Strengthening coordination in searching and collecting the remains of martyrs who died in Laos

On the morning of May 22nd, in Sam Neua town, Hua Phan province (Lao People's Democratic Republic), the working group of the Steering Committee 515 of Thanh Hoa province and the Special Task Force of Hua Phan province received and handed over the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in the resistance wars in Laos during the 2022-2023 dry season, and signed a memorandum of cooperation on the search and collection of remains of martyrs during the 2023-2024 dry season.

Strengthening coordination in the search and repatriation of remains of martyrs who died in Laos.

Comrade Duong Van Hue, Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Deputy Head of the 515 Steering Committee of Thanh Hoa province, and Colonel Phan Si Xon My Say, Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, Head of the Special Task Force of Hua Phan province, chaired the conference.

During the 2022-2023 dry season, despite the limited and inaccurate information about the burial sites of fallen soldiers, and the complex weather and climate conditions, under the direction of the 515 Steering Committee of Military Region 4 and Thanh Hoa province, and especially with the assistance of the Special Task Force, the government and people of the ethnic groups in Hua Phan province, the Collection Team of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Military Command overcame all difficulties to survey, search, collect, and bring back to Vietnam for burial 16 graves of remains (achieving 106.66% of the planned target).

During the course of their mission, the Remains Collection Team always strictly adhered to state laws, military discipline, traditional culture, customs, and practices when interacting with the people; regularly coordinated with Party committees and authorities at all levels to promote awareness among the people about the special friendship between the two provinces and the two nations of Vietnam and Laos; assisted the people in labor and production; provided free medical examinations and treatment; repaired production equipment and machinery; and collected and utilized information about martyrs and their graves to improve the effectiveness of the search, collection, and repatriation of martyrs' remains, in accordance with the cooperation agreement signed between the Special Working Committee of Thanh Hoa and Hua Phan provinces.

Regarding the direction of coordination in the search and repatriation of martyrs' remains during the 2023-2024 dry season, the Steering Committee 515 of Thanh Hoa province and the Special Task Force of Hua Phan province agreed: To continue coordinating and directing the survey, search, repatriation, and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in the resistance wars in Hua Phan province (Laos). To strengthen propaganda and mobilization efforts among all ethnic groups in Hua Phan province to provide information, participate in surveys, guide, and locate graves for the Repatriation Team when the Team carries out its mission during the 2023-2024 dry season. To regularly exchange experiences, focus on directing and promoting the search and repatriation of martyrs' remains in the area, strengthen coordination in inspecting and evaluating results, and promptly commend and reward organizations and individuals from each side who have achieved outstanding results in performing their duties.

Speaking at the conference, Comrade Duong Van Hue, Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, and Deputy Head of the 515 Steering Committee of Thanh Hoa province, expressed his deep gratitude to the Party Committee, government, armed forces, and people of the ethnic groups in Hua Phan province, especially the Special Task Force of Hua Phan province, for their selfless and heartfelt assistance in helping the 515 Steering Committee of Thanh Hoa province and the Search and Collection Team of the Provincial Military Command to successfully complete the task of searching for, collecting, and repatriating 16 remains of martyrs during the 2023-2024 dry season. He also hoped that the special and great relationship and tradition between Vietnam and Laos, and between Thanh Hoa and Hua Phan provinces, would "remain ever green and enduring for generations to come."

Strengthening coordination in the search and repatriation of remains of martyrs who died in Laos.

On this occasion, the Special Task Force of Hua Phan province awarded Certificates of Merit and Commendations to collectives and individuals who achieved outstanding results in the repatriation work during the 2022-2023 dry season.

Nguyen Thanh Hai

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