'Worthy continuation of the title of Red Nghe Tinh'

On the morning of September 7 in Vinh City, the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province held a ceremony to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Nghe - Tinh Soviet Day (September 12, 1930 - September 12, 2020). Nghe An Newspaper respectfully introduces the speech ofComrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee at the Ceremony.

(Title by Nghe An Newspaper)

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee read a speech at the Commemoration Ceremony. Photo: Thanh Duy

- Dearlike comradeNguyen Xuan Thang- Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council;

Dear comradesleaders of central departments, ministries, branches and agencies;leaders of Military Region 4; leaders of Ha Tinh province; leaders of Nghe An province through the periods;

- Dear revolutionary elders, Armed Forces Heroes, Labor Heroes;

- Dear compatriots and comrades!

In the excited and proud atmosphere of the successful August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, today, the Party Committee and people of Nghe An province solemnly organized the 90th anniversary of the Nghe-Tinh Soviet (September 12, 1930 - September 12, 2020).

On behalf of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, I respectfully send my best wishes to the Party and State leaders, revolutionary veterans, and all delegates, distinguished guests, compatriots, and comrades.

Dear compatriots and comrades!

At the end of the 19th century, our nation was colonized by French colonialists, our people had to suffer the situation of "one neck, two yokes", living in misery and suffering, groaning under the shackles of feudal colonialism. Especially, after World War I, French colonialists intensified the exploitation of resources, pushing the conflict between Vietnam and French colonialists and their lackeys to become increasingly fierce; the need to fight for independence became increasingly urgent. Independence and freedom were the aspiration, the core ideology that governed the thoughts and actions of every patriotic Vietnamese citizen. Many uprisings and patriotic movements of the people against French colonialism took place continuously and vigorously in many different directions but all failed. The Vietnamese revolution fell into a deep crisis of direction.

In that context, in the early 1920s, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc found in Marxism-Leninism the way to save the Vietnamese nation - the way to liberate the nation through the proletarian revolution. He actively spread Marxism-Leninism into the workers' movement and the patriotic movement, awakening and stirring up the dark night of slavery in the semi-feudal colonial land of Vietnam.

In February 1930, the Communist Party of Vietnam was born. With the correct guidelines, scientific methods and steadfast character, the Party undertook the historic mission of leading the people to liberate the nation. Under the leadership of the Party, the mass struggle movement broke out strongly. The successive struggles of workers, peasants and working people against colonialism and feudalism took place throughout the country, quickly developing into a revolutionary high tide in 1930-1931 with the peak being the Nghe-Tinh Soviet, opening the way for the national and people's democratic revolution organized and led by the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Dear compatriots and comrades!

Nghe Tinh is a land with a rich culture and history, and its people have a tradition of patriotism, resilience, and indomitability in the fight against foreign invaders. For thousands of years in many eras, Nghe An has been a pillar, a reliable support for the Central Government to welcome retreating and advancing troops, and is the homeland of many heroes, heroes, and patriotic scholars. Like other localities, at that time, Nghe Tinh had to suffer severe consequences due to the brutal exploitation of imperialism and feudalism; Vinh - Ben Thuy was one of the industrial centers of the country, with a working class that developed in both quantity and quality, so the Nghe An Party Committee and the Ha Tinh Party Committee were soon established to lead the revolutionary movement. This was the prerequisite for the struggle movement of the masses in Nghe Tinh to develop into the peak of the revolutionary movement of 1930 - 1931.

Under the leadership of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, on the occasion of International Labor Day, May 1, 1930, workers of the Match Factory, Ben Thuy Sawmill and thousands of farmers in the neighboring areas of Vinh - Ben Thuy loudly demonstrated, waving high the red hammer and sickle flag, raising slogans demanding wage increases, shorter working hours, tax reduction, and fighting against political terrorism. This was the first time that workers and farmers stood side by side in the fight against the enemy, opening the Nghe - Tinh Soviet movement.

Red Guards in Hoa Quan - Dong So - Nghe An during the Nghe - Tinh Soviet Movement 1930 - 1931. Documentary photo

In early August 1930, a general strike broke out among all workers in the Vinh - Ben Thuy industrial zone. At the same time, in Thanh Chuong and Nam Dan districts of Nghe An province, and Can Loc district of Ha Tinh province, people marched to the district capital to destroy prisons, free political prisoners, burn documents and books, and punish evil reactionaries, marking a new era - a period of fierce struggle for "democracy and national independence". From political struggle, the masses demonstrated with armed self-defense. Notably, on September 12, 1930, 8,000 Hung Nguyen farmers marched to the district capital to demand, shouting slogans against imperialism, colonialism, and feudalism. The French colonialists were barbaric, using planes to bomb the demonstrations, killing and injuring hundreds of people. Not faltering in the face of enemy bombs and bullets, the struggle movement of the people of Nghe Tinh grew stronger and spread to many localities, developing into an armed struggle, paralyzing and disintegrating the imperialist and feudal government systems in many places.

Faced with the collapse of the enemy government, the Party cells and Red Peasants' Associations proactively established, took the initiative to operate and manage all aspects of political and social life in the countryside and performed the tasks of the people's government in the Soviet form, implementing many progressive and legitimate policies for the people such as: redistributing public land, abolishing high taxes and duties, performing democratic functions for the masses and dictatorship over the exploiting minority of imperialists and feudal lackeys, actively propagating the national language, eliminating bad customs, superstitions, and heresies...

The Nghe-Tinh Soviet movement became a strong source of encouragement for the workers and peasants throughout the country to rise up and fight. Many struggles broke out in the provinces of Thai Binh, Ha Nam, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai... not only demonstrating the spirit of patriotism, solidarity and "sharing the fire" with the people of Nghe-Tinh but also demonstrating the strength of solidarity, community cohesion, and joint efforts of the entire Vietnamese people against the enslavement of the colonialists and their lackeys. Besides, beyond the space of Vietnam, the 1930-1931 revolutionary movement and the Nghe-Tinh Soviet were the first worker-peasant revolutionary movements to break out in the world colonial system, attacking the strongholds and shaking the rule of French colonialism and feudalism in Indochina, through which the prestige of the Communist Party of Vietnam was enhanced in the international communist and workers' movement, becoming a bridge connecting the Vietnamese revolution with the world revolutionary movement. These results mark the continuous development of the Vietnamese revolution under the leadership of the Party.

Faced with the seething atmosphere of the revolutionary climax and the blazing Soviet flame, the French colonialists and their henchmen increased their repressive forces and carried out an extremely brutal white terror, drowning our people's struggles in a sea of ​​blood. Many Party bases were repressed, many Party members and the masses were arrested, imprisoned, and killed, many villages and hamlets were destroyed and burned down. Therefore, the revolutionary climax of 1930 - 1931, culminating in the Nghe-Tinh Soviet, only existed for a short time and temporarily subsided at the end of 1931. Like a large ancient tree, although its top was cut off, its roots had grown deep into the ground, spread everywhere and would sprout when conditions were suitable.

The Nghe-Tinh Soviet is an immortal epic in the first chapter of the “golden history” of the Communist Party of Vietnam, representing the heroic spirit of the Vietnamese people and the homeland of Nghe An. The birth and operation of the Soviet government is a vivid demonstration of the creative application of Marxism-Leninism to the practice of the Vietnamese revolution; affirming the correctness of the Vietnamese people’s choice of the proletarian revolutionary path; clearly demonstrating the superiority and progressive nature of a revolutionary government of the people, by the people and for the people. Affirming the pioneering role, position, leadership capacity and mass organization of our Party; at the same time bringing to the masses of workers and peasants confidence in their own strength, firm belief in the revolutionary line of class liberation and national liberation initiated and led by the Party; training for the revolution a very large contingent of cadres, very steadfast through fierce challenges, ready to step firmly on the path of national liberation struggle ahead. It was from this revolutionary climax that the art of revolutionary leadership, especially the Party's revolutionary struggle, was initially formed and was increasingly supplemented and developed in the practice of the struggle for national liberation and protection of the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.

Evaluating the Nghe-Tinh Soviet, President Ho Chi Minh wrote: “The Nghe-Tinh Soviet was the first revolutionary government of workers and peasants, which overthrew the reactionary imperialist and feudalist governments in several places in the two provinces of Nghe-Tinh. Although the French imperialists and feudalists temporarily drowned the movement in a sea of ​​blood, the glorious tradition of the Nghe-Tinh Soviet promoted the revolutionary movement throughout the country and led to the brilliant success of the August Revolution.”

The Nghe-Tinh Soviets have left us with many valuable lessons, which have increasingly profound effects on the development process of Vietnam's revolutionary history in the present and forever in the future. These are lessons about inheriting and promoting the nation's tradition of patriotism, indomitability, and indomitability, and about refusing to be slaves; about ensuring the Party's revolutionary leadership role, constantly fighting against "leftism" and "rightism" to ensure the Party's working class nature, making the Party strong politically, ideologically, and organizationally.

A great lesson in the power to attract and gather the masses of people through the Party's correct guidelines, policies and slogans, meeting the people's burning aspirations; constantly taking care to build and consolidate the great national unity bloc on the basis of a strong worker-peasant alliance under the Party's leadership, creating a combined strength, successfully carrying out the cause of industrialization, modernization and international integration, building and firmly defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.

Lessons on the art of using revolutionary forms and methods appropriate to each specific historical situation to gain and maintain power...

Delegates attending the Anniversary Ceremony. Photo: Thanh Duy

Dear compatriots and comrades!

Continuing the heroic Soviet tradition, in the resistance wars for national liberation and defense of the Fatherland, the Party Committee and people of Nghe An fulfilled their rear duties, providing the highest level of human and material resources to the frontline, participating in defeating destructive wars, fulfilling noble international obligations, achieving many outstanding achievements, and contributing worthily to the glorious victory of the nation.

Entering the innovation process, especially recently, implementing Resolution No. 26 of the Politburo, Resolution of the 18th Provincial Party Congress, Nghe An has strived to overcome difficulties and challenges, achieving quite comprehensive achievements in all aspects: Economic growth rate in the period of 2016 - 2019 is quite high, reaching 8.47%, in 2019 alone reaching 9.03%; Budget revenue in the province annually reaches and exceeds the assigned estimate, in 2019 reaching more than 16,600 billion VND. The economic structure has shifted in a positive direction. Agriculture, rural areas and farmers have many improvements, being a bright spot of the whole country in terms of the results of implementing the National Target Program on new rural construction.

Many positive results were achieved in the cultural and social fields. Social security and people's lives were given attention and improved; Party building and government building received comprehensive attention in all aspects; The spirit of solidarity and democracy was widely spread; National defense, security, order and social safety were ensured; foreign relations were strengthened and expanded, leaving many good impressions on domestic and international friends.

Since the beginning of the year, towards the 90th anniversary of the Nghe-Tinh Soviet, the whole province has launched patriotic emulation movements associated with the organization of Party Congresses at all levels for the 2020-2025 term. Up to now, the direction of the grassroots Party Congresses has been completed, the whole province is actively preparing to organize the 19th Provincial Party Congress, creating a solid foundation for the whole province to enthusiastically enter a new stage of development.

Dear compatriots and comrades!

Although the path ahead of the Party Committee and the people of Nghe An has many favorable opportunities, there are also many difficulties and challenges. Our province has achieved valuable achievements, but the development process is still not commensurate with the potential, opportunities and requirements, especially in achieving the goal of becoming a well-off province in the country. The investment and business environment is still not really attractive compared to many other localities in the country. The poverty rate in the Western region is still high, and the lives of a part of the people, especially in remote areas, are still difficult. The work of Party building and building the political system is still limited, failing to meet the requirements in the new situation.

Meanwhile, the world economic and political situation is changing in a complex and unpredictable manner. Global issues such as climate change, natural disasters, epidemics, and non-traditional security continue to develop worryingly.

More than ever, we need to strongly arouse the will, resilience, revolutionary spirit, and aspiration of the people and the entire political system, especially the revolutionary offensive spirit, "standing up first" of the Nghe-Tinh Soviet, seize opportunities, overcome challenges, promote the spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity, making Nghe An develop rapidly and sustainably, becoming a center connecting the development of the North Central region in many fields.

Accordingly, in the coming years, Nghe An will focus on restructuring the economy in association with renewing the growth model, improving productivity, quality, efficiency, competitiveness and accelerating the digital transformation process. Mobilizing social resources well for development. Promoting the development of manufacturing and service industries based on science and technology, innovation, high added value, saving raw materials, energy, and being environmentally friendly. Attracting key projects; improving the efficiency of developing economic zones, industrial parks, and key economic regions; prioritizing the development of marine economic sectors, high-tech agriculture, marine tourism, resorts, history, etc. of regional and international stature. Taking care of the comprehensive development of Nghe An's culture and people, ensuring social security, improving the quality of human resources, attracting and employing talents. Strengthening national defense and security; proactively integrating and cooperating internationally.

Continue to seriously, practically and effectively carry out the study and follow of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle in conjunction with the implementation of the 4th Central Resolution (12th tenure) on Party building and rectification; fight, prevent and repel manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation", and defeat all plots and activities of "peaceful evolution" by hostile forces. Enhance the role, leadership capacity and fighting strength of the Party, build a clean, strong, streamlined, effective and efficient political system; build a contingent of cadres and party members with qualities, capacity and prestige equal to the tasks, taking the satisfaction of the people and enterprises as the main measure of the quality of cadres and the performance of the administration at all levels.

Innovate the content and methods of mass mobilization of the Fatherland Front and people's organizations to suit the new situation. Ensure solidarity and unity within the entire Party and people, promote the combined strength to build and develop the province.

In particular, focus on successfully organizing the 19th Provincial Party Congress, term 2020-2025, towards the 13th National Party Congress; continue to effectively prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic.

Delegates attending the Anniversary Ceremony. Photo: Thanh Duy

Dear compatriots and comrades!

Ninety years have passed, but the Soviet spirit and spirit still endures with the nation's history, echoing the tradition of resilience, indomitability, and ardent patriotism, becoming a sacred flame lighting up the path of our people's struggle for independence, freedom, and socialism.

The Nghe-Tinh Soviet will forever be a source of pride and honor, adding confidence and strength to the Party Committee and people of Nghe An to firmly carry out the successful renovation and integration process, building the beloved homeland of Uncle Ho to soon become a prosperous province as he always wished during his lifetime.

In the sacred moment of today's ceremony, let us light a stick of incense, respectfully remember, express our deep gratitude and vow to live up to the noble sacrifice of our ancestors, the heroic martyrs of the Nghe-Tinh Soviet, and continue to be worthy of the title of Red Nghe-Tinh.

Long live the glorious Communist Party of Vietnam!

Great President Ho Chi Minh, live forever in our cause!

The spirit of the Nghe-Tinh Soviet is eternal!

I wish you, delegates, compatriots and comrades good health, happiness and success.

Thanks a lot!