Overcoming difficulties to collect tens of thousands of DNA samples
On July 2nd, information from Thanh Hoa Provincial Police said that so far, the unit has completed the collection of 37,808 DNA samples of relatives of martyrs. This is the locality with the largest number of DNA samples of relatives of martyrs collected in the country.
To achieve the above results, immediately after the Ministry of Public Security issued a plan to deploy DNA information collection for relatives of unidentified martyrs, Thanh Hoa Provincial Police quickly and proactively advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue a plan to deploy throughout the province.
Thanks to that, departments, agencies, branches and local authorities simultaneously got involved with a spirit of responsibility and high determination. Martyrs' records were reviewed from the beginning; relative information was verified and updated for each case. All work is aimed at the highest goal of not letting any relatives who are eligible for sample collection escape, and not missing any opportunity to identify martyrs.
For localities in the delta region, sampling mainly takes place at centralized points. However, in mountainous areas, DNA sampling is more difficult. Officials have to cross forests, wade streams, and walk many kilometers to reach remote and isolated households, ensuring that biological samples are brought to Hanoi as soon as possible to serve DNA analysis.
In addition, during the implementation process, functional forces also encountered many obstacles. In many highland villages, many relatives of martyrs are ethnic minorities, who do not know how to read or write, have never heard of the concept of DNA. When hearing officials mobilize blood collection, many people are confused and worried. Some families have to be explained many times, even having to ask village heads and reputable people to come to propagate.
In many families, documents related to martyrs are only a faded Fatherland Gratitude Certificate or an old death certificate. People who once knew information about martyrs are now old and their memory is no longer clear. This makes it difficult to verify blood relations and complete dossiers.
Therefore, to ensure accuracy, each information must be compared many times, because even a small mistake can affect the appraisal results later.
Relatives find martyr after decades
According to Thanh Hoa Provincial Police, to date, there have been 8 martyrs identified by DNA testing in the province.
Among these 8 cases is martyr Nguyen Trong Cat, from Minh Dan commune, former Trieu Son district, now Hop Tien commune, Thanh Hoa province. Martyr Nguyen Trong Cat sacrificed himself on the Southern battlefield in 1972.
Mr. Nguyen Trong Bay, born in 1960, younger brother of martyr Nguyen Trong Cat, said that his parents passed away more than 30 years ago. Before closing their eyes, his parents always instructed their children and grandchildren to find the grave of their older brother by all means, and bring him back to his hometown for the family to burn incense regularly.
“The day we received the notification of the DNA results accurately identifying his grave, the family was very happy. We are happy to have fulfilled the wishes of the elders when they were alive. I don't know what else to say, the family thanks the Party, the State, the Police force and all those who silently took samples day and night, determined identities, so that my brother and many other martyrs no longer have to lie in unidentified graves” - Mr. Bay shared.
