The cover of the book. (Photos courtesy of Omega Plus) A brainchild of the Su That (Truth) National Political Publishing House andOmega Plus Company, Nan Doi nam 1945 o VietNam: Nhung Chung Tich Lich Su (1945 Famine in Vietnam: HistoricalEvidence), was compiled by Vietnamese Professor Van Tao (former Rector of VietnamHistory Institute) and Japanese Professor Futura Motoo (Chairman of Japan’sSoutheast Asia Studies Association).
The work comes about from three large-scale surveys, in 1992, 1993-1994,1994-1995, in 23 areas of 21 provinces and cities from Quang Tri to the north.
The authors have done the research and direct examinations in areas and metwith witnesses to get a comprehensive understanding of the famine.
The book aims to provide the most sufficient and systematic information on theloss and pain that Vietnamese people have endured in history.
According to statistics from the book, in Tay Luong commune (Tien Hai, Thai Binhprovince today), the famine killed two-thirds of the population, includingwhole families.
Associate Professor Dinh Quang Hai, Rector of Vietnam History Institute, saidthe research on the 1945 famine furthered the backlash against fascism and thecruelty of the wars, promoting a message of peace and positive relationsbetween countries and peoples.
“This is important in the context that Vietnam is implementing independent andself-control external policies for peace, coordination and development,” Haisaid. “Vietnam is willing to be a friend, a trustworthy partner and aresponsible member of the international community, making contributions to thecause of peace, independent people, democracy and progressive society in theworld.”
“The work remembers the two million people that lost their lives (thepopulation of Vietnam was 20 million people then); the causes of the famine andits serious consequences,” he said.
“The book proves that the famine in 1945 in Vietnam was a result of Japan'sfascist policy to cruelly rob and exploit Vietnamese people,” he said./.
VNA
