Son La Prison where the seeds of revolution were sown

Son La Prison was built by the French in 1908 along with the Guard House and the Embassy to detain common criminals. Because the prison was located in the middle of dark, rugged mountains and forests, it was very difficult for revolutionary soldiers to operate. At the end of 1930, they began to deport communist soldiers here and changed the name of Son La Prison to Son La Prison.

Son La Prison was built by the French colonialists on Khau Ca hill. Photo: Ha Hoa

Dubbed as the second-worst hell on earth after Con Dao Prison, from 1930 to 1945, Son La Prison imprisoned 14 groups of political prisoners with 1,013 prisoners who were patriots. Among them were many comrades who were members of the Central Committee, Regional Party Committee, City Party Committee and typical key cadres of the Party, such as: Le Duan, Truong Chinh, Nguyen Luong Bang, Van Tien Dung, Tran Quoc Hoan, Le Thanh Nghi, Mai Chi Tho... In that prison, the communist soldiers still steadfastly maintained their will, "turning the imperial prison into a revolutionary school", preparing forces to gain independence and freedom.

Stemming from the urgent need to have a Communist Party cell as the core to lead and organize the struggle, at the end of December 1939, party members in prison secretly met and established a provisional Party cell of 10 comrades, with comrade Nguyen Luong Bang as Secretary.

The birth of the Son La Prison Party Cell marked a new stage of development for the Son La revolutionary movement. In early 1943, the Son La Prison Party Cell secretly organized the first revolutionary base in Son La, which were two National Salvation Youth Groups (Mu nom chat muong) in Muong La and in the Provincial Capital. The active and effective activities of the Party Cell inside and outside the prison truly turned the imperial prison into a revolutionary school, spreading the light of the Party to the ethnic people of Son La.

Implementing the policy of the Party Central Committee, bringing escaped cadres back to participate in leading the revolutionary movement that was rising strongly across the country, the Son La Prison Party Cell built a plan for a safe prison break, ensuring success. After the prison break, the rulers carried out fierce terror against revolutionary bases in the Provincial Capital and Muong La, causing many difficulties for the revolutionary movement. On that basis, the Muong Chanh area could develop into a revolutionary base "Advancing can fight, retreating can hold", the Son La Prison Party Cell unanimously directed the construction of Muong Chanh into a long-term operating area. At the end of 1943, the Muong Chanh National Salvation Youth Association was established, consisting of 12 members operating under the Charter of the Vietnam National Salvation Youth Union.

After many years of working autonomously, at the end of 1943, the Party Cell had an official contact from the Central Committee, bringing with it the Party's major policies for the Northwest region, opening a new direction for the Son La revolutionary movement. At the end of 1944, the Muong La National Salvation Youth Group developed its base in the left bank of the Da River: Muong Bang, Muong Bu, Muong Chum. In Muong Chanh, the National Salvation Youth Association had a profound influence on the masses and had recruited 40 members.

After a very short time, the revolutionary movement in Son La developed rapidly, the whole province had over 60 revolutionary bases in the districts, and in Muong Chanh alone, all 8 villages had revolutionary bases. To gather a large number of people to participate in the revolutionary movement, the leadership of the base decided to establish the "Thai people for national salvation" Association (Con Tay chat muong). This was the form of gathering people to participate in the Viet Minh Front, the core of which was the Youth for National Salvation Groups.

In early July 1945, the revolutionary movement developed strongly and widely throughout the country. By August 1945, under the leadership of the Provincial Uprising Committee, headed by comrade Chu Van Thinh, the districts of Mai Son, Muong La, Thuan Chau, Yen Chau and the Provincial Capital rose up to seize power quickly and successfully, establishing the people's democratic government in Son La province.

The success of the August Revolution in 1945 in Son La was due to the direct preparation of all aspects by the Son La Prison Party Cell, especially regarding revolutionary forces. The birth of the Son La Prison Party Cell was the inevitable result of a persistent and uncompromising struggle against the enemy, maintaining the integrity of communists; it was an affirmation of the Party's leadership role in the national democratic revolution.

Historical evidence of Son La Prison - one of the first revolutionary schools in the Northwest region; is a shining symbol of the revolutionary spirit, the indomitable fighting spirit of communist soldiers and Vietnamese patriots. With its great historical values, on December 31, 2014, Son La Prison was recognized by the Prime Minister as a special national monument. Currently, the historical relic of Son La Prison has become a red address to educate revolutionary traditions for the young generation today and tomorrow.

Since the Party's leadership, the Party Committee and people of all ethnic groups in Son La have overcome countless difficulties, challenges and sacrifices, contributing to the country and the nation to establish glorious victories, winning and firmly protecting national independence. Especially the great achievements gained in 40 years of renovation are the driving force for the Party Committee and people of all ethnic groups in the province to steadily move forward, making Son La a comprehensively developed province.

In the heroic atmosphere of the 130th anniversary of the establishment of Son La province and the emulation to achieve achievements to welcome the success of the 16th Provincial Party Congress, term 2025-2030, towards the 14th National Party Congress, the Party Committee, government, army and people of all ethnic groups understand more clearly the historical value to continue promoting the heroic revolutionary tradition, building Son La to develop green, fast and sustainably, together with the whole country entering the era of national growth, building our homeland and country to be more and more prosperous and happy.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/xa-hoi/nha-tu-son-la-noi-geo-mam-cach-mang-lczkO06HR.html