Geneva Agreement and the expectations of the people of the Mining Region

On May 8, 1954, in Geneva, Switzerland, the Geneva Conference began to discuss the issue of restoring peace in Indochina. The participants included 9 delegations: the Soviet Union, China, the United States, Great Britain, France, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the State of Vietnam (Bao Dai government), the Kingdom of Laos and the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The delegation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Van Dong.

After 75 days of intense and complicated negotiations with 7 plenary sessions, 24 head-of-delegation sessions and many meetings..., on July 20, 1954, the conference ended and adopted a Joint Declaration on the cessation of hostilities in Vietnam (along with Laos and Cambodia). This included affirming Vietnam's independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity; determining the 17th parallel as a temporary military demarcation line, so that after 2 years a free general election would be held to unify the country...

Along with the struggle of the people of Hon Gai and Cam Pha, the people of Hai Phong also fought resolutely to demand that the French army not dismantle machinery and take it to the South before we took over. Source: French Ministry of Defense Audiovisual Archive and Production Center

Like the people in all parts of the country, the Geneva Agreement brought great confidence to the people of the Mining Region that Vietnam would be unified after the 1956 general election, without any more division, domination and exploitation by colonial imperialists. That was a valid basis, because the Geneva Agreement was a direct result of the Dien Bien Phu victory, ending 9 years of heroic resistance by our entire Party, army and people against French colonialism. However, the implementation of the contents finally declared at the Geneva Conference encountered great difficulties and obstacles due to sabotage acts.

According to the Agreement, the withdrawal of troops and the transfer of military forces, equipment and logistics of the two regions would be completed within 300 days. Most of the Hon Gai special zone, Cam Pha, Quang Yen province and Hai Phong were located in the 300-day assembly area of ​​the French army. However, before the Agreement was signed, the French colonialists and American interventionists continuously propagandized, enticed and forced people in the previously occupied areas to migrate to the South. Their plot was to make the political, economic and social situation in the Mining Region and the entire North more stagnant and prolonged. Wherever they were stationed, they brazenly tried to sweep, continuously organized military exercises, surrounded and raided to terrorize the people, illegally moved machinery, and planted reactionary forces. They also incited local reactionary forces to loot, cause disorder, and oppose the government... in order to weaken our forces in all aspects.

But that plot was met with the fighting spirit and heroic spirit of our army and people. Following the instructions of the Party Central Committee and directly the Hong Quang Regional Party Committee, workers' self-defense groups at construction sites and factories were established, urgently protecting machinery, equipment and industrial facilities, preventing many important machines from being moved. Typically, workers at the Hon Gai Power Plant surrounded the house of the mine owner's henchmen, forcing them to leave behind 8 engines when they intended to move to Cam Pha to bring them to the South. Workers at the Cam Pha Mechanical Factory controlled the machine boxes that the mine owner intended to move, forcing them to leave behind 3 machines... That is why, later when we restored coal mining, the retained machines contributed to quickly resuming production activities.

Our troops and security soldiers took over the enemy's Police and Guards Department in Hon Gai. Source: Archives and Audiovisual Production Center of the French Ministry of Defense

The persistent and resilient struggle of the workers and people of the Mining Area defeated all plots and sabotage actions of the French colonialists and American imperialists, paralyzed the enemy's lackey apparatus, and forced them to withdraw from the Mining Area according to the time stipulated by the Geneva Agreement. Until April 24, 1955, the last French soldier withdrew from the Mining Area, ending 72 years of French invasion, plundering resources, and exploiting the people of the Mining Area.

On April 25, 1955, in Hon Gai town, the army and people of Hong Quang held a solemn rally to celebrate the complete liberation of the mining area. The Hong Quang Military and Political Committee was introduced to all the people.

70 years after the liberation of the Mining Region, Quang Ninh people and international friends are witnessing comprehensive changes in their homeland with a rich revolutionary tradition. Lessons from history help the younger generation appreciate peace and independence; from there, strive to compete in studying and working to build a strong and prosperous country.

Hoang Giang

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/hiep-dinh-gio-ne-vo-va-su-mong-cho-cua-nguoi-dan-vung-mo-3352219.html