Loyal son of Quang Nam land

The family of Comrade Nguyen Trac. Photo: VINH ANH (reproduced from archival material provided by the family)

Training through practice

Comrade Nguyen Trac, alias Thieu, was born on November 4, 1904, in Ha Thanh village, Ha Nong commune, Dien Ban district, now Ha Tay village, Dien Hoa commune, Dien Ban town. Born and raised in a homeland rich in patriotic and revolutionary traditions, Comrade Nguyen Trac left his family early to participate in revolutionary activities.

In June 1927, he went to Saigon - Gia Dinh to work as a laborer for the Grands Magasins Charner trading company. There, he joined the Red Trade Union, and in July 1930, he was admitted to the Communist Party of Vietnam at the Charner branch – under the Saigon City Party Committee. By the end of October 1930, he was appointed Secretary of the Charner branch by the Saigon City Party Committee.

During his revolutionary activities, he was repeatedly arrested and imprisoned in various prisons of the colonial and imperialist powers, such as the Saigon Central Prison, Buon Ma Thuot prison, and Con Dao prison. Even in imperialist prisons, he always maintained his revolutionary spirit and will.

In July 1936, the Popular Front came to power in France and campaigned for a number of reforms, including some progressive policies that had a positive impact on the colonies.

To appease the revolutionary and progressive forces in France who opposed the colonial exploitation policy, and to calm the fighting spirit of the colonial people, the French government ordered an "amnesty for political prisoners" in Indochina and released them to local detention. On this occasion, Comrade Nguyen Trac and many other comrades imprisoned in Con Dao prison were granted freedom.

Upon returning to his hometown, Nguyen Trac immediately contacted his comrades who had also been released from prison to continue his activities. At the end of 1936, he chaired the conference to establish the provisional Provincial Party Committee and was elected Secretary of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee. At the end of 1937, the Central Vietnam Regional Party Committee was re-established, and with his prestige, he was elected Deputy Secretary of the Central Vietnam Regional Party Committee, concurrently serving as Secretary of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee.

Maintain the revolutionary movement.

During his time as Acting Secretary of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee, under the direct guidance of the Regional Party Committee, Comrade Nguyen Trac, together with the Provincial Party Committee, led many revolutionary movements that attracted the participation of a large number of people from all walks of life, such as: responding to the Indochina Congress movement, collecting signatures on petitions sent to the French parliamentary delegation investigating the situation in Indochina; campaigning for the election of Phan Thanh to the Central Annam People's Assembly, 3rd term; mourning Thai Thi Boi, etc., creating a new phase of development for the revolutionary movement in the province.

On February 25, 1938, our Party issued a notice regarding the policy of fighting against the French colonialists' tax increase. The Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee accepted and implemented this policy. In mid-1938, the Resident Commissioner of Central Vietnam and the Southern Court presented a tax increase plan and forced the People's Assembly to approve it.

Under the leadership of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee, a movement to collect collective signatures and hold mass rallies to protest the tax increase order emerged throughout the province.

The ruling authorities in Quang Nam province arrested cadres and party members whom they considered to be organizing and leading the movement against the tax increase. On November 15, 1938, Comrade Nguyen Trac was arrested and sentenced to one year in prison in Hoi An, later increased to five years for participating in the party organization and plotting to overthrow the government.

Afterward, they exiled him to prisons in Quy Nhon and Buon Ma Thuot. In 1943, he was released from prison and sent to Dak To (Kon Tum). There, he was assigned to be the Party Secretary of the Dak To detention camp.

After serving his prison sentence in July 1945, Comrade Nguyen Trac returned to Quang Nam to reconnect with the local network and continue his activities. During this time, political prisoners from other areas also returned to the locality to re-establish contact and organize activities.

Comrade Nguyen Trac and Comrade Huynh Ngoc Hue were assigned to reorganize the Da Nang City Party Committee and the Da Nang City Viet Minh Committee. At this time, the revolutionary spirit was focused on the uprising to seize revolutionary power.

On the evening of August 16, 1945, the Da Nang Uprising Committee was established, with Comrade Nguyen Trac assigned as Vice Chairman, in charge of military affairs, troop mobilization, and taking over the city's court. The uprising to seize power by the people of Da Nang unfolded quickly and successfully.

The mirror shines brightly forever.

Following the successful August Revolution, Comrade Nguyen Trac was assigned to many positions: Chief Judge of the Thuan Hoa Military Court, Director of the Department of Justice of Inter-regional Zone 4, Director of the Public Justice Committee of the Military Court of Inter-regional Zone 4 in Nghe An, Deputy Minister of Justice, Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Central Party's Legal Affairs Commission…

In April 1979, Comrade Nguyen Trac was granted retirement by the Party and the State. Living with his family in Hanoi after retirement, Comrade Nguyen Trac always served as a shining example of revolutionary spirit and morality for the people in his neighborhood. Due to old age and declining health, he passed away on August 11, 1986.

Throughout his revolutionary life, comrades, colleagues, and the masses who lived and fought alongside him always held Comrade Nguyen Trac in high regard and affection – a leading cadre, a staunch communist fighter, who consistently demonstrated a continuous and unwavering revolutionary spirit and will.

In handling his work, he was impartial, maintaining a firm class stance and resolute in his duties; he upheld the spirit of internal unity and maintained close ties with the masses.

Comrade Nguyen Trac, together with the Party Committee, organized and successfully completed the assigned political tasks in each period, contributing to the glorious victory of the revolutionary cause of national liberation and reunification of the country, together with the entire Party, army, and people.

The 120th anniversary of Comrade Nguyen Trac's birth is an opportunity for the Party Committee, government, and people of Quang Nam to learn from and emulate this loyal son of Quang Nam, a man of noble qualities, an outstanding leader who always strived wholeheartedly for the benefit of the Party, the Fatherland, and the People. Through this, we can work together to successfully accomplish the tasks set forth, building Quang Nam to achieve the goal of becoming a moderately developed province in the country by 2030.

(According to propaganda materials from the Propaganda Department of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee)

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/nguoi-con-kien-trung-cua-dat-quang-nam-3143710.html