that stripped power from wealthy landowners. diem enacted policies that were oppressive to buddhists. diem ran as a candidate in the vietnamese reunification elections. diem established trade agreements with hostile nations like china.

Protests in South Vietnam during the presidency of Ngo Dinh Diem were caused because Diem enacted policies that were oppressive to Buddhists.

Explanation:

In a country where polls indicated that Buddhism corresponded to 70 or 90 percent of the population, President Ngo Đinh Diem was a member of the Catholic minority, and implemented policies considered as not impartial in the country. His government was accused of favoring the Catholic population in public and military services, as well as in the allocation of land, trade agreements and tax benefits.

The discontent of the Buddhists broke out when at the beginning of May of 1963 the Buddhist flag was forbidden to hoist in the Vesak, day in which the existence and illumination of Buddha Gautama is celebrated. Days ago, Catholics had been allowed to raise the flag of Vatican City to celebrate the anniversary of Archbishop Ngo Dinh Thuc, brother of Diem. A large number of people protested against the ban, hoisted Buddhist flags on Vesak and made a march in front of the government's broadcasting station. On May 8, 1963, government forces fired on the crowd, resulting in the death of nine people. Diem's refusal to take responsibility - blaming the Vietcong for the deaths - generated more protests.