Comrade Le Niem - a steadfast communist example from his homeland Dien Chau
As an eloquent person, comrade Le Niem was the one who took on many speeches, mobilizing people to stand up and fight in the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement 1930-1931.
Comrade Le Niem was born in Duc Thinh village, Dong Cau commune, Van Phan commune (now hamlet 6, Dien Hai commune), Dien Chau district, Nghe An province. He was born in 1902, a member of the patriotic Le family in Dong Cau commune. Born and raised in a homeland rich in historical and cultural traditions, nurtured by revolution in a family with progressive ideas, Comrade Le Niem was soon enlightened with the spirit of patriotism and hatred for the enemy.
In 1927, under the guidance and enlightenment of teacher Truong Duc Hap (aka Sau Tue), a member of the Dien Chau Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association, comrade Le Niem became one of the four members of the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth sub-group in Duc Thinh village.
In the years 1928 - 1929, through many forms of movement such as the Filial Piety Association, the Farming Association, the House-Roofing Association and the National Language classes, the comrades promoted revolutionary propaganda work. Under the impact of those propaganda activities, the revolutionary movement in Dong Cau quickly changed, creating conditions for the revolutionary movement in Dong Cau to develop rapidly after the Communist Party of Vietnam was born.
At the end of March 1930, the Duc Thinh village Communist Party Cell, one of the first Party Cells of Dien Chau district, was established with 5 comrades: Le Niem, Bui Du, Dao Ky, Bui Uyen, Ha Hoan (unknown Secretary). From a patriotic youth, comrade Le Niem became one of the first Party members of Dien Chau district - a member of the Duc Thinh Communist Party Cell.
Under the advocacy and propaganda of comrade Le Niem and other party members, in a short time, mass organizations such as the Red Farmers' Association, Red Red Guards,... in Dong Cau commune in general and Duc Thinh village in particular were born one after another, attracting a large number of people to participate.
On the occasion of the anniversary of the Russian October Revolution (November 7, 1930), and at the same time expressing solidarity and sharing the pain with the people of Hung Nguyen in the demonstration on September 12, 1930, Nghe An Provincial Party Committee launched a major struggle throughout the province.
Implementing the Provincial Party Committee's policy, preparations for the demonstration were quickly carried out by comrade Le Niem and the Party cells. Comrade Le Niem, together with the Party cell, led mass organizations to urgently carry out thorough preparations for the demonstration: the Red Peasant Association continued to mobilize donations to forge weapons and provide food for the Red Guards who were practicing day and night; the women's group participated in the work of distributing leaflets... Being an eloquent person, comrade Le Niem also took on the task of being the leader in giving speeches and mobilizing people to stand up and fight during this period.
According to the assignment of the Provincial Party Committee, comrade Le Niem was assigned to command the Hoang Truong demonstration group in the demonstration to celebrate the October Revolution. On the morning of November 7, 1930, the drums from Long An communal house resounded loudly, comrade Le Niem led the people of Hoang Truong to gather in the communes. After the commemoration ceremony, under the command of comrade Le Niem, the people marched up Highway 1 to join the Van Phan group, heading straight to Dien Chau Provincial Capital. At Cau Bung intersection, the demonstration group had grown to about 2,000 people, raising flags as they walked, shouting slogans of struggle in unison. The demonstration group moved closer to the provincial capital, people from the villages along the road cheered in response, continuing to join the increasingly large group.
Under the leadership of comrades Le Niem, Nguyen Duc Bieu, and Le Tao, the people continued to raise high the red hammer and sickle flag, chant slogans, and march forward with great enthusiasm across Bung Bridge. To intimidate the demonstrators, the commander of Dien Chau station mobilized soldiers in blue uniforms and legionnaires to focus their guns on the crowd, causing many people to die and dozens to be injured. Faced with that situation, comrade Le Niem and the demonstrators decided to temporarily retreat to preserve their strength. Although the demonstration on November 7, 1930 was terrorized, the revolutionary spirit of the masses continued to fuel the fire, creating momentum for the following struggles.
On November 17, 1930, comrade Le Niem and the Party Cell, along with a large number of people, gathered to listen to speeches and hold a memorial service for the soldiers and revolutionary masses who fell in this struggle.
In the following period, comrade Le Niem led the people of Dong Cau commune to coordinate with the people of Van Phan and Hoang Truong communes to carry out many struggles such as: the struggle to capture Chanh Khuong in Hoang La village, Hoang Truong commune on November 26, 1930; the struggle against village chief Hoang Le in Van Phan on December 8, 1930; the speech denouncing the crimes of colonialism and feudalism at Moi Nu market on December 30, 1930,...
Faced with the growing struggle movement of the people of Dien Chau in general and Dong Cau commune in particular, the French colonialists concentrated their forces to "suppress the communist rebellion". They sent foreign legionnaires, blue-clad soldiers, coolies, lieutenants and secret police to arrest and suppress, causing many revolutionary bases to collapse, leaving very few party members.
On June 14, 1931, due to being informed, comrade Le Niem was arrested and detained at Dien Chau Prison. In July 1931, comrade Le Niem was taken to Vinh Prison. Here, despite facing torture, he still did not confess a word. Knowing that comrade Le Niem was the commander of the demonstration to celebrate the October Revolution of Russia on November 7, 1930 of the people of Dien Chau, the Southern Court of Nghe An province sentenced him for the first time to 3 years in prison and 2 years of house arrest according to Judgment No. 195, dated December 1, 1931. In May 1932, comrade Le Niem was sentenced for the second time by the Southern Court of Nghe An province to "life imprisonment for participating in the punishment of evil people in Duc Thinh, Dien Chau" according to Judgment No. 115, dated May 6, 1932.
On November 29, 1932, comrade Le Niem was exiled by the enemy to Lao Bao Prison with the prison number 2682. On the occasion of Tet 1935, his sentence was reduced to 13 years of hard labor. On July 14, 1939, he was taken to Buon Ma Thuot Prison. Thus, from 1930 to June 1945, comrade Le Niem was exiled in many notoriously brutal prisons of the colonial and feudal government such as: Vinh Prison, Lao Bao Prison, Buon Ma Thuot Prison,...
Wherever he was, comrade Le Niem always upheld the spirit of the indomitable and steadfast Soviet communist of Nghe Tinh. He considered the imperial prison as a new front, organized solidarity among fellow prisoners to fight, forcing the enemy to reduce harsh prison conditions, and to win back his life - to live to return to the Party and the revolutionary movement of the people.
In June 1945, comrade Le Niem was released from prison and returned to his hometown to contact and gather comrades Phan Thieng, Dau Han, etc. to rebuild party bases and continue to lead the masses in preparing to fight for power. In July 1945, with constant efforts, comrade Le Niem and comrade Truong Duc Dai consolidated bases in villages and communes, organized the masses to fight against paying taxes, not to go to work, not to join the army, and at the same time organized many demonstrations, hung the Party flag, etc.
On August 8, 1945, Viet Minh Nghe Tinh organized a Congress of delegates, urgently preparing all aspects for the General Uprising. Faced with the new situation, the Standing Committee of Viet Minh Nghe Tinh promptly established the Uprising Committee and launched an uprising to seize power in the province. Immediately, comrade Luong Xanh (from Dien Ky) - representative of the Provincial Party Committee, together with comrades Le Niem and Truong Duc Dai, established the Uprising Committee and led the people of Duc Thinh, Trung My, and Kim Au villages to carry out the uprising to seize power in the locality. Comrade Le Niem's active activities contributed to the victory of the struggle to seize power in Dong Cau in particular and the entire Dien Chau province in general.
In January 1946, comrade Le Niem was elected by the organization and people to hold the position of Chairman of the Provisional Administrative Committee of Duc Thinh village. One month later, with the trust of the Provincial Party Committee, comrade Le Niem accepted the task of going to Thanh Chuong to continue building the Party base.
During the two resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, comrade Le Niem always promoted the spirit of a communist party member, continuing to contribute to the revolutionary cause in his homeland.
From 1946 to 1951, comrade Le Niem set foot in the localities: Nghia Dan, Yen Thanh with the mission of continuing to nurture the revolution, developing the party base in the new historical period assigned by the Provincial Party Committee. In 1951, he became Secretary of the Trade Party Cell and became Secretary of the Nghe An Rice Warehouse Party Cell in 1956,... No matter what position he held, comrade Le Niem always promoted his spirit and enthusiasm to the highest level, completing the tasks assigned by the superior party.
On January 8, 1987, due to old age and the consequences of his time in prison, comrade Le Niem passed away in the sorrow of his family, friends and comrades.
The life of comrade Le Niem - a veteran revolutionary cadre - has always been associated with tireless dedication to national independence and people's freedom. Participating in revolutionary activities since the early days of the Party's establishment, comrade Le Niem has made many contributions to the development of party members in particular and to the local revolutionary cause in general. With his contributions, comrade Le Niem has been awarded many noble titles by the Party and the State, including the Second Class Independence Medal awarded by Chairman of the State Council Truong Chinh on August 27, 1985./.
