Journey to pay tribute to martyrs

In the period of 2021-2025, the province received more than 9,000 pieces of information related to martyrs, collected 662 remains, corrected nearly 100 tombstones and conducted DNA testing for many cases. These results affirm the determination and effectiveness in directing and organizing implementation; clearly demonstrating the province's journey of deep gratitude to heroic martyrs.

Officers of the Provincial Military Command excavated and searched for martyrs' remains at Khe Tu relic site (Tien Yen district), January 2019. Photo: Song Ha

Quang Ninh is a border province with a large area, diverse terrain, and rapid urbanization, leading to many changes in administrative boundaries and terrain. Information about martyrs and martyrs' graves is increasingly scarce, incomplete, and not highly accurate. These are major difficulties in the process of reviewing, completing records, verifying, mapping, searching, and collecting. However, with the attention and direction of all levels, the participation of agencies, units, and the consensus of the people, the work of searching for and collecting martyrs' remains has achieved many practical results.

Provincial Steering Committee 515 has seriously disseminated the directives and decisions of the Central Government, the Government and the Ministry of National Defense on the work of searching, collecting and identifying martyrs' remains. On that basis, the Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 219/KH-UBND (dated November 3, 2021) " On searching, collecting and identifying martyrs' remains with missing information until 2030 and the following years". The assigned agencies and units have proactively coordinated, advised and organized close and effective implementation.

Propaganda work has been promoted and diversified in form. From 2021 to present, the whole province has produced 924 news, articles and reports on the work of searching, collecting and identifying the remains of martyrs with missing information. The electronic information page on martyrs, martyrs' graves and martyrs' cemeteries in the province has attracted over 4,300 visits. Professional training for cadres has been focused on with 27 classes organized for 648 cadres to participate.

The review and completion of records and lists of martyrs were actively implemented. Provincial Steering Committee 515 directed the Provincial Military Command to coordinate with relevant agencies to receive 9,057 martyrs' information; extract and provide 97 information to relatives; decode and compare unit codes of 17 cases; correct 223 martyrs' information; reissue 8 death certificates; and respond to 52 petitions from citizens. In particular, 97 martyrs' tombstones at cemeteries have had their information corrected and edited.

Memorial service and burial of the remains of martyrs who died at Khe Tu prison at Tien Yen district martyrs cemetery, January 2019. Photo: Hoang Giang

During this period, the work of identifying the remains of martyrs with missing information by empirical methods and DNA testing was focused on. The province guided the collection of remains and biological samples of martyrs' relatives, and DNA testing for 15 cases. At the same time, it supported the families to move 36 remains of martyrs (28 cases were brought back to the locality, 8 cases were moved to other provinces), organized the reception, and solemn burial according to the rituals. The province renovated and upgraded 2 martyr cemeteries, creating a spacious and clean landscape.

According to statistics, a total of 720 martyrs were initially buried in the province. Of these, 662 cases have been searched and collected (370 graves in cemeteries, 215 graves managed by families, 77 graves have been moved to other localities); the remaining 2 cases have not been collected and 56 cases have unknown information. The whole province has created and completed 191 maps to serve the search and collection work.

Colonel Nguyen Dinh Khiem, Deputy Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, emphasized: Searching for and collecting martyrs' remains is a particularly sacred political task. The results of the 2021-2025 period not only meet the aspirations of the people and relatives of martyrs, but also deeply demonstrate the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source", strengthening people's trust in the care of the Party, State and Army. In the coming time, the Provincial Steering Committee 515 will continue to promote propaganda, promote the strength of the entire political system and the people, closely direct practice, closely coordinate with sectors and organizations, regularly inspect, summarize, and promptly reward, thereby further improving the effectiveness of this work.

Hoang Anh

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/hanh-trinh-tri-an-liet-si-3375537.html