President Ho Chi Minh and the Nghe Tinh Soviet
The Nghe Tinh Soviet was the product of a process of spreading Marxism-Leninism, bringing the light of the Russian October Revolution to Vietnam, with the main leader who played a leading role in paving the way being Nguyen Ai Quoc.
In 1930-1931, under the leadership of the Party, a large-scale revolutionary movement broke out nationwide, culminating in the Nghe Tinh Soviet.
During the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement, even while working abroad, Nguyen Ai Quoc closely monitored developments, understanding each struggle in each locality of Nghe An - Ha Tinh in order to work with the Central Party Committee to provide timely guidance and direction, as well as to encourage, share, and inspire the revolutionary spirit of the people.
Through Nguyen Ai Quoc and his writings and reports, the Communist International was able to closely monitor the situation of the Indochinese revolutionary movement and provide timely guidance. Nguyen Ai Quoc was a bridge connecting the Vietnamese revolution in general with the international revolution and the Communist International.
On September 20, 1930, Nguyen Ai Quoc wrote the following article:"The revolutionary movement in Indochina", in which the person described it in detail:“…During the demonstration, 3,000 farmers in Nam Dan surrounded the district magistrate's office, broke into the prison, and freed the prisoners. In Thanh Chuong, 20,000 people participated in the farmers' demonstration… The enthusiastic farmers, carrying 200 red flags with the hammer and sickle, marched in orderly ranks to the district capital, besieged the district magistrate's office, and vandalized the magistrate's private quarters…”.Nguyen Ai Quoc also called on revolutionary and progressive forces around the world to support the Vietnamese people's struggle.:"Workers and peasants of the world! Brothers! Help the workers and peasants of Indochina who are fighting against French imperialism!""
In"Letter to the Executive Committee of the Communist International"On September 29, 1930, under the pseudonym Victor, Nguyen Ai Quoc wrote:“On September 11th, farmers in Thanh Chuong protested again. They clashed with soldiers, and more than 20 farmers were killed. At 3 a.m. on September 12th, more than 10,000 farmers in Hung Nguyen marched in protest, destroying the houses of wealthy people along the way. Soldiers arrived and killed 20 people. The farmers gathered at the district headquarters, where they met about 800 farmers from Nam Dan. While the two groups were gathering, several planes arrived and bombed, killing more than 200 men and women…”
He appealed for timely support and assistance from his comrades and international organizations:“We urgently request that you do everything possible to help the victims of this bloody repression. Please let us know immediately what we should do and what you can do to help them through Red Relief International…”
More than a month later, on November 5, 1930, Nguyen Ai Quoc continued to send a letter to the International Peasant Union, reviewing the achievements of the peasant demonstrations and struggles, along with the establishment of several "red villages":“…From August 20 to October 6, 1930, there were 39 demonstrations and rallies involving 69,350 peasants, some of which had between 20,000 and 30,000 participants. Currently, in some red villages, peasant Soviets have been established…”.
He asserted that the movement continued to grow, despite being brutally suppressed by the French colonialists:“The French Empire terrorized the peasant movement with unprecedented ferocity. For example, in Nghe An province, during a single demonstration in Hung Nguyen district, planes dropped bombs killing 171 peasants. In Thanh Chuong (another district in Nghe An), 103 people were shot dead at once. In Nghe An province alone, 393 people were killed in 7 demonstrations, and many communist villages were destroyed and burned to the ground. Despite the brutal repression, the movement continued to grow…”
We will soon be holding our first Peasant Congress. We request your opinions and necessary instructions, along with a letter of encouragement for the Congress. Please reply to us through the Communist International, and we believe it would be excellent if the Peasant International could urgently assist the victims of terrorism.”
When the movement was subjected to repression in various forms, he continuously reported and sent letters to the Communist International, its affiliated organizations, and fraternal parties, urging them to pay more attention to the Vietnamese revolution, while also calling for the support of progressive people worldwide. He wrote the article..."The revolutionary movement in Indochina"January 21, 1931, emphasized:The urgent task of the world proletariat—especially the French proletariat—is to extend a hand of fraternal friendship and assistance to Indochina, to demonstrate their genuine and active solidarity; Indochina, oppressed and revolutionary, needs this!"
He also confirmed:"Nghe Tinh truly deserves the title of "Red"!”in the article"Red Nghe Tinh"Written on February 19, 1931. The article aimed to encourage and motivate the people of Nghe Tinh to maintain their revolutionary spirit, continue the struggle, and not be afraid of the enemy's brutal acts of terrorism and deceptive tactics.
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On the same day, February 19, 1931, Nguyen Ai Quoc personally typed and corrected the article using ink pen."White Terror in Indochina", clearly exposing the crimes and brutal oppression of the French colonialists:
"January includes:
187 political prisoners are in prisons in Thai Binh province.
201 (97 Kuomintang members and 104 Communist Party members) in Hanoi prisons.
70 (all communist party members) in Thanh Hoa.
400 (all communist party members) in Quang Nam.
900 (communist party members and farmers) in Nghe An.
Those are the figures we have confirmed; for the other 54 provinces, we don't have any documents, but we know that the prisons in each province are overcrowded.
...
We cannot estimate the number of victims of the white terror… but also in that month, in Central Vietnam, more than 100 farmers' houses were burned down by soldiers (January 17, in Nghi Loc district), 32 farmers were killed in a protest (also in that district, January 9) and 2 farmers were killed in a protest (in Ha Tinh, January 2).
This month, in Tonkin and Annam, the total number of people arrested is 350…”.
Throughout later historical periods, regardless of his position or the countless responsibilities he faced, President Ho Chi Minh always paid special attention to the Nghe Tinh Soviet through various activities: mentioning the Nghe Tinh Soviet as a proud milestone in national history; laying wreaths and respectfully offering incense to commemorate the brave soldiers who sacrificed themselves in the demonstration on September 12, 1930; meeting and taking photos with soldiers of the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement of 1930-1931; signing the dedication for the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum; encouraging and calling on the people of Nghe An to uphold the spirit of the Nghe Tinh Soviet in the cause of national defense and construction… He hoped that the people of Nghe Tinh would“…we need to unite closely and enthusiastically compete to build Nghe An and Ha Tinh into two exemplary provinces, worthy of being the homeland of the heroic Nghe Tinh Soviet.”
