From May 7 to 9, 2009, at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the University's Veterans Association and the Museum of Revolutionary Soldiers imprisoned by the enemy organized an exhibition of images, artifacts, and documents about revolutionary soldiers imprisoned by the US puppet regime at Phu Quoc prison. The exhibition brought the most authentic images and evidence of the war crimes of the US invaders, the indomitable fighting spirit of communist soldiers, and the inevitable victories of that heroic struggle.
From May 7 to 9, 2009, at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the University's Veterans Association and the Museum of Revolutionary Soldiers imprisoned by the enemy organized an exhibition of images, artifacts, and documents about revolutionary soldiers imprisoned by the US puppet regime at Phu Quoc prison. The exhibition brought the most authentic images and evidence of the war crimes of the US invaders, the indomitable fighting spirit of communist soldiers, and the inevitable victories of that heroic struggle.
The photos and exhibits are displayed according to main themes:
In early 1966, the US puppets built a giant prison on Phu Quoc Island consisting of 44 sub-zones directly managed by the Military Police Department of the Puppet General Staff. Phu Quoc POW Camp had an area of 400 hectares, holding prisoners from July 6, 1967 to the end of March 1973. At its peak, this prison held about 40,000 prisoners. In order to destroy the spirit and body of the communist soldiers detained here, the enemy brutally suppressed prisoners, interrogated and killed more than 4,000 people. The forms of torture of prisoners by the US puppets were very barbaric: gouging out eyes, drilling teeth, nailing the body, throwing them into boiling water... By 1972, they implemented a policy of mass destruction, firing bullets into prison camps or secretly eliminating prisoners by burying them alive en masse. In 2008, the K92 collection team of Military Region 7 excavated two mass graves of prisoners of war in Con Dao, each containing over 500 sets of remains.
In addition to seeing famous historical photos that have been collected and introduced in the media, viewers are also shocked when witnessing with their own eyes the horrific torture tools of the prison guards at Phu Quoc prison such as "sad life claw", "party branch claw", "farewell stick", batons, iron balls, iron chains, stingray whips... In contrast to the cruel images above are the most eloquent and romantic evidences of the indomitable spirit of communist soldiers - artifacts that move viewers such as: the Party flag, the Youth Union flag drawn in blood, tiny study documents that prisoners secretly passed around to read and study in prison, lines of writing expressing the indomitable spirit, loyalty to the Party and filial piety to the people, simple items of life that skillful prisoners made in the enemy's moments of laxity...
[img class="caption" src="images/stories/2009/05/10/8816-0011.jpg" border="0" alt="Photos of martyrs who died at Phu Quoc prison" title="Photos of martyrs who died at Phu Quoc prison" width="320" height="156" align="right" ]In particular, one of the most impressive displays for viewers is the portraits of 38 martyrs at Phu Quoc prison with specific notes about the names, lives and circumstances of each person's sacrifice. The 38 martyrs' faces are blurred on the black and white photo paper, which were originally photos in the American puppet prison records, sought and preserved by the survivors with the desire to preserve the faces of the deceased heroes. These are the most authentic evidence of the enemy's crimes, the pain of war and above all, the beauty of bravery that helped ordinary people become extraordinary.
At the exhibition room, students had the opportunity to talk directly with veterans who were living witnesses of Phu Quoc prison. After viewing the exhibition, many students wrote their emotional thoughts in the Museum's guestbook. Talking about the significance of the exhibition, Mr. Vu Duc Nghieu - a school staff member wrote: "These are lessons written with blood, bones, and lives of the loyal soldiers, which need to be preserved to pass on to those who are living today and to future generations. Preserving and passing on is not to foster hatred towards anyone, but to help people understand the immeasurable values of our normal lives today and especially to never be ungrateful to those who sacrificed for this country."
On October 11, 2006, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Tay province (old) issued a decision to establish a private museum named "Museum of revolutionary soldiers imprisoned by the enemy" in Nam Quat village, Nam Trieu commune, Phu Xuyen district, Ha Tay province. The director is Mr. Lam Van Bang, a veteran of the Vietnam People's Army, a 1/4-class invalid. The museum was established thanks to the consensus and joint efforts of a number of former revolutionary soldiers imprisoned by the US puppet regime at Phu Quoc prison, currently living in the provinces of Hanoi, Ha Nam, Hung Yen, Bac Ninh. Currently, the museum is preserving, storing and displaying over 2,000 artifacts, including pictures, relics, objects... on an area of 1,600 m2 with 9 thematic exhibition rooms. The guides and interpreters to visitors are revolutionary soldiers who were imprisoned at Phu Quoc prison.
Author:Thanh Ha
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