The Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela organised a host of activities on October 7 and 9 to mark the 50th anniversary of Venezuela guerillas’ campaign to rescue young Vietnamese patriot Nguyen Van Troi during the war against the US.
On October 9, 1964, Caracas guerillas abducted US lieutenant colonel Michael Smolen to exchange for Nguyen Van Troi, who was sentenced to death by the US and the Saigon puppet government for laying mine on the Cong Ly Bridge to kill US Defence Secretary Robert McNamara.
However, three days after Caracas guerillas released the US hostage on October 12, the US and the Saigon government killed Troi in order to suppress the emerging anti-US movement in Vietnam and around the globe.
To celebrate 50 years since these events took place, activities like photo exhibitions, documentary film screening, musical performances and poetry recitals were jointly carried out by the embassy, the Venezuela-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group, and the Venezuela-Vietnam Friendship Association.
Yul Jabour, President of the Venezuelan National Assembly’s Permanent Commission on Foreign Affairs, and representatives from Venezuelan organisations extolled the Vietnamese people’s traditional patriotism in struggles for the national independence, referring to Nguyen Van Troi’s sacrifice as a shining example.
The Nguyen Van Troi campaign was an important event in the Venezuelan people’s armed fight against imperial intervention in the 60s and also a milestone in the country’s relationship with Vietnam, they said.
Vietnamese Ambassador Ngo Tien Dung thanked the Venezuelan people’s support for Vietnam and emphasised that international solidarity was a vital factor in the country’s nation-building and defence achievements.-VNA
On October 9, 1964, Caracas guerillas abducted US lieutenant colonel Michael Smolen to exchange for Nguyen Van Troi, who was sentenced to death by the US and the Saigon puppet government for laying mine on the Cong Ly Bridge to kill US Defence Secretary Robert McNamara.
However, three days after Caracas guerillas released the US hostage on October 12, the US and the Saigon government killed Troi in order to suppress the emerging anti-US movement in Vietnam and around the globe.
To celebrate 50 years since these events took place, activities like photo exhibitions, documentary film screening, musical performances and poetry recitals were jointly carried out by the embassy, the Venezuela-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group, and the Venezuela-Vietnam Friendship Association.
Yul Jabour, President of the Venezuelan National Assembly’s Permanent Commission on Foreign Affairs, and representatives from Venezuelan organisations extolled the Vietnamese people’s traditional patriotism in struggles for the national independence, referring to Nguyen Van Troi’s sacrifice as a shining example.
The Nguyen Van Troi campaign was an important event in the Venezuelan people’s armed fight against imperial intervention in the 60s and also a milestone in the country’s relationship with Vietnam, they said.
Vietnamese Ambassador Ngo Tien Dung thanked the Venezuelan people’s support for Vietnam and emphasised that international solidarity was a vital factor in the country’s nation-building and defence achievements.-VNA
