On June 2nd, the Steering Committee for searching, repatriating and identifying martyrs' remains of Lao Cai province informed that, with the determination to effectively implement the task of searching and repatriating martyrs' remains, Lao Cai province has mobilized nearly 1,500 participants, including more than 1,200 on-duty people.
The core force is the Team for Searching and Repatriating Martyrs' Remains, consisting of 53 officers, soldiers and staff, including 38 officers and soldiers of the Lao Cai Provincial Military Command directly performing tasks in the area.
After more than a month of deployment, the forces organized searches on an area of about 110ha, excavated and screened nearly 2,000m3 of soil and rock and cleared more than 1ha to serve the search work.
By the end of May 31, units had surveyed 32 martyrs' cemeteries in the area. Through review, it was determined that there are 15 cemeteries with nearly 1,300 graves that do not have information to take samples for DNA testing. To date, functional forces have searched and collected 12 martyrs' remains.
In parallel with the search work, the sampling to identify martyrs' remains using DNA methods is being implemented urgently and in accordance with procedures.
So far, samples have been taken from 149 martyrs' graves. Currently, there are still 14 cemeteries with 1,097 graves that need to continue to be sampled in the near future.
In the coming time, Lao Cai province will continue to focus on completing the sampling of martyrs' graves with undetermined information; ensuring the stages of sampling, transportation, handover, preservation and storage in accordance with technical procedures.
At the same time, functional forces continue to promote the search for nearly 100 sets of remains of martyrs whose burial locations have not been determined, striving to complete the goals set out in the 500-day and night campaign.
