6,959 Martyrs’ Remains Recovered Nationwide from 2021 to 2025

(DTO) On the afternoon of December 25, the National Steering Committee for the Search, Collection, and Identification of Martyrs’ Remains (National Steering Committee 515) held a conference reviewing the implementation of the work for searching for, collecting, and identifying martyrs’ remains with missing information for the 2021-2025 period.

Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra attended and directed the conference. Colonel General Vo Minh Luong, Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Standing Committee of the Central Military Commission, Deputy Minister of National Defense, and Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee 515, and Comrade Nguyen Thi Ha, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, co-chaired the conference.

The conference was convened in a hybrid format, connecting 41 locations nationwide. At the Dong Thap Provincial Military Command, Colonel Nguyen Viet Thang, Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command and Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee 515, chaired the meeting.

Over the past five years, agencies, sectors, localities, and units have thoroughly implemented and strictly complied with directives and decisions of the Politburo and the Prime Minister, strengthened leadership and direction to improve the effectiveness of State management in searching for, collecting, and identifying martyrs’ remains, and deployed synchronized and resolute solutions, helping the work become increasingly comprehensive, systematic, and effective, thereby accomplishing the set goals and tasks.

To date, 6,959 sets of martyrs’ remains have been recovered both domestically and abroad, and the identities of 103 sets have been confirmed. All benefits, policies, and support for individuals and organizations performing search, collection, and identification work have been fully and properly implemented.

In Dong Thap Province, from 2021 to the present, Steering Committee 515 has recovered 337 sets of martyrs’ remains (305 in Cambodia and 32 within the province), and identified one set. In addition, through evidence-based methods, information on 219 headstones in martyrs’ cemeteries has been corrected or supplemented, and procedures have been completed to relocate 103 martyrs’ graves from cemeteries to be reburied at family request.

The conference comprehensively evaluated the results achieved, drew key lessons learned, and reaffirmed the determination of National Steering Committee 515 and relevant agencies to continue effectively carrying out the search, collection, and identification of martyrs’ remains in the coming period.

This is not only a special and long-term political mission but also an expression of profound responsibility, respect, and gratitude from the Party, the State, the armed forces, and the people toward the heroic martyrs who sacrificed for the nation’s independence and freedom, thereby contributing to preserving and promoting the humanitarian tradition of “remembering the source of the water we drink”.

Delivering her instructions at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra called on Steering Committee 515 at all levels, sectors, and localities to make every effort and adopt practical, effective measures to accelerate the search and collection of martyrs’ remains and the identification of remains lacking information. The goal is to locate and recover 7,000 sets of remains by July 27, 2027, and 10,000 sets by 2030.

The identification of remains through DNA analysis is expected to reach around 18,000 samples by 2027 and approximately 23,000 samples or more by 2030.

Key tasks and solutions for the coming period include focusing on developing and completing all relevant institutions and policies in 2026, and prioritizing adequate resources for this particularly important mission.

It is essential to clearly define key regions and areas, especially within the country, to mobilize forces with clear timelines and assigned responsibilities for the search and collection of martyrs’ remains, bringing them back to their homeland and families.

She emphasized the need to uphold the responsibility of State management agencies and relevant organizations and units in the identification of martyrs’ remains, and to further promote the engagement of the entire society, encouraging every citizen to participate in this profoundly meaningful mission.

CHI PHUC - HA NAM
Translated by ANH DUC