Former prisoners of war and political
prisoners in the former Sai Gon regime’s prisons yesterday, April 26, recalled their
sufferings as well as the courage, determination and solidarity at a meeting
held to celebrate the 36th National Liberation Day (April 30, 1975-2011).

Attending the gathering of more than 500 American War veterans were former Vice
President Truong My Hoa, Deputy Minister of National Defence Phan Trung Kien and
Le Thanh Hai, the HCM City Party Committee Secretary.

Participants recalled the times they were incarcerated and tortured by the
enemy.

Hoa
exchanged memories with Phan Thi Quyen, wife of Hero Nguyen Van Troi, of the
time when they were detained in the same prison. The story of Troi and the
couple’s marriage was also recounted at the gathering.

HCM
City’s Former Political Prisoners Liaison Board presented five houses worth
VND40 million (US$1,900) each to former war prisoners as well as 202 bank
savings books with VND10 million ($476) each to political prisoners in difficult
circumstances. A benefit concert was held for them in the city on April 18.

Out of
11,000 former political prisoners in HCM City freed from the US-backed Sai Gon
regime’s prisons in 1975, nearly 8,000 are still alive and about 10 per cent are
in very difficult circumstances.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News