Take power to the people

Remembering the autumn of the 1945 Revolution, the ethnic people of Son La and the whole country were filled with national pride. The success of the August Revolution was the first great victory of our people since the Party's leadership, opening a turning point in the history of the Vietnamese nation. The government was in the hands of the people, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was born - the first worker-peasant state in Southeast Asia; ending the feudal monarchy in Vietnam; ending more than 80 years of our people under the yoke of colonialism and fascism. The Vietnamese people, from slavery, became citizens of an independent country, masters of their own destiny. Vietnam, from a semi-feudal colony, became an independent, free and democratic country.

Northwest Square, Son La city in the Fall of Independence.
Photo: Huy Ngoan

In Son La, with the revolutionary spirit rising, based on the content of the Central Party's Directive "Japan - France fighting each other and our actions", comrade Le Trung Toan and comrade Chu Van Thinh built a plan to prepare for an armed uprising to capture the district capital, establish a Mai Son guerrilla base, and then continue to develop to other localities. Meanwhile, on July 22, 1945, due to the influence of the Van - Hien Luong war zone (in Phu Tho, Yen Bai), in coordination with the Liberation Army of the war zone, the Phu Yen district's National Salvation Youth force successfully seized power. Phu Yen was the first locality to seize power, which encouraged the revolutionary spirit of the people of Son La, urging the Muong Chanh uprising to act quickly.

In just a short time from August 19, 1945, the successful uprising in Muong Chanh encouraged the people of Mai Son and the ethnic minorities in the province to rise up and seize power and continuously won victories in Muong La, Thuan Chau, Mai Son, and Yen Chau districts.

In the provincial capital, on August 26, 1945, a large rally was held on Khau Ca hill, thousands of people came to support the Viet Minh and the revolutionary government. The provisional revolutionary committee presented itself to the people and declared: The uprising in Son La was a complete victory. From now on, the people of all ethnic groups are masters of their villages and the country.

Researching the history of the seizure of power in Son La, Mr. Ha Ngoc Hoa, Provincial Historical Science Association, affirmed: The victory of the August Revolution in Son La was the result of the preparation process of the prison Party Cell since 1939. The leadership was demonstrated in the creative application of the Party's correct political line to the specific conditions in the locality, in the unity of ideology and organization, in the close connection with the masses and especially in the fierce fighting spirit of the masses. Due to the Party's prior education, although the number of Party members was very small, the local cadres and the masses had a very high revolutionary spirit, rising up to overthrow the oppression and exploitation of the imperialists and their lackeys.

The revolution broke the harsh colonial rule for 57 years since the French colonialists invaded Son La; overthrew the mandarin regime, the feudal regime that had dominated the people of Son La for thousands of years. The people of Son La escaped from oppression and slavery, became masters of the country, homeland, and villages, united to build a prosperous life and protect the independence and freedom of the nation under the leadership of the Party.

Multiplying people's trust in the Party and government

With the victory of the August Revolution, the Communist Party of Vietnam became a ruling party, continued to lead the people to many great victories, carried out two long-term resistance wars, defeated the French colonialists and the US imperialists, the most powerful in the world at that time, with brilliant victories: the Dien Bien Phu victory in 1954 "resounded throughout the five continents, shook the earth"; "Dien Bien Phu in the air" in 1972 and the Great Spring Victory in 1975, reunified the country and achieved many important and comprehensive achievements in the renovation process, "our country has never had such a foundation, potential, position and international prestige as today". Our Party always focuses on building and rectifying the Party, consolidating a clean and strong political system; leading the construction of "a State of the people, by the people and for the people", keeping the people's trust in the Party and the State.

Officers and soldiers of Infantry Battalion 1, Regiment 754 study politics and ideology.
Photo: PV

Through the revolutionary periods, the Son La Provincial Party Committee has constantly improved its leadership capacity and fighting strength; strengthened leadership in building a clean and strong Party and political system, and tightened the close relationship between the Party and the people. Cadres, Party members and people of all ethnic groups in Son La province have promoted revolutionary traditions, solidarity, self-reliance, self-improvement, efforts and striving to rise up.

Currently, the Provincial Party Committee has 17 Party Committees directly under the Provincial Party Committee; 829 grassroots Party organizations (328 Party Committees, 501 Party cells), 3,890 Party cells directly under the grassroots Party Committees with 92,460 Party members, 100% of villages, sub-regions, and residential groups have Party cells. Party committees and authorities from the provincial to grassroots levels focus on institutionalizing viewpoints on the Party's leadership methods, better promoting the role of state agencies, the Fatherland Front, and socio-political organizations. Innovating, being active, proactive, and creative in organizing and implementing tasks of socio-economic development, national defense, security, and foreign affairs. Thanks to that, Son La has achieved many important and quite comprehensive achievements in the following areas: The province's economy has maintained a fairly high growth rate; The economic scale is growing rapidly, the total product in the area (GRDP) at current prices in 2023 will reach 67,735 billion VND, an average of 51.7 million VND/person/year. Culture, society, health, and education are increasingly developed; national defense and security are ensured, foreign affairs activities are strengthened.

The Party, government, Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations promote the people's mastery and care for their lives. The motto "People know, people discuss, people do, people inspect, people supervise, people benefit" has been implemented synchronously and in accordance with the people's wishes. The great solidarity bloc of ethnic groups is regularly consolidated and maintained. Social security policies are implemented with attention. People's lives have gradually improved, the poverty rate by the end of 2023 will be 14.17%.

Launching the friendly government model of Van Ho commune, Van Ho district.

During the August Revolution, the revolutionary movement developed strongly in Muong Chanh and Muong La. Upholding tradition, the Party Committee and people of all ethnic groups in Muong La district always united, overcame all difficulties, enthusiastically fought, worked and produced, achieved many achievements, contributed to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, together with the people of the whole province and the whole country, wrote the heroic history pages of the homeland and country.

Comrade Vu Duc Thuan, Secretary of Muong La District Party Committee, informed: Currently, the Party Committee has 57 grassroots party organizations, with 6,491 party members, 100% of villages and sub-regions have party cells. The district Party Committee strengthens the building of a clean and strong Party Committee, improves leadership capacity and fighting strength; builds an effective and efficient political system; promotes democracy and the strength of ethnic solidarity; arouses the aspirations and will to rise of cadres, party members and people, determined to successfully implement the goals of economic and social development, ensuring national defense and security. The material and spiritual life of the people has been significantly improved. The poverty rate has decreased to 14.11%. In less than 2 years of implementing the Resolution of the District Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term, Muong La district has been removed from the list of poor districts according to Decision No. 353/QD-TTg dated March 15, 2022 of the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, at the revolutionary base of Muong Chanh, Mai Son district, continuing the revolutionary tradition, the Party Committee, the government and the people are united, unanimous, and join hands to build the homeland to be more and more prosperous. Comrade Nguyen Trong Nam, Secretary of the Commune Party Committee, informed: Muong Chanh is the second commune in Mai Son district to meet the new rural standards at the end of 2017. People's lives are increasingly improved, currently, the average income per capita reaches 45 million VND/year, the poverty rate has decreased to 2.65%. The commune is focusing on striving to be recognized as meeting the advanced new rural standards by 2025.

Celebrating the 79th anniversary of the success of the August Revolution, the Party Committee, government and people of all ethnic groups in Son La promote the revolutionary tradition, wholeheartedly follow the path chosen by the Party, Uncle Ho and our people; raise determination and strive to successfully implement the Resolution of the 15th Son La Provincial Party Congress, term 2020-2025 "Improving the leadership capacity and fighting strength of the Party Committee, promoting democracy and the strength of solidarity among ethnic groups; promoting innovation; ensuring national defense and security; building Son La province to develop greenly, quickly and sustainably".

Pham Duc