Party and State leaders moves around the flag-draped coffin of former President Le Duc Anh at the memorial service in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A memorial service for former President GeneralLe Duc Anh was held at the National Funeral Hall in Hanoi at 10:45 amon May 3, with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivering the eulogy.
Looking back on the former President’s life andrevolutionary career, the eulogy noted that General Le Duc Anh, born onDecember 1, 1920 in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, joined thedemocratic movement in Thua Thien-Hue when only 17 years old. He became amember of the Indochinese Communist Party (now the Communist Party of Vietnam)in May 1938.
In August 1945, Anh joined the Vietnam People’s Army. During theresistance wars for national liberation and the southwest border defence war, hewas always present in the most important and fiercest battlefields.
As Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of theSouthern Command, Commander of Region 9, Deputy Commander of the Ho Chi MinhCampaign and Commander of the southwest wing, Anh personally participated inand directed many major military campaigns such as the 1968 General Offensiveand Uprising and the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, which liberated many cities andprovinces of strategic importance, creating the impetus for the success of theGeneral Offensive and Uprising of the Spring of 1975, which liberated theentire southern region and reunified the country.
“General Le Duc Anh is an experienced general, an outstandingcommander with strategic vision, skilful tactics and flexible handling ofcomplicated situations,” PM Phuc said in the eulogy.
Phuc went on to say that after the return of peace, Anh wasassigned many important tasks by the Party and the State, and in any position,he always devoted all his heart and mind to the revolutionary cause of theParty and the nation.
Together with other Party and State leaders, he had made manyimportant decisions to build the country, initiate the Doi Moi, break the gripof embargo and broaden the country’s external relations. Anh also worked togetherwith the Central Military Commission, the Defence Ministry to build thepeople’s armed forces and the people-based defence network while promoting thecountry’s defence and security strength.
When holding the Presidency, with his strategic thinking andfirm view on the path to socialism, Anh joined hands with other Party and Stateleaders in designing and directing the implementation of comprehensive Doi Moipolicy, which brought about historical achievements in maintaining politicalstability, promoting socio-economic development, ensuring defence-security,expanding external relations and pushing international integration.
“With more than 80 years working for the revolution, General Le Duc Anh hasmade great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and thenation. His life and career have set a bright example for the people, cadresand soldiers to follow,” the eulogy read.
Following the memorial service, the flag-draped coffin of formerPresident General Le Duc Anh was taken to the Noi Bai international airport tobe transported to Ho Chi Minh City, where he will be buried at the city’sMartyrs’ Cemetery.
In the morning of May 3, more than 1,000 delegations paid lastrespects to the former President at respect-paying ceremonies heldsimultaneously in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Thua Thien-Hue province.
General Le Duc Anh, who servedas President of Vietnam from September 1992 to December 1997, passed away onApril 22 at the age of 99.
Vietnam has declaredtwo days of national mourning for him on May 3 and 4.-VNA
VNA
