Attending the ceremony were comrades: Truong Tan Sang, former Politburo member, former President; General Le Hong Anh, former Politburo member, former Standing member of the Secretariat; Nguyen Van Nen, Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; Truong My Hoa, former Secretary of the Party Central Committee, former Vice President.
Also attending were Party Central Committee members: Do Thanh Binh, Secretary of Kien Giang Provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Minister of Construction; representatives of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs; National Liaison Committee; representatives of the Military Region 9 Command ; Navy Region 5, Coast Guard Region 4 ; Brigade 950 Command (Military Region 9) and more than 1,200 former Phu Quoc prisoners.
Phu Quoc Prison was established by the French colonialists, American imperialists and their lackeys to imprison our soldiers, cadres and compatriots. This was the largest prison in the South with an area of 400 hectares. Only in the period from 1967-1972, more than 40,000 people were imprisoned. In particular, in more than 6 years, 4,000 revolutionary soldiers, compatriots and comrades were killed by the enemy. With more than 45 brutal tortures, this place is evidence of the crimes of the colonialists, imperialists and their lackeys.
Moved by the reunion with his comrades who had been imprisoned by the enemy, on behalf of more than 1,000 former prisoners of Phu Quoc, veteran Dinh Duy Diep, Head of the Liaison Committee of Revolutionary Soldiers Imprisoned by the Enemy in Ninh Binh Province, recalled stories of steadfastness and insubordination in the face of brutal torture and psychological warfare tactics by the enemy. Overcoming their circumstances with revolutionary will, the soldiers in prison still organized Party activities, led mass organizations, organized many prison breaks, were ready to volunteer to disembowel themselves, were ready to sacrifice their blood and bones, and resolutely fought, making the enemy terrified.
"Returning to Phu Quoc after 50 years of victory, I was extremely happy, but also could not hold back my tears. Happy to be able to return to visit the place where I was captured and tortured by the enemy, to see with my own eyes the changes and development of Phu Quoc today. Sad because I remembered my fallen comrades. They fought with me steadfastly and indomitably until their last breath. Understanding the pain of war, after the liberation day, the Party, State and Army had many policies to care for people with revolutionary contributions. From there, they helped people with revolutionary contributions to rise up in life," former Phu Quoc prisoner Dinh Duy Diep expressed.
Speaking at the ceremony, General Luong Cuong expressed that in a solemn and sacred atmosphere, with infinite gratitude, we respectfully bow to commemorate the great President Ho Chi Minh, our predecessors, heroic martyrs, revolutionary soldiers, compatriots and comrades who heroically sacrificed for the Fatherland and the people so that Vietnam could be independent, free, prosperous and happy.
On behalf of the Party and State leaders, General Luong Cuong respectfully sends his sincere and profound feelings and deepest gratitude to the revolutionary soldiers, compatriots and comrades who were captured and imprisoned by the enemy in colonialist, imperialist and lackey prisons across the country and at Phu Quoc prison.
General Luong Cuong said that the ceremony to celebrate the “50th anniversary of the victorious return” of revolutionary soldiers who were imprisoned by the enemy today is a reminder for us of the tradition of patriotism, national pride, and the responsibility to live, work, study, and protect the Fatherland, worthy of the great sacrifices of generations of previous fathers and brothers.
To continue to maintain and promote traditional historical values and revolutionary achievements, including the contributions of revolutionary soldiers, compatriots and comrades imprisoned by the enemy throughout the country in general, and at Phu Quoc prison in particular, General Luong Cuong requested that central ministries, branches, localities and the entire political system continue to thoroughly grasp and effectively implement Directive No. 14, dated July 19, 2017 of the Party Central Committee Secretariat on continuing to strengthen the Party's leadership over the work of people with revolutionary contributions. Promote the tradition and morality of "When drinking water, remember its source", "Repaying gratitude" with specific and practical action programs and activities to support, care for and help people with meritorious services, war invalids, sick soldiers, families of martyrs, soldiers imprisoned by the enemy, especially families with difficulties in life.
“Regularly promote propaganda activities, promote the value of the Phu Quoc Prison National Special Monument, pay attention to investing in restoration, renovation, upgrading of works, actively collect images, relics, complete historical documents, publish publications associated with strengthening the organization of practical activities so that this place will always be a red address in the journey to the source of people from all over the country as well as international friends”, General Luong Cuong emphasized.
On the occasion of attending and speaking at the 50th Anniversary of "Victory Return", the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense presented 150 gifts to former prisoners in difficult circumstances and 50 gifts to disadvantaged and excellent students. The Party Committee and the Military Region 9 Command presented 20 gifts to former prisoners and students in difficult circumstances. The National Liaison Committee presented 100 gifts to former prisoners and students in difficult circumstances.
News and photos: THUY AN - QUANG DUC
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