'No one can protect you better than the people'

Through work, I had the honor to receive and work with comrade Le Kha Phieu many times, both when he was in office and when he retired. Every time he went to Nghe An after working with the provincial leaders, he always took the time to visit, direct and encourage the economic models of farmers, private enterprises, farms, especially the family economic models of veterans. He came to the soldiers after the war with closeness, affection and intimacy.

Former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu writes in the guest book at the memorial house of General Secretary Le Hong Phong in Hung Nguyen. Photo: Nguyen Cong Khang

Comrade Le Kha Phieu advised the veterans to do business: “We are the lucky soldiers who survived the war, let's do what we can to improve the lives of our wives, children and families, set an example for our neighbors, be worthy of our deceased comrades and make up for those who sacrificed; fulfill Uncle Ho's sacred aspiration: On the day of victory, we will rebuild our country, more dignified and more beautiful”.

I remember, at the 9th National Party Congress, after the congress elected the Party Central Committee, I was elected by the Central Committee to the ballot counting committee to elect the positions of Politburo, Secretariat, and General Secretary. After completing the task, a few brothers in the ballot counting committee were standing in the yard talking to each other, when comrade Le Kha Phieu called and invited me into the room to have a drink. Seeing that he was comfortable and close, I boldly asked: After this congress, the advisory system will be abolished. In your opinion, what are the pros and cons?

After a moment of contemplation, the comrade happily said, "The matter of the advisory system is under the authority of the Congress and the Central Executive Committee. I just told Hop a story for him to ponder. When a son has grown up, studied driving seriously, passed the test well and received a proper license, but wherever he goes, his father sits in the car with him to direct and guide him, how can the son be independent and confident to drive smoothly and progress, not to mention wasting a lot of his father's unnecessary time." In my opinion, that was a witty and tactful answer, demonstrating the realistic, experienced and practical thinking of comrade Le Kha Phieu.

In mid-2004, former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu visited Nghe An. I took him to survey the entire coastal traffic route. This is an economic project associated with national defense, of which he was one of the initiators and was very interested.

In the afternoon, I accompanied the former General Secretary to burn incense for Uncle Ho in Kim Lien, Nam Dan. On the way, many people called me and said: On the way to Nam Dan, you should invite the former General Secretary and his delegation to Nam Nghia for dinner with rustic "me" meat for fun. Sitting in the same car, I boldly suggested to the former General Secretary and added: We will take care of security, you can rest assured. Unexpectedly, the former General Secretary immediately agreed and said: "If you like, go, no one can protect you better than the people."

That evening we had a very close and happy dinner with the former General Secretary, many people in the restaurant came to toast with the former General Secretary. The happiest were those who had been soldiers of Chief Le Kha Phieu in the Tri Thien battlefield during the anti-American war, and the 719 Command when helping our friends liberate Cambodia. On the way from Nam Dan to Vinh for the evening, the former General Secretary shared with me: Today, we had a very happy and memorable dinner with 5 most important things: Most simple, closest to the people, most useful information, most delicious and lowest cost!

Former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu visits the provincial Social Work Center in Do Luong district. Photo: Nguyen Cong Khang

After retiring, I contacted the former General Secretary many times to bring the press to interview. The former General Secretary always happily accepted and warmly received the press, ready to answer all questions from reporters without having to send them in advance, including sensitive issues. The content of these answers was reported quite fully by the press, especially in the past few days when we learned that the former General Secretary had breathed his last, so I do not need to mention more. The only thing I realized when answering the press was that former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu was very worried and most concerned about the fight against corruption and negativity in the Party and the State apparatus, which General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong is currently implementing very vigorously.

To me, former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu is a warrior, a commander who has fought many battles; learned through good practices; had rich experiences; experimented with many successes and, upon retirement, contemplated many valuable things.

I write these lines as a stick of incense to commemorate former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu, to send him to eternal rest in peace with many other generals, officers, comrades, and beloved teammates of his military service./.