HCM City (VNA) – Nguyen Van Nen, Politburo member and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, hosted a meeting on November 17 to express gratitude to Olivier Parriaux and Bernard Bachelard, two of the three Swiss citizens who raised the flag of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam atop the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on January 18-19, 1969, as a protest against the war and a gesture of solidarity with the Vietnamese people's quest for peace.
Nen said that the brave actions of Parriaux, Bachelard, and their compatriot Noé Graff carried profound significance, driven not by personal or national interests but a commitment to peace, justice, and the struggle of the Vietnamese people for independence, reunification, and territorial integrity.
On behalf of the Vietnamese people who now enjoy peace and independence, the leader extended heartfelt gratitude to international friends who supported Vietnam’s fight for freedom.
In response, Parriaux and Bachelard talked about the enduring impact of the war in Vietnam, highlighting issues such as unexploded ordnances and the long-term effects of Agent Orange/dioxin on multiple generations of locals.
They said both of them, along with their fellow activist Graff, continue to raise funds for legal efforts seeking justice for dioxin victims and humanitarian initiatives targeting the group. Bachelard expressed a strong desire for collaboration with like-minded Vietnamese individuals and organisations to advance this cause.
To honour their contributions, the leader presented the HCM City Badge to Parriaux and Bachelard, recognising their silent yet noble contributions to the nation’s struggle for independence.
On behalf of his two comrades, Parriaux presented Nen with the book "Le Viet Cong au sommet de Notre-Dame", co-authored by the three men and published by FAVRE in Lausanne, Switzerland, last year./.
