Lai Chau Province Completes Exhumation and Reburial of 47 Martyrs' Remains in Binh Lu

Lai Chau Province in northern Vietnam has announced the completion of the exhumation and reburial of 47 martyrs who died in fierce fighting against French forces in 1951. This endeavor was carried out as part of the nationwide "500-Day and Night Campaign to Accelerate the Search, Collection, and Identification of Martyrs' Remains." According to the Lai Chau Provincial Steering Committee for the Search, Collection, and Identification of Martyrs' Remains, the site of a mass grave containing 47 martyrs who perished in 1951 was identified in the vicinity of the Tam Duong Martyrs' Cemetery in Binh Lu commune. Historical records, witness testimonies, and cross-referencing with relevant agencies confirmed that on the early morning of February 14, 1951, French forces launched a surprise attack on the Binh Lu Commune Resistance Administrative Committee headquarters. This resulted in the deaths of 50 cadres and soldiers from the Phong Tho District Party Committee and the 920th Battalion of the 148th Regiment, Northwest Military Region. Following the battle, local militia and residents collected the bodies of the fallen and buried them collectively in Muong Cau village (now Thanh Binh village, Binh Lu commune). Due to the difficult wartime conditions at the time, the remains were buried directly in the ground. Three individuals, Nguyen Chuong, Tuong Loan, and Vuong Van Phan, were buried separately and were later reburied in the martyrs' cemetery. For many years, this mass grave site was preserved and honored by the local community. A memorial monument was erected in 1998, along with four symbolic graves. When the Tam Duong District Martyrs' Cemetery was constructed in 2006, the site was included within its grounds, but formal excavation and reburial had not been carried out. As part of the "500-Day and Night Campaign," Lai Chau Province organized the excavation of this mass grave concurrently with the repair and upgrade of the martyrs' cemetery. During the excavation, many human bones were found, much of which had decomposed and fragmented over time. Primarily, skulls, femurs, tibias, and teeth remained. The remains were layered, making it difficult to identify individual skeletons. The team also discovered numerous artifacts, including bullets, rifle cartridge casings, ink pens, fabric fragments (likely decayed clothing), and other items useful for verification. Following expert workshops, work with the 148th Regiment of the 316th Division, 2nd Military Region, and the collation of historical data, the excavated site was confirmed as the mass grave of 47 cadres and soldiers from the 920th Battalion, 148th Regiment, Northwest Military Region, and the Phong Tho District Party Committee, who died on February 14, 1951, in Muong Cau village. Moving forward, the Lai Chau Provincial Steering Committee will strictly preserve the collected remains and artifacts. They will also complete documentation, research, and cross-reference historical materials, archives, and lists of martyrs with witness information to aid in the identification of the remains. Furthermore, the province plans to build and complete the collective grave, a monument of merit, and supporting facilities at the Binh Lu Commune Martyrs' Cemetery, and will organize memorial services and reburial ceremonies in accordance with established protocols. Additionally, the Steering Committee will continue to promote and mobilize organizations, individuals, and the public to provide information about the burial sites of martyrs, effectively implement the "500-Day and Night Campaign," contribute to the implementation of policies for those with revolutionary merits, and educate about patriotism and the moral principle of "remembering one's roots."