Vo Nguyen Giap - hero of national liberation

Comrades and friends of the Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) record their sorrow at the passing of General Vo Nguyen Giap, hero of the Vietnamese people's struggle against colonialism and imperialism A brilliant military tactician, General Giap led the guerrilla war against the French occupiers, culminating in the encirclement and defeat of the main French forces at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. This victory proved to be one of international significance, giving great encouragement to other anti-colonial struggles and wars of national liberation in many other countries. It showed that military power alone could not suppress or defeat the desire of people to control their own destiny. As Giap said, "We had to use the small against the big; backward weapons to defeat modern weapons, at the end, it was the human factor that determined the victory."    When French colonial occupation was replaced by US imperialism, the Vietnamese people once again responded to the leadership of Comrade Ho Chi Minh, and once again his close friend General Giap made the invaders pay a heavy price. Any thoughts of victory that US imperialism might have had were blown away during the Tet offensive in 1968, when Vietnamese units directed by General Giap occupied many cities and towns across the country, inflicting heavy casualties on the occupiers. Yet again, it was the human factor that shook the resolve of the invaders and gave further encouragement to the massive anti-war protest movement spreading rapidly across the world.   General Giap continued to serve the Vietnamese people all his life, and is cherished by the people as a national hero. His example will continue to inspire the oppressed people of the world in their struggles against imperialism and war. Australian communists salute Vo Nguyen Giap - hero of national liberation

09 Oct 2013