In early 1932, after much debate, the first Party cell in Con Dao prison unanimously agreed to fight to force the enemy to strictly adhere to prison regulations, such as: no terror or brutal mistreatment, and prisoners having the right to education, culture, and access to books and newspapers sent from family and friends.
According to various sources and documents, in 1934, the first prison newspaper, titled "Bàn Góp" (Contribution Forum), was produced in multiple copies. By the end of 1935, the newspaper "Ý Kiến Chung" (General Opinion) was launched in Cell 3, Block 1, measuring 13 x 19 cm, written on school paper, serving as a forum for exchanging opinions on issues and studying Marxism-Leninism through meetings. "Ý Kiến Chung" was written by comrades Nguyễn Văn Cừ and Lê Duẩn ( political prisoners from 1931-1936). Each issue included sections for news, commentary, editorials, and political theory research. The newspaper was secretly passed around like letters. Regarding this "newspaper," Professor Tran Van Giau assessed: "The newspaper served as a mouthpiece, discussing some fundamental issues further, while internally offering lessons on Marxism-Leninism. It discussed the basic issues of the Indochinese revolution; the major issues addressed in the 1930 Political Thesis, and simultaneously raised fundamental issues of the Vietnamese revolution..."
Later, Prison Cell 5, Block 1 published the newspaper "The Red Prisoner," measuring 9 x 13 cm, which aimed to popularize many issues. In question-and-answer format, the newspaper was published weekly, providing information on the struggle and the education of Marxism-Leninism. Comrade Nguyen Van Cu was the editor-in-chief, the main writer, and also a sharp theoretical writer for the newspaper, regularly contributing to the "General Opinion" section. Besides the main writers, political prisoners in Blocks 1 and 2 also actively contributed to the newspaper... Later, the "Red Prisoner" newspaper was transferred to Prison Cells 6 and 7, Block 1, renamed "Forward," and became the information and struggle organ of the prisoner's party cell. The editors of this newspaper included comrades Pham Hung, Le Van Luong, Ho Van Long, and others...
In November 1950, the prisoners' struggle was victorious, forcing the warden of Con Dao prison to allow the establishment of a Prisoners' Federation – a rare event in the prison's 88-year history. On this occasion, the Federation published a magazine called "New Con Dao" – the common voice of the prisoners. From then on, the prisoners' lives improved; some groups published newspapers like "New Life" and "Literature and Arts"; in particular, the wall newspaper movement flourished. The Death Penalty Cell had a newspaper called "Prison Friend," the An Hai Plantation Department had "Unity," the Construction Department had "Bricklayer," the Wood Department had "Victory," the Conservation Department had "Pioneer," and the Production Department had "Labor" and "Workers." Generally, these newspapers were considered "permitted," and although tightly controlled, the prisoners' journalistic and literary life became more bearable.
During the period of 1945-1954, the literary and popular education movement among prisoners flourished, reflected in two volumes of journal-style documents. The first volume was titled "Hell on Earth"; the second was "The Verdict on French Invasion," which denounced the brutal crimes of the French colonial prison guards and the harsh prison regime of Con Dao. From 1970 to the end of 1973, nearly 50 issues of newspapers were published in Section B, Camp 6 (detention camp). In addition to the two newspapers "Sinh Hoat" and "Xay Dung," there were also "Vuon Len" of the Nguyen Van Troi Youth Union, "Ren Luyen," "Doan Ket," "Niem Tin," "Tien Len," etc. Notably, "Xay Dung" not only had the highest circulation with 10 issues, but also brought together many reputable writers, with rich and carefully selected articles, representing the voice of the entire camp.
According to Labor Hero Bui Van Toan, one of the journalists in Con Dao prison, creating a newspaper required turning the impossible into the possible. First, paper and ink were absolutely forbidden by the enemy. Through enemy propaganda, via the medical staff, the kitchen, and even the security forces, prisoners managed to obtain student notebooks and ballpoint pens. For the original manuscripts, they had to repurpose cigarette packs, cardboard boxes, cement bags, and postal wrapping paper sent from the mainland... All of these had to be soaked in water to be separated into thin sheets for writing. When the ballpoint pen refills ran out, the prisoners would make their own ink and refill them. Thanks to the enemy's provision of supplies (clothing dye because there was no soap), the prisoners mixed it with glycerin to obtain black dye for use.
To make paintbrushes, the prisoners would take fresh poplar branches and broom handles, strip off the bark, sharpen the ends diagonally, and then crush them for use. Regarding information, besides the commonly circulated news from the leadership and within the prison camp, the prisoners secretly obtained two radios and had to listen to them in secret, taking shorthand notes of the content they needed. The payment for the authors and those who transcribed the articles wasn't a cigarette, but rather the cheerful faces and comments of their comrades. After the newspapers reached each person, they were collected, wrapped in a layer of nylon, placed in glass bottles, and buried, as they couldn't bear to destroy them or let the enemy take them.
“At that time, death was always lurking, and no one could imagine what tomorrow would bring. Therefore, no one thought about how long the newspapers they produced would be preserved or how history would judge them. But what was thought to be lost forever gradually reappeared. Although the number of prison newspapers collected and cataloged to this day is still very modest, it is enough to affirm that journalism is essential in the spiritual life of people. Despite the extreme hardship, the strict control and suppression by the enemy, and even the bloody terrorist attacks, the fact that political prisoners produced newspapers demonstrated unwavering resilience. The newspapers of Con Dao prisoners showed an optimistic spirit in the struggle for independence and freedom for the Fatherland and contributed to enriching the history of revolutionary journalism in Vietnam,” Mr. Bui Van Toan explained.
NGUYEN HAO (Compiled)
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/lam-bao-o-dia-nguc-tran-gian--a422804.html
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