Inauguration of Moncada Village Memorial House in Ben Tre

SGGPO 09/06/2023 16:09

On September 6, the People's Committee of Ben Tre province solemnly held a ceremony to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the attack on Moncada Fortress (Cuba), the 40th anniversary of the founding of Moncada Village (Luong Hoa Commune, Giong Trom District) and the inauguration of the Moncada Village Memorial House.

Attending the event were Comrade Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, former Politburo member, former National Assembly Chairwoman, former President of the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association; Mr. Joy Puentes Saldise, Deputy Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Vietnam; Ms. Ariadne Feo Labrada, Consul General of the Republic of Cuba in Ho Chi Minh City and leaders of Ben Tre province.

Delegates visit Moncada Village Memorial House

Accordingly, on July 26, 1953, leader Fidel Castro led more than 130 patriotic Cuban youths to organize an attack on Moncada Fortress. This was the second largest military barracks of the Batista dictatorship. Although the attack failed, it opened a series of activities to fight against the Batista dictatorship, winning freedom for the country. After the success of the Cuban revolution, on December 2, 1960, the Republic of Cuba became the first country in the Americas to establish full diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

On December 20, 1969, a village named "Ben Tre village" was born in Cuba to express solidarity, support, and encouragement for the people of the South in general and the people of Ben Tre in particular in the struggle against the invaders and their henchmen.

In response to Cuba's sincerity, on January 9, 1984, on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the Ben Tre Uprising, the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee of Ben Tre province chose Luong Hoa commune (Giong Trom district), the hometown of the heroic female general Nguyen Thi Dinh, as the place to "twin" with Cuba and named it "Moncada village".

Chairman of Ben Tre Provincial People's Committee Tran Ngoc Tam speaks at the ceremony

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of Ben Tre Provincial People's Committee Tran Ngoc Tam said that since Luong Hoa commune was named "Moncada Village", the Party, Government and people here have become even more proud of the close relationship between the two countries and two peoples. This fine tradition has always been preserved and passed on to the next generation by the people of Moncada village.

At noon of the same day, the People's Committee of Ben Tre province solemnly held the inauguration ceremony of Moncada Village Memorial House, with a total investment of 4.5 billion VND, from the district budget, and the contribution of 2 days' salary of party members, cadres, civil servants, public employees, and armed forces in the district with a total amount of 1.2 billion VND.

The memorial house has a total floor area of ^​​290m2 , the structure includes: foundation, columns, beams, beams, trusses made of reinforced concrete. The walls are built of terracotta bricks, finished with plaster and paint.

The project was invested in and built to preserve and introduce documents, images, and artifacts about the close relationship between Vietnam and Cuba in general and Moncada village with Ben Tre village in particular.

After the ceremony, former National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairman of Ben Tre Provincial People's Committee Tran Ngoc Tam and Cuban representatives planted souvenir trees.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/khanh-thanh-nha-luu-niem-lang-moncada-tai-ben-tre-post704522.html