In the aftermath of the First Indochina War, many Christians fled Communist rule in the north, further increasing the Christian population of South Vietnam. South Vietnam's President Ngô Đình Diệm however continued to antagonize non-Christians, empowering Christians in the military and civil service and beginning systematic repression of non-Christian, particularly Buddhist, religious practice. Many officials in South Vietnam's Government were Christians and they were given exclusive power. This resulted in the Buddhist crisis and eventually, the overthrow of his represssive Christian-dominated Government. However, this didn't eliminate the influence of Christians across the South and Christians continued to dominate social-political life in the South until 1975.