This assessment was made at a workshop held on the morning of 5/8 by the Hiep Duc Communal People's Committee, in coordination with the Da Nang City Military Command, to verify information regarding 17 sets of remains suspected to be a mass grave of martyrs.

Mr. Vo Dinh The, who directly exhumed the remains, stated that in 1986, while working on a project near the former Hiep Duc District Military Command, residents discovered a mass grave containing 17 sets of remains. The grave also contained parachute hammocks, rubber sandals, shoes, guns, and various military supplies.

Mr. The and other residents moved the remains and reburied them near the discovery site. Later, when the local authorities leveled the ground for construction, he again relocated the 17 sets of remains for interment at his family cemetery in Thu Bon commune, where he has regularly cared for the graves.

Mr. Vo Dinh The provides information about the exhumation of the suspected martyrs' remains. Photo: Quang Cuong

During the workshop, witnesses, former military officers, and local government representatives from various periods cross-referenced information regarding the discovery location, time, characteristics of the remains, and artifacts.

Mr. Tran Phuoc Sao, former Battalion Commander of Battalion 15, Division 2, stated that between 1969 and 1970, forces from Division 2, Military Region 5, participated in many battles in the Doi Thi area. Many officers and soldiers were fallen, but the unit could not retrieve their bodies.

From the information gathered, Mr. Sao believes the 17 sets of remains could belong to special forces soldiers of Division 2 who were fallen while fighting in this area.

Colonel Do Nguyen Hoai, Deputy Political Commissar of the Da Nang City Military Command, requested the Hiep Duc Communal Military Command to coordinate with specialized agencies, local authorities, and witnesses to continue reviewing and supplementing documents, to aid in the reburial and identification of the martyrs.

Ngoc Truong