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Martyrs' graves at Le Thi Rieng Park to be excavated in early July
๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ Vietnam /Culture & Society

Martyrs' graves at Le Thi Rieng Park to be excavated in early July

From Thanh Niรชn · () Vietnamese

Translated from Vietnamese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A national committee is organizing efforts to identify and excavate potential mass graves of martyrs at Le Thi Rieng Park in Ho Chi Minh City.
  • Historical evidence, including Vietnamese archives and declassified US military records, suggests a large burial site from the 1968 Tet Offensive.
  • Excavation is scheduled to begin in early July, with efforts to locate and repatriate an estimated 175,000 unidentified martyrs' remains nationwide.

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City are preparing for the excavation of a potential mass grave of martyrs at Le Thi Rieng Park, with the operation slated to begin in early July. The effort is part of a national initiative to identify and repatriate the remains of fallen soldiers.

A recent seminar organized by the National Steering Committee 515 brought together military officials, scientists, local authorities, and historical witnesses. Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Giau, Deputy Minister of National Defense, stated that the discussions and evidence presented strongly suggest the feasibility and reliability of locating a large-scale collective burial site within the former Chi Hoa Cemetery area, now Le Thi Rieng Park. This site is believed to contain the remains of soldiers who died during the 1968 Tet Offensive.

the discussion of various opinions has correctly, accurately, and comprehensively approached the seminar's theme.

โ€” Nguyen Van GiauAssessing the contributions made during the seminar on identifying martyrs' graves.

During the seminar, various sources were analyzed, including Vietnamese archival materials, maps, photographic evidence, declassified U.S. military records, and testimonies from historical witnesses on both sides of the conflict. These diverse sources reportedly show a high degree of consistency regarding the location, timing, and circumstances of the battle and subsequent mass burials.

through multi-dimensional analysis, documentary sources, historical evidence, and on-site traces, a high degree of consensus has been shown regarding the feasibility and reliability of the hแป“ sฦก.

โ€” Nguyen Van GiauCommenting on the evidence supporting the existence of a mass grave.

Lieutenant General Giau also provided national statistics, noting that since 1975, over one million martyrs' remains have been recovered and interred in cemeteries. However, an estimated 175,000 remains are still unaccounted for, and nearly 300,000 identified graves lack information about the individuals buried within them. The upcoming excavation at Le Thi Rieng Park is a critical step in addressing this ongoing national effort.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, head of the National Steering Committee 515, concluded the seminar by affirming that sufficient historical, scientific, legal, and practical grounds exist to confirm the high reliability of the collective martyr's grave at Le Thi Rieng Park. The Ministry of National Defense will direct relevant military commands and the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to finalize the excavation plan and proceed with the search for martyrs' remains.

there are sufficient historical, scientific, legal, and practical grounds to affirm the high reliability of the collective martyr's grave at Le Thi Rieng Park.

โ€” Pham Thi Thanh TraConcluding the seminar by confirming the evidence for the mass grave.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Thanh Niรชn in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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