Military Region 9 Inspects Exhumation and DNA Sampling of Martyrs' Remains in Dong Thap

(DTO) A delegation from Military Region 9, led by Senior Colonel Nguyen Thuc Linh, Deputy Chief of the Political Department of Military Region 9 and Permanent Deputy Head of the Military Region's Steering Committee 515, on July 31 inspected the implementation of the campaign "500 Days and Nights to Accelerate the Search, Repatriation, and Identification of Martyrs' Remains" at the Cao Lanh Martyrs' Cemetery (My Tho Commune) and the Tam Nong Martyrs' Cemetery (Phu Tho Commune).

Joining the delegation were Senior Colonel Nguyen Van Hoa, member of the Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee, Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, and Permanent Deputy Head of the provincial Steering Committee 515; Senior Colonel Tran Van Hien, Deputy Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command; alongside representatives of the Military Region's specialized agencies, the Provincial Military Command, and local authorities of My Tho and Phu Tho communes.

Before the working session, the delegation offered flowers and incense and observed a moment of silence to pay deep tribute to the heroic martyrs at the monuments of the Tam Nong and Cao Lanh Martyrs' Cemeteries.

At the Tam Nong Martyrs' Cemetery, the delegation directly inspected the procedures for excavation, sample collection, preservation, dossier preparation, and data digitization of martyrs' remains. The inspection noted that all procedures were carried out seriously, in compliance with professional standards, and on schedule.

According to the report, from July 20 to 31, 2026, Team K91 exhumed 603 martyrs' graves at the cemetery. Of these, 557 remains were eligible for DNA sampling, while 46 remains could not be identified because they had completely decomposed due to terrain and soil impacts, leaving no viable samples for collection. During the excavation, personnel on duty also discovered one personal effect—a pen engraved with the name "Quang Tuy"—at Area 5, Row 1, Grave No. 004.

At the Cao Lanh Martyrs' Cemetery, as of July 30, after more than 15 days of implementing the campaign "500 Days and Nights to Accelerate the Search, Repatriation, and Identification of Martyrs' Remains," specialized forces had excavated 675 graves and collected 414 DNA samples from martyrs' remains.

A report presented by the Provincial Military Command during a working session at the headquarters of the My Tho Commune Military Command showed that, as of July 31, 2026, Team K91 had searched for and gathered 70 martyrs' remains (including 47 recovered in the Kingdom of Cambodia).

Meanwhile, sampling teams and groups have deployed across nine martyrs' cemeteries in the province. As of July 29, tasks had been completed at six cemeteries, where a total of 2,488 graves had been excavated and 1,842 DNA samples collected, with 900 biological samples handed over to the DNA Identification Center under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology for analysis. During the exhumation process, 28 personal effects were discovered in 19 graves across five cemeteries.

Speaking at the inspection sites and the working session, Senior Colonel Nguyen Thuc Linh, Deputy Chief of the Political Department of Military Region 9 and Permanent Deputy Head of the Military Region's Steering Committee 515, acknowledged and commended the strong sense of responsibility, dedication, and resilience demonstrated by Team K91 and specialized personnel.

He requested the Provincial Military Command to continue coordinating closely with relevant authorities and agencies to ensure the synchronized and accurate implementation of procedures ranging from excavation, sample collection, management, and preservation to handover. He also emphasized the importance of ensuring adequate logistics, equipment, policies, and healthcare for officers and soldiers.

Senior Colonel Nguyen Thuc Linh further emphasized the need to continue reviewing and updating databases on martyrs and martyrs' graves, while strengthening the verification of information from historical witnesses to cross-check archived dossiers. He also called for strict compliance with financial management regulations.

He noted that the scientific and rigorous implementation of DNA sampling would contribute to the early identification of martyrs with missing information, fulfilling the fervent expectations and aspirations of their relatives and families of the heroic martyrs.

By MINH TAM - DIEM MY
Translated by X.QUANG