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Vietnam should build memorial for martyrs of 1979 border war with China: minister

Vietnam should build memorial for martyrs of 1979 border war with China: minister

Thursday, July 24, 2014, 18:08 GMT+7

A memorial should be erected to commemorate the soldiers who scarified themselves in a month-long war against Chinese invaders in northern Vietnamese provinces 35 years ago, a Vietnamese minister has suggested.

>> Vietnam to build memorial temple for fallen Truong Sa soldiers

Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen offered her suggestion in a recent interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper about support for those who took part in the northern border protection war as well as how to honor those soldiers perishing in the fight.

“We have various ways to enhance public awareness of the war to protect the northern border. Our ministry last year organized a conference in which we expressed great gratitude to those who contributed to the fights to protect the fatherland, including the northern border protection war,” Minister Chuyen said. Recently, the minister said, former soldiers of Division 356 suggested at a meeting with State President Truong Tan Sang that a monument be built to honor the combatants who were killed in the war, which began on February 17, 1979, with over 600,000 Chinese troops crossing Vietnam’s northern border to invade the Southeast Asian country along the 600-km common boundary.

The brief war lasted until March 16 the same year.

“This is a sound suggestion and we will consider realizing it. Such a memorial will be located at a place where the fiercest battles took place with the highest number of soldiers killed during that war,” Minister Chuyen said.

She added that her ministry will discuss the details of building such a facility with the Ministry of Defense.

“If the monument has a medium size, our ministry will decide on the building,” she said. “But if it has a national scale, we will consult the government.” 

Regarding support for veteran soldiers who took part in the protection war, the minister said they are enjoying all relevant policies provided for in the Ordinance on Veterans.

They are also supported under Decision 62/2011 dated November 9, 2011 by the government, stipulating the policies for people who fought in patriotic wars, performed international duties in Cambodia, helped Lao people after April 30, 1975, and have been demobilized or permitted to retire.

In addition, they are given priority in applying for rights to use land, forests or water surfaces for production purposes, as well as in seeking jobs that fit their health condition, Minister Chuyen said.

Meanwhile, the relatives of soldiers who were killed in the northern border protection war are given help in accordance with the Ordinance 04/2012 dated July 16, 2012 by the National Assembly Standing Committee on incentives for people who contributed to the revolutions in Vietnam, she said.

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