Commemoration of the 74 Fallen on the Paracel Islands

Danlambao’s collaborator – In memory of the 74 naval officers of the Republic of Vietnam who fell audaciously in the fight against China’s invasion of the Paracel Islands 42 years ago (Jan.19th, 1974), a commemoration was held solemnly and meaningfully on Vung Tau beach on the morning of January 17th, 2016 despite the authorities’ prevention and harassment.

More than 42 years ago, on January 19th, 1974, in face of Chinese growing activism to invade the entire Paracel Islands, the Navy of the Republic of Vietnam had to open fire to safeguard Vietnam’s sovereignty over the national territory. At the end of the 30-minute battle, 74 fell, 28 were wounded and 48 taken prisoner as the Chinese aggressors landed on the islands January 20th, 1974.

In attendance at the ceremony were about 30 people from all walks of life: Pham Nguyen Truong (translator), Nguyen Huu Cau (prisoner-of-the-century), Vo Thi Thanh Hai (teacher), Nguyen Hoang Vi (blogger), Tran Bang, Doan Huu Long, Duong Dai Trieu Lam, Nguyen Manh Hien, Do Duc Hop, Tuan Chu Facebooker…. With wreaths, candles and banners, they gathered, burnt joss-ticks in commemoration of the fallen who fought the Chinese invaders to protect the territorial integrity of the sacred fatherland.

Prisoner-of-the-century Nguyen Huu Cau confided: “Now that I’ve been freed to be outside, here in this life… but dozens of years ago, in prison my cellmates and I willingly refrained from eating one day in memory of this historical event. Today, facing the East Sea along with other fellowcountrymen from Saigon, Vung Tau, we brought flowers as far as to the beach to commemorate the 74 fallen combatants… Right here, on this beach, looking up, I’m feeling as if they’re still standing there, in front of me.”

Coming from Saigon, teacher Thanh Hai claimed that this was quite a meaningful ceremony and she felt kind of happy. On her individual Facebook, Hai wrote:

“The Paracel - The Spratly belong to Vienam.

The Paracel and the Spratly are inseparable territories of Vietnam. Under no circumstances do the Vietnamese people submit to violence to give up all or part of our national sovereignty over those islands…

To protect the country, 74 naval combatants of the Republic of Vietnam fell in the Paracel Islands battle. Their blood spilled to defend the fatherland; that was the Viet blood spilled to safeguard the divine territory left by our ancestors.”

The ceremony participants were continuously prevented and harassed by those wearing uniforms such as traffic policemen, armed forces, militiamen and plain-clothes security agents. The 26- person group from Saigon were continuously stopped and checked on their way to Vung Tau.

Stopped and harassed. Photo: Danlambao

“This is what the two wreaths in memory of the fallen in the Paracel naval battle look like, after being harassed by ‘forces of municipal order’ in Vung Tau city. Twice, the taxi carrying the flowers was stopped by police and prevented from reaching the beach. The robbery suggested this was an organized conspiracy of mobilzing from 40 to 50 people…." - Nguyen Manh Hien Facebook.

The act of laying wreaths and solemnly offering joss sticks at the War Memorial in Vung Tau city was also marred, and as usual the given reason was “this is an order from our superiors”.

On the beach, some so-called ‘spontaneously motivated public’ rushed in, robbed the two wreaths and ran away.

Besieged and troubled all the time by government agents though, those who participated in the ceremony calmly explained the reason of their arrival, the meaning of the commemoration of the fallen and, at the same time, determinedly held the service.

Joss sticks were burnt and respectfully offered in commemoration of those who fell for the good of the country. The current Vietnamese government may remain quiet, the Vietnamese communist party may forget the event, but the Vietnamese people forever keep you all in mind.