Ton Duc Thang (R) is the first president of the reunified Socialist Republic of Vietnam from 1976 - 1980 (Photo: VNA) An Giang (VNA) – The 130th birthday anniversary ofPresident Ton Duc Thang was marked at a grand ceremony held on August 20 in thelate President’s home village in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang.
Prominent among delegates at the event were President Tran Dai Quang,head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Education and PopularisationVo Van Thuong, National Assemby Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu and many incumbent andformer senior officials of the Party, the State, the Vietnam Fatherland Front.
Party General Secretary NguyenPhu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent baskets of flowers to theceremony.
President Tran Dai Quang delivered a speech, looking back at the lifeand revolutionary career of the late President, also known affectionately asUncle Ton.
Born on August 20, 1888 at Ong Ho islet, An Hoa village, now My Hoa Hungcommune of Long Xuyen city, An Giang province, Ton Duc Thang joined thepatriotic movement against the French colonialists since young age. During thetime working abroad, he participated in workers’ movement in France, the risingof the French Navy in the Black Sea in support of the October Revolution inRussia.
Returning to Vietnam in 1920, the late President founded the firstworkers’ union in Vietnam and led the worker’ movement in Sai Gon, with the Ba Sonstrike being the most typical example of the movement’s activities. He thenjoined the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth's Union and was entrusted with severalkey positions. He was arrested by the French colonialists in 1929 and wasimposed 20 years of hard labour in prision. In Con Dao prison, he was among thefounders of the first Party cell in prison.
With the success of the August Revolution, Ton Duc Thang regained hisfreedom and immediately joined the resistance war against the French invaders.He was assigned many important missions by the Party, and in any position, TonDuc Thang fulfilled his duty, setting a bright example of patriotism, firmrevolutionary will, loyalty and revolutionary ethics.
His great contributions to the Vietnamese revolution, the world peace movementand international friendship had won recognition in the form of many nobleorder and awards. He was the first person to be conferred with the Sao Vang(Golden Star) Order by the Vietnamese Party and State. He was also awarded withthe Lenin Order and the Lenin Prize of the Soviet Union.
President Tran Dai Quang delivers a speech at the ceremony (Photo: VNA) President Tran Dai Quang stressed that with nearly 70 years engagementin the Vietnamese revolution, 26 successive years serving as President of theLien Viet Front and the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and more than 10 yearsholding the Presidency of the nation, Uncle Ton’s 92-year life and revolutionarycareer was a bright example of patriotism, devotion to the revolutionary cause,firm will and revolutionary ethics.
On behalf of the Party organisation, administration and people of AnGiang province, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Vo Thi Anh Xuansaid the province is proud of the land’s son Ton Duc Thang.
In Ho Chi Minh City, a delegation of the city’ Party Committee, People’sCouncil, People’s Committee and Vietnam Fatherland Front offered incense andfloral tribute to the late President Ton Duc Thang at the museum dedicated tohim on the occasion of his birthday.
The museum is holding a display on the childhood of President Ton DucThang, with around 100 exhibits showing the situation in An Giang province and thesouthern region in late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Many delegations of local organisations and people also paid tribute tothe great leader at the museum.-VNA
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