PANO – On April 25th, the Lam Dong People’s Committee held a ceremony to inaugurate the restored Dalat children’s prison. Former Vice State President Truong My Hoa, former prisoners and representatives of local authorities attended the event.

Delegates cutting the ribbon to inaugurate the construction. (Photo: sggp.org.vn)

This VND 25 billion project started in 2013 and included: restoration of the prison and vocational house; interior restoration work, especially reconstructing activities and typical struggles of the prisoners; and exhibitions of prison documents, images and objects.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee said the monument is also proof of the heroic revolutionary tradition of Vietnamese young people during wartime. The project aims to meet the needs of visitors, by educating visitors about the patriotic history of Vietnamese youth.

The prison, also known as Da Lat Education Centre for adolescents and children, was built by the US aggressors and their lackeys in 1971-1973. It was built to detain and torture young revolutionaries in the South of Vietnam. Despite barbaric torture, Vietnamese prisoners remained strong and turned this place into a revolutionary school.
They also protested fiercely against the enemy’s inhumane torture methods and against being forced to salute the flag of the puppet government. Vietnamese prisoners even organized escapes for many groups of prisoners.

In 2009, the prison was recognized as a national historic monument. A group of former political prisoners, and four former prisoners of the Dalat children's prison, were awarded the title "Hero of the People's Armed Forces".

Translated by Hong Anh