Repatriation of 12 sets of remains of martyrs after years of missing information
On July 23, Mr. Tho Minh Bao - Vice Chairman of Hoa Thang Commune People's Committee (Lam Dong province) - said that functional forces have completed the repatriation of 12 sets of remains of martyrs at the field area in Hong Chinh village.
Along with the repatriation work, functional forces are taking DNA biological samples, attaching identification codes and digitizing information to serve expertise and identify martyrs.
The gathering is chaired by the Provincial Military Command - Standing Agency of Steering Committee 515 of Lam Dong province - in coordination with functional agencies and Hoa Thang Commune People's Committee.
According to historical records, during the anti-American resistance war for national salvation, Le Hong Phong Base (Le area), now belonging to Hoa Thang commune, was an important revolutionary base of Binh Thuan province in the past.
On July 15, 1967, the enemy launched a large-scale sweep with helicopters, artillery and infantry, killing 47 officers, soldiers and guerrillas.
In 1976, the locality organized the exhumation and relocation of graves from the base area.
Some remains were brought back to their hometowns by relatives or buried at martyrs' cemeteries. 12 unidentified graves were brought back to be buried on public land in Hoa Thang commune.
Because the relocation in the past did not make a map and did not plant steles on each tomb, information about the identities of the martyrs gradually disappeared.
In 1993, when the locality built the Martyrs' Memorial, 12 graves were relocated to the old Hong Hai village Cemetery (now Hong Chinh village), which was the location excavated in this phase.
Taking DNA samples to identify martyrs
After comparing information from witnesses, relatives of martyrs and historical documents, Steering Committee 515 of Lam Dong province determined that there was sufficient basis to organize excavations, take biological samples and digitize data to serve the work of identifying identities.
At the scene, the search and exhumation force proceeded to excavate according to the correct procedures, carefully collecting remains and remaining artifacts.
Health sector officials perform identification code attaching, taking DNA biological samples in the presence of historical witnesses, relatives of martyrs and representatives of functional agencies.
After completing professional procedures, 12 martyrs' remains were taken to Binh Thuan Martyrs' Cemetery (Hong Son commune, Lam Dong province) for management and burial organization according to regulations.
According to the Steering Committee 515 of Lam Dong province, by July 23, the whole province had completed DNA sampling at 10/11 martyrs' cemeteries subject to sampling. This work is expected to be completed in July 2026.
On the morning of July 23, on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs' Day (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2026), leaders of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Lam Dong province visited Binh Thuan Martyrs' Cemetery to offer incense and express gratitude to heroic martyrs, including 12 remains just collected from Hoa Thang commune.
