The 64th anniversary of the founding of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (December 20, 1960 - December 20, 2024) is also the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Liberation Newspaper - the predecessor of today's Dai Doan Ket Newspaper (December 20, 1964 - December 20, 2024). A milestone in history - a heroic milestone in the 82-year journey of the Cuu Quoc - Giai Phong - Dai Doan Ket Newspaper.
Hardship and Glory
On January 25, 1942, the National Salvation Newspaper - the propaganda organ of the Viet Minh General Department was born in Soc Son District (Hanoi) under the direct charge of General Secretary Truong Chinh, representing the Party. From then until the August 1945 General Uprising, in secret conditions and lacking everything, the National Salvation Newspaper only published 30 issues, but made a great contribution to the revolutionary cause in the days of preparing for the uprising. After the success of the August 1945 Revolution, the National Salvation Newspaper was published publicly in Hanoi. The newspaper had the honor of publishing the full text of President Ho Chi Minh's Declaration of Independence. The newspaper also published the oath of the provisional government and the oath of the people determined to protect the independence of the nation. National Salvation was also the first newspaper to have the honor of publishing President Ho Chi Minh's articles. And it was also the only daily newspaper of our Party and people during this period.
The National Liberation Front of South Vietnam was born on December 20, 1960, and the urgent need at that time was to have a newspaper of the Front. In early 1964, the Central Front sent a delegation of cadres from the National Liberation Newspaper to the South to form the core of building the newspaper of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam. Journalist Tran Phong - former Editor-in-Chief of the National Liberation Newspaper was sent from the North by an unnumbered ship to cross the sea to become the first Editor-in-Chief with the pen name Ky Phuong. Two other journalists, Tong Duc Thang (Tran Tam Tri) and Thai Duy (Tran Dinh Van) also crossed Truong Son from the National Liberation Newspaper to the Tay Ninh base to prepare personnel and logistics for publishing the Liberation Newspaper.
Before the publication date, Chairman of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam Nguyen Huu Tho, Editor-in-Chief of the Newspaper, directed the Editorial Board of the Liberation Newspaper to make maximum efforts so that the newspaper could be launched on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the founding of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam. “Readers of the Liberation Newspaper are not only people in the liberated areas but also in the suburbs and even in the inner city. When reading the Liberation Newspaper, the Vietnamese people will be encouraged in their patriotism and believe in the strength of the revolution. The Liberation Newspaper will go beyond the 17th parallel to the people of the North, encouraging people there to contribute their manpower and resources to the fight in half of the country. The Liberation Newspaper will also reach international friends, helping them understand clearly and correctly our resistance war” - Chairman Nguyen Huu Tho affirmed.
Mr. Ha Minh Hue - former Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists Association said that he had the opportunity to meet and directly listen to veteran journalists who had participated in the Liberation Newspaper from the early days such as: Thai Duy, Kim Toan, Nguyen Ho... talk about the arduous years of working as a journalist, fighting on the Southern battlefield. All for the sacred call of the Fatherland.
“They entered the battlefield with the spirit of soldiers. To fulfill their mission as the Central Agency of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, the journalists and soldiers overcame many hardships and dangers, both writing and fighting, many of them fell by enemy bombs and bullets to ensure the publication of the newspaper with articles that still smelled of gunpowder, carrying the breath of soldiers and compatriots in the South in the 60s of the last century, contributing greatly to the resistance of the nation to “fight the Americans to leave, fight the puppets to fall”, creating the historic victory on April 30, 1975” - Mr. Hue shared.
The historical journey of the newspaper from 1964 to 1977 has affirmed that Giai Phong Newspaper - the mouthpiece of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam - played a very important role in foreign affairs, propagating the line and cause of the just resistance of the Vietnamese people, gaining international solidarity and support. Therefore, Giai Phong Newspaper was published in liberated areas and enemy-controlled areas; reaching friends around the world. Along with Giai Phong News Agency; Giai Phong Radio, Giai Phong Newspaper was one of the three most important media agencies of the Central Office for South Vietnam.
Liberation Newspaper, like the writers on the battlefield, had to operate under extremely fierce bombs and bullets, but those steadfast journalists and soldiers still stuck to the battlefield to report promptly and fully on the victories over the American expeditionary force in Nui Thanh, Quang Nam (May 26, 1965), Van Tuong, Quang Ngai (August 1965); the dry season of 1965 - 1966, the dry season of 1966 - 1967 and the General Offensive and Uprising in the spring of Mau Than (1968). This not only had an encouraging meaning but also had value in terms of politics, history and journalism.
Epic of soldier newspapers and soldier journalists
Journalist Kim Toan (aka Cao Kim) - former Editor-in-Chief of Hai Phong Newspaper, was one of 23 members of Group K94 - the code name of the group of press cadres who studied in a special class for battlefield journalists of the Central Propaganda School. In 1966, he and other members of K94 crossed Truong Son for 4 consecutive months from the North to the South to become reporters for Giai Phong Newspaper. Journalist Kim Toan and other reporters of Giai Phong Newspaper took turns going to many battlefields. He was present in many of the fiercest areas and fronts of the South, both directly holding guns and fighting, working, recording every important moment, sending to Giai Phong Newspaper and other revolutionary newspapers articles full of enthusiasm for the fighting spirit and victory of our army and people at the frontline.
In the fierce war conditions, the journalists of Giai Phong Newspaper not only worked on news articles but also arranged for printing and delivery of newspapers to readers. Journalist Nguyen Ho, a reporter for Giai Phong Newspaper, clearly remembers the first issues of Giai Phong Newspaper printed in small quantities, only 3,000 to 5,000 copies, the automatic printing machine only needed to run for an hour but the workers had to pull the paper day and night. That effort was duly rewarded with the birth of the historical newspaper - the largest newspaper in the South during the resistance war against America to save the country.
In the midst of the fierce war, there was a time when the Liberation Newspaper lost its printing house and had to temporarily stop publishing while a lot of articles and news from reporters from the fronts were being sent back. Unable to let the voice of the Front be silenced, the Editorial Board of the Liberation Newspaper decided to publish an “audio newspaper”, meaning that the newspaper was still fully edited with all sections but not printed but broadcast on the Liberation Radio as a news bulletin. Our soldiers and people as well as friends were happy and reassured to see that the Liberation Newspaper was still “alive”.
Ms. Tran Thi Kim Hoa - former Director of the Vietnam Press Museum affirmed that the story of Giai Phong Newspaper is about journalism with proud sacrifices and efforts in both war and peace, an epic of soldier newspapers and soldier journalists of the Vietnamese revolutionary press.
82 years have passed, National Salvation and Liberation is not only the sacred pride of Dai Doan Ket Newspaper but also the pride of Vietnam Revolutionary Press. In particular, this year, Giai Phong Newspaper turns 60 years old. For generations of journalists and those who have known this newspaper, 60 years of Giai Phong Newspaper is a milestone in history - a milestone of Heroes.
Liberation Newspaper was born during the war and ended its mission after the country's reunification. Although it only existed for more than 10 years, Liberation was a heroic newspaper with brave journalists in the resistance war against the US, saving the country - the pride of the Vietnamese revolutionary press - an important milestone in the 82-year journey of formation and development of the Front newspaper. However, up to this point, the newspaper and the people who directly worked for Liberation Newspaper have not been honored appropriately for their contributions and sacrifices. Two of the three most important media agencies of the Central Office for Southern Vietnam, Liberation Radio and Liberation News Agency, have been awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces - the most noble title given by the State to a collective with especially outstanding achievements in the resistance war against the US, saving the country. The newspaper and the people who worked for Liberation Newspaper are the presence of a whole arduous and glorious journey in the just war for national independence and freedom. Liberation Newspaper and its staff deserve to be honored.
Source: https://daidoanket.vn/60-nam-bao-giai-phong-moc-son-lich-su-10296877.html
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