The Declaration of the Spirit and Will for Independence and Freedom

Việt Nam•01/09/2023

Seventy-eight years after President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2023), especially after 37 years of national renewal and international integration, every Vietnamese citizen feels even more deeply the journey of struggle for independence and freedom; and the value of the independence and freedom that each Vietnamese citizen enjoys.

President Ho Chi Minh reading the "Declaration of Independence" on September 2, 1945. (Photo: Archival material)

The Declaration establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam

Immediately after the success of the August Revolution, on September 2, 1945, at the historic Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh, on behalf of the Provisional Government, read the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence not only gave birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, ushering the Vietnamese nation into a new era – an era of independence, freedom, and socialism – but also held profound historical significance. Because the aspirations, spirit, and will to fight for independence and freedom of the Vietnamese people; for a Vietnam freed from foreign domination under the leadership of the Party, had become a vibrant reality.

The Declaration of Independence - the "birth certificate" of the first people's democratic state in Southeast Asia - brought the name of Vietnam back to the world political map. It was drafted by President Ho Chi Minh at the house of the national capitalist Trinh Van Bo (48 Hang Ngang, Hanoi) on the night of August 28, 1945. This historical document was not only discussed and received contributions from comrades in the Central Party Standing Committee, members of the Provisional Government, and the people, but also consulted with A. Patti - a representative of the Allied forces.[1] As a modern legal document with special value, the Declaration of Independence was written concisely and succinctly by President Ho Chi Minh, including:

Firstly , in the first part of the Declaration of Independence[2], President Ho Chi Minh quoted to discuss the moral and legal basis of human rights and national rights of the 1776 Declaration of Independence (USA) and the 1791 Declaration of Human Rights and Citizen Rights (France) and affirmed that these were important contributions to the development of human thought on human rights and national rights. Specifically, he quoted: “ All people are born equal. The Creator has given them certain inalienable rights, among which are the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness ” and “ People are born free and equal in rights, and must always remain free and equal in rights”, from which he affirmed : “Broadly speaking, that sentence means: all nations in the world are born equal, every nation has the right to life, the right to happiness and the right to freedom ”. According to President Ho Chi Minh, these " undeniable truths " mean that the Vietnamese people and the Vietnamese nation all possess legitimate rights that no one can take away or infringe upon; at the same time, it affirms that it is because of these inviolable rights that the Vietnamese people have bravely, unitedly, and persistently fought to reclaim them from the enemy.

Secondly , in the following section of the Declaration, President Ho Chi Minh not only vehemently denounced the crimes of French colonialism and its surrender to Japanese fascism: “ For over 80 years, the French colonialists, under the banner of freedom, equality, and fraternity, have plundered our country and oppressed our people. Their actions are completely contrary to humanity and justice… In the autumn of 1940, when Japanese fascists invaded Indochina to establish more bases to attack the Allies, the French colonialists knelt and surrendered, opening the doors of our country to welcome the Japanese. From then on, our people suffered under two layers of shackles: French and Japanese, ” and emphasized that “ not only did they fail to “protect” us, but on the contrary, in five years, they “sold” our country twice to Japan ,” but also affirmed that, for the sake of independence and freedom, “ our country became a colony of Japan, not a colony of France anymore. When Japan surrendered to the Allies, the people of our entire country rose up to seize power and establish the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.” " Reconciliation ." Therefore, " the truth is that our people reclaimed Vietnam from the Japanese, not from the French ."

Thirdly , also in the Declaration, before the public, President Ho Chi Minh not only affirmed the role of the Viet Minh in the struggle against the Japanese army, implementing a humanitarian policy and "protecting" the French after being ousted by the Japanese, but also emphasized that the Vietnamese people bravely fought, courageously stood with the Allies against fascism, and regained independence and freedom from the Japanese fascists. That is, " The French fled, the Japanese surrendered, King Bao Dai abdicated. Our people have overthrown the colonial shackles of nearly 100 years to build an independent Vietnam. Our people have also overthrown the monarchy of many centuries to establish a democratic republic ." Therefore, in this Declaration, President Ho Chi Minh declared " a complete break with France, abolishing all treaties that France had signed concerning Vietnam, and abolishing all French privileges in Vietnam. " At the same time, it was emphasized that, " the Allied nations, having recognized the principles of national equality at the Tehran and Yalta Conferences, cannot fail to recognize the right to independence of the Vietnamese people ."

Modern world history certainly cannot be without a crucial political event, which, as President Ho Chi Minh said, " a nation that has bravely resisted French enslavement for over 80 years, a nation that has bravely stood with the Allies against fascism for several years, that nation must be free! That nation must be independent!" At the same time, history also records that " the people of our entire country rose up to seize power and establish the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, " and therefore inevitably " have the right to enjoy freedom and independence, and in fact, have become a free and independent nation ."

Fourthly , the final part of the Declaration is the statement by President Ho Chi Minh and the entire Vietnamese people to the Japanese fascists, the French colonialists (who were plotting to return and invade Vietnam), the Allied forces, and the world that: " The entire Vietnamese people, from top to bottom, are determined to resist the schemes of the French colonialists " and " The entire Vietnamese nation is determined to dedicate all its spirit and strength, its life and property, to safeguard that freedom and independence." The oath for independence and freedom of the entire nation in that Declaration is not only proof, but also a milestone opening a new era - the historical Ho Chi Minh era and the steadfast journey of national independence linked with socialism in the glorious history of the nation. This is also the most concise summary of the struggle for independence and freedom of the Vietnamese people; at the same time, it transforms the "subjects" of Vietnam, the "slaves" of Annam, into masters of an independent Vietnam.

The enduring value of the Declaration of Independence is undeniable.

The Declaration of Independence is the culmination of the aspirations, thoughts, and results of the journey to find a way to save the country, from Nguyen Ai Quoc to President Ho Chi Minh; it is the unity between his thoughts and tireless efforts, his accurate and timely decisions in the revolutionary struggle and in the practical leadership and guidance of the Vietnamese revolutionary cause; it reflects the sharp and unique scientific thinking of Ho Chi Minh - the national liberation hero and outstanding cultural figure honored by UNESCO.

The Declaration of Independence not only played an extremely important historical role and significance in legitimizing the achievements of the August Revolution of 1945 in seizing power throughout the country, but also promptly declared to the public that the Provisional Government headed by President Ho Chi Minh was a legitimate government (with the status of masters of the country, fully qualified to welcome the Allied forces into Vietnam shortly thereafter). A delay of even a few days would have meant this opportunity would never return. The Declaration also clearly affirmed the role and strength of national unity in the struggle for independence and freedom, embodying the blood, sweat, and tears of generations of patriotic Vietnamese people, and proving that: With the correct and creative policies and guidelines of the Party led by President Ho Chi Minh; with the strength of national unity, knowing how to build momentum and power; By seizing the right opportunity, taking advantage of and developing the strength of the nation and the power of the times, the Vietnamese people rose up to overthrow the yoke of domination, eliminate the entire colonial and feudal regime, and the name of Vietnam has become integrated into the mainstream of the "world political map".

Therefore, the Declaration not only contributes to glorifying the history of nation-building and national defense of our nation, but also proves that the national liberation revolution of the Vietnamese people under the leadership of the Party "has proven that there can be no coexistence and harmony between colonial peoples and colonialists. To regain human dignity, to regain the national identity that has been alienated, all colonial and semi-colonial peoples must use revolutionary violence to crush the yoke of colonialism"[3]. At the same time, it also shows that the history of mankind records for the first time the appearance of a declaration on the birth of a new type of state led by the Communist Party - the vanguard of the working class and the nation. Therefore, in essence, President Ho Chi Minh's Declaration of Independence is not only different but also opposed in principle to the declarations of bourgeois states in the course of history.

In particular, with the additions and development of the idea of human rights into the right of a nation/of all nations to need/must/be entitled to live in independence, freedom, and happiness, the Declaration of Independence can be seen as a synthesis and transcendence of thought. Ho Chi Minh's ideas on human rights and the rights of nations resonated with the spirit of the times, reflecting the inevitable trend of the era – an era of peace, friendship, cooperation, shared development, and respect for international law; in which all people and all nations have the "right to life, the right to happiness, and the right to freedom," and if these rights are taken away or violated, they must be fought for to regain. Therefore, it can be said that the Declaration of Independence is not only a declaration to the world about the birth of a "new" Vietnam – independent and free – but also a declaration of human rights and the rights of colonial nations in their struggle for complete liberation from the yoke of colonialism and imperialism.

From the historic Ba Dinh Square 78 years ago, President Ho Chi Minh's Declaration of Independence not only resonated throughout the country for generations to come, but also became a source of inner strength, propelling the entire Party, army, and people of Vietnam to steadfastly fight and win victories in the resistance wars against French colonialism and the United States, as well as the wars to protect the southwestern and northern borders of the Fatherland and to build socialism in the decades that followed. On the journey towards a bright future, steadfastly pursuing the goal of national independence and socialism, and firmly adhering to the path to socialism, one can see the strength of the spirit and will for independence and freedom passed down throughout thousands of years of the nation's history of nation-building and national defense. The achievements and historical lessons learned in the liberation revolution for "the independence of the country, which is the establishment of a people's regime to end the exploitation and decadence fostered by the colonial regime"[4] affirmed in the Declaration of Independence will continue to encourage the Vietnamese people to overcome all difficulties and challenges to build, protect and develop the country to become increasingly prosperous and enduring.

Embracing every opportunity and advantage, confronting and overcoming every challenge, a Vietnam reborn after so much loss and sacrifice during the long years of war cherishes even more the value of independence and freedom; the Vietnamese people are even more determined and strive harder to build and protect a peaceful, independent, free, unified, and territorially intact Vietnam. Therefore, the world may change, but the resonance and heroic spirit of the Declaration of Independence will forever echo; the historical significance and practical value of this remarkable legal document will also endure.

[1] Ho Chi Minh's biographical chronicle, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2016, vol. 2, p. 239

[2] Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, vol. 4, pp. 1-3

[3] The world praises and mourns President Ho, Truth Publishing House, Hanoi, 1971, vol. III, p. 200

[4]The world praises and mourns President Ho, Truth Publishing House, Hanoi, 1971, vol. III, p. 283

According to the Communist Party of Vietnam

Source