Member of the Provincial Standing Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Le Truong Son: Effectively implementing policies for the military and the military rear

In recent years, Dong Nai province has effectively implemented the higher-level directives on strengthening leadership and guidance regarding policies for the military, the military rear, and the search and collection of martyrs’ remains.

Comrade Le Truong Son, Member of the Provincial Standing Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, delivers his presentation at the five-year review conference on policies for the military, the military rear, and the search and collection of martyrs’ remains. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Comrade Le Truong Son, Member of the Provincial Standing Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, and Head of the province’s Steering Committee 515, shared further details with Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television about these efforts, especially the close coordination to effectively carry out the search and collection of martyrs’ remains.

*Comrade Le Truong Son, during 2020–2025 period, how has Dong Nai province implemented the search for, collection, exhumation and identification of martyrs’ remains?

- The Dong Nai provincial Steering Committee 515 has thoroughly and promptly implemented the documents of the National Steering Committee 515 and Military Region 7’s Steering Committee 515; advised the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee to issue guidance documents and organize implementation for agencies, units, and localities; and adopted a thematic resolution to strengthen leadership in promoting the search and collection of martyrs’ remains across the province.

The Steering Committee, Standing Steering Committee, and supporting task forces at all levels have been regularly strengthened, with regulations and action programs continually refined. They have effectively upheld their roles and responsibilities, promptly advising on comprehensive and coordinated measures to ensure strict implementation, with objectives and solutions closely tailored to practical realities.

Localities have been directed to proactively coordinate with veterans’ associations, agencies, sectors, and people from all walks of life in the area to propagate and encourage witnesses to provide information about martyrs and their graves. They have effectively promoted the “In search of fallen comrades” program, and made good use of the “Military Policy Sector” portal of units and localities, to exchange and share information on martyrs and their burial sites, serving the mapping, search, and collection of remains both within the province and nationwide.

The entire province has conducted a comprehensive review and supplements to draw conclusions on areas that have been searched and those not yet searched, forming the basis for mapping conclusions in 100% of former district- and commune-level units. Localities have completed minutes of local conclusions, information sheets, grave charts, photographs of both family-managed and independent graves, and drafted map mock-ups in all former commune- and district-level units. Annexes listing martyrs, grave charts, and photographs have been finalized in accordance with regulations.

* What concrete results have been achieved?

- Based on the list provided by the National Steering Committee 515 and information from agencies and units, with records of more than 66,000 martyrs’ originally buried, the Dong Nai Provincial Military Command – the Standing body of the Provincial Steering Committee 515 – has directed agencies to strictly follow procedures, process, disinfect, and separate data, thereby identifying more than 25,000 martyrs with complete information. The lists of martyrs were then transferred, according to their place of sacrifice and initial burial, to the commune level. District- and commune-level units (former administrative boundaries) have been instructed to coordinate with local agencies, organizations, veterans’ associations, revolutionary veterans, and the home affairs sector to supplement information and finalize the records and lists of martyrs.

As a result, the review has confirmed and completed records of over 21,000 martyrs who were originally buried in the province. Of these, nearly 3,000 remains have been found and collected, while more than 18,000 remain unlocated. The Provincial Steering Committee 515 has also directly engaged in dialogues and outreach with American veterans, actively encouraging them to provide information. As result, they have provided over 150 pages of documents, 80 photographs, and information related to battle sites, martyrs’ lists, and locations of mass graves in several areas of the province.

The Provincial Steering Committee 515 has advised the Provincial Party Committee, People’s Committee, and Military Region 7 Command to sign agreements with the authorities of Kratie and Kampong Thom provinces (Kingdom of Cambodia) on phased plans for the repatriation of martyrs’ remains, thereby creating a favorable legal basis for Team K72 to carry out its search mission. Since 2021, a total of 795 martyrs’ remains have been repatriated from Cambodia, including two identified by name and address.

* What key tasks will the province focus on to search for and bring martyrs’ remains back to the cemeteries?

- According to the review and updated information, more than 18,300 martyrs’ remains in the province have yet to be found. The K Teams (responsible for searching for, collecting, and exhuming martyrs’ remains) were assigned to the Provincial People’s Committee, which in turn delegated to the Provincial Military Command - the standing advisory body. However, more than 50 years have passed since the end of the war, and the border defense resistance wars ended long ago, the martyrs’ personal belongings will decompose quickly, making stronger coordination all the more necessary. In particular, during the 2026–2030 period, the Provincial Steering Committee 515 must provide clearer guidance and planning, with greater focus, stronger forces, and improved tools and information technology for the K Teams to effectively search for and collect the martyrs’ remains.

However, the issue of equipping the K Teams remains a challenge, as their means are primarily provided by the Ministry of National Defense. This issue should be further decentralized to localities, allowing them to base on their actual conditions to plan and proactively allocate budget resources to better fulfill this task. For provinces and cities where budget revenue is insufficient, the Ministry of National Defense should consider continued provision.

Dong Nai Province determines that the effective implementation of policies for the military, military families, and the search and gathering of martyrs’ remains requires close coordination between the province, the National Steering Committee 515, Military Region 7, and relevant agencies and sectors. These are regarded as key missions in the province’s military and defense work.

“Policies for the military and their families have long been implemented. However, with many new regulations and improved support measures now in place, close coordination is needed to ensure effective implementation. Dong Nai Province is working with the Military Region 7 to develop a social housing project for officers and soldiers, helping them feel secure in performing their duties. At the same time, Resolution No. 201/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly, dated May 29, 2025, on piloting certain special mechanisms and policies for social housing development, has opened up many opportunities. Therefore, in the coming time, it is essential to further strengthen coordination between Dong Nai province and relevant agencies to accelerate implementation, thereby supporting officers and soldiers in carrying out their missions with peace of mind,”

At the same time, the province has tasked the Provincial Military Command with continuing to advise and update new policies, aiming for ensuring the best possible implementation of policies for the military, their families, and the search and gathering of martyrs’ remains, thereby ensuring that the military can confidently fulfill its functions in the new context.

*Thank you very much.

By Nguyet Ha - Translated by Thu Hien, Thu Ha