Leaders of Nghe An province offer incense to commemorate comrade Le Hong Phong at Hang Duong Cemetery (Con Dao)

Monument to heroic martyrs at Hang Duong Cemetery. Photo: Thanh Duy

In front of the monument of heroes and martyrs and the altar in the Temple at Hang Duong Cemetery (Con Dao), the delegation of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province respectfully offered flowers and incense to commemorate and express their infinite gratitude for the great contributions of President Ho Chi Minh, comrade Le Hong Phong and the heroes and martyrs who heroically sacrificed their lives in the revolutionary movement, national liberation, and national reunification.

Delegation of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province came to offer flowers and incense at the Monument of Heroes and Martyrs at Hang Duong Cemetery. Photo: Thanh Duy

Next, the provincial leaders respectfully offered flowers and incense at the tomb of the late General Secretary Le Hong Phong - an excellent student of President Ho Chi Minh; an outstanding leader of the Party; an example of a steadfast communist who devoted his whole life to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the People; an outstanding son of Nghe An.

Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy offers incense at the Monument of Heroes and Martyrs at Hang Duong Cemetery. Photo: Thanh Duy

Before the spirit of the late General Secretary Le Hong Phong, the delegation respectfully reported on a number of the province's outstanding results. Accordingly, in the past time, with the efforts of the Party Committee, the Government and the People, and the valuable assistance of the Central Government, the province's socio-economic development has been quite comprehensive and achieved important achievements. The scale of the economy currently ranks 10th nationwide. The growth rate remains quite high, reaching 8.44% in the first 6 months of 2022. Budget revenue in the first 7 months of 2022 reached nearly 12,500 billion VND, reaching over 75% of the plan.

Delegates respectfully paid tribute to the heroic martyrs and patriots who died at Con Dao prison. Photo: Thanh Duy

Culture and society have many bright spots, especially in the fields of health, education, and new rural development. Social security, material and spiritual life of the people are concerned and increasingly improved. National defense, security, order, and social safety are ensured. Party building and political system building are given comprehensive attention in all aspects.

Learning from and following the example of comrade Le Hong Phong, the Party Committee, Government and People of Nghe An will continue to uphold the spirit of responsibility, self-cultivation, practice revolutionary ethics, and be determined to build Nghe An homeland to develop more and more.

Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy and Provincial People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Trung ring the bell at Hang Duong Cemetery Temple. Photo: Thanh Duy

Comrade Le Hong Phong's real name is Le Huy Doan, born in 1902, in Dong village, Thong Lang commune (now Hung Thong commune, Hung Nguyen district, Nghe An province), in a peasant family. Born and raised in a rural area with a patriotic tradition, with many famous scholars, witnessing with his own eyes the country's misery, the oppressed and exploited working people, he soon nurtured in himself the ideology of patriotism and the will to make a revolution.

At the end of 1923, comrade Le Hong Phong secretly went to Siam (Thailand) to meet Vietnamese patriots. In 1924, he went to Guangzhou (China) to join the Tam Tam Xa group and then met leader Nguyen Ai Quoc, who enlightened him about the revolution.

Delegates perform a flower and incense offering ceremony at the altar of late General Secretary Le Hong Phong at Hang Duong Cemetery Temple. Photo: Thanh Duy

In 1925, comrade Le Hong Phong joined the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association and attended the revolutionary cadre training class organized by leader Nguyen Ai Quoc, becoming one of the first cadres of the Vietnamese revolution to be equipped with the theory of Marxism-Leninism.

He received comprehensive military and political education at the Whampoa Military School, the Aviation School in Guangzhou (China), the Military Theory School of the Soviet Air Force in Leningrad, now Saint Petersburg, and the Military Pilot Training School, also in the Soviet Union.

Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy offers incense at the altar of late General Secretary Le Hong Phong at Hang Duong Cemetery Temple. Photo: Thanh Duy

Delegates respectfully commemorate the late General Secretary Le Hong Phong. Photo: Thanh Duy

After graduating, comrade Le Hong Phong worked in the Soviet Red Army and was responsible for liaison between the Indochinese Communist Party and the Communist International. During this time, he studied revolutionary theory at the Communist International's Oriental University in Moscow, graduating from the 3-year course (1928 - 1931), then continued his first year of graduate studies.

In November 1931, following the directive of the Communist International, comrade Le Hong Phong was assigned to return to the country to lead the restoration and development of the Party organization, leading the Indochina revolution through a difficult and dangerous period. In March 1934, comrade Le Hong Phong became Secretary of the Party's Overseas Leadership Committee (also known as the Party's Overseas Command Committee), preparing the conditions for the organization of the Party's First Congress.

Delegation of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province paid tribute, offered flowers, and incense at the tomb of late General Secretary Le Hong Phong at Hang Duong Cemetery. Photo: Thanh Duy

At the end of 1934, he led the Party delegation to attend the 7th Congress of the Communist International in Moscow (Soviet Union) from July 25 to August 21, 1935. At the same time, in March 1935, the 1st Congress of the Party took place successfully, comrade Le Hong Phong (elected in absentia) as General Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Indochinese Communist Party.

Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy offers incense at the tomb of late General Secretary Le Hong Phong at Hang Duong Cemetery. Photo: Thanh Duy

Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung offers incense at the tomb of late General Secretary Le Hong Phong at Hang Duong Cemetery. Photo: Thanh Duy

In July 1936, in Shanghai (China), he convened and chaired the Central Conference to supplement the Resolution of the 1st Congress. In November 1937, comrade Le Hong Phong returned to the country and secretly operated in Saigon, directly with the Party Central Committee to direct the revolutionary movement in the new situation. In March 1938, he attended the Conference of the Party Central Committee, contributing to the establishment of the Indochinese United Democratic Front to fight against fascism, the sabotage activities of the Trotskyites and the isolated, narrow-minded, leftist tendencies in the Party.

Provincial leaders offer incense at the tomb of late General Secretary Le Hong Phong at Hang Duong Cemetery. Photo: Thanh Duy

Provincial leaders spread soil brought from their hometown in Hung Thong commune, Hung Nguyen district, Nghe An province on the grave of late General Secretary Le Hong Phong. Photo: Thanh Duy

On June 22, 1939, comrade Le Hong Phong was arrested for the first time by the French colonialists in Cho Lon, sentenced to 6 months in prison and 3 years of house arrest. On December 23, 1939, they brought him back to his hometown in Nghe An for house arrest. On January 20, 1940, he was arrested for the second time by the French colonialists, imprisoned at the Big Prison, Saigon; at the end of 1940, they exiled him to Con Dao.

Here, knowing that comrade Le Hong Phong was a high-ranking Party leader, the French colonialists tried every way to torture and torment him. In the face of the enemy's cruelty and brutality, he still upheld his revolutionary spirit, actively campaigned and directed fellow prisoners to fight against the enemy's beatings and against the harsh prison rules. His health gradually weakened due to revenge and illness, he breathed his last at noon on September 6, 1942.

Delegation of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province took a souvenir photo at the tomb of the late General Secretary Le Hong Phong. Photo: Thanh Duy

On the occasion of the 120th anniversary of Comrade Le Hong Phong's birth, Nghe An province will organize an incense and flower offering ceremony at the Le Hong Phong Memorial Site in Hung Thong commune, Hung Nguyen district; organize a provincial-level celebration ceremony and coordinate with the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the Central Propaganda Department to organize a scientific seminar; and organize other commemorative propaganda activities in the province.

Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy and delegates offered incense at the tomb of patriot Nguyen An Ninh. Photo: Thanh Duy

Delegates offered incense and listened to an introduction at the tomb of patriot Nguyen An Ninh. Photo: Thanh Duy

The 120th anniversary of Comrade Le Hong Phong's birth is an occasion for us to respectfully pay tribute to Comrade Le Hong Phong's great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation; at the same time, step up propaganda and political, ideological, ethical and lifestyle education for cadres, Party members and the People; thereby, consolidating and fostering the People's trust in the Party, the State and the socialist regime.

Hang Duong Cemetery is the resting place of nearly 2,000 revolutionary soldiers and patriots through many generations during the 113 years of existence of Con Dao Prison (1862-1975) - the place known as "hell on earth". Hang Duong Cemetery is one of 17 component relics of the Con Dao Prison National Special Historical Relic.