Ceremony Honours Raymonde Dien, A Vietnam’s Great Friend in France

A ceremony to commemorate and honour French communist Raymonde Dien (1929-2022) was held on February 25 in France’s Saint-Pierre-des-Corps city where she bravely laid down on the rails to block a train carrying tanks and other weapons to Indochina on February 23, 1950, VNA reported Monday.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang speaks at the ceremony. Photo: VNA

Attending the ceremony were Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang, representatives of the Party Organisation of Saint-Pierre-des-Corps city and surrounding areas, and many French friends who have loved and supported Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, Marie-France Beaufils, former Mayor of Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, recalled the self-sacrifice of Raymond Dien and showed her respect for the French communist’s action for international peace and pro-Vietnam movement.

Beaufils said that for the communists and peace-loving French people, Raymonde Dien became a symbol of the fight against colonialism.

Vietnamese Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang emphasised that the State and people of Vietnam always remember the brave act of French communist Raymonde Dien, a shining example of the noble spirit of international solidarity.

Raymonde Dien bravely laid down on the rails at France’s Saint-Pierre-des-Corps city to block a train carrying tanks and other weapons to Indochina on February 23, 1950, Photo: NDO

Raymonde Dien’s action on that historic day at the Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station strongly encouraged the anti-war movement not only in France but all over the world, Thang said, affirming that she will forever be a friend, beloved and brave comrade of the Communist Party, State and people of Vietnam.

Thang said that although half a century has passed, the memories of mass campaigns for peace in France is still alive and a valuable encouragement that contributes to promoting friendship and cooperation between the two countries in all fields, especially when they are celebrating the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-France strategic partnership.

A seminar on the movement for peace during the war in Indochina is organised in Saint-Pierre-des-Corps city on February 25. Photo: VNA

Within the framework of activities to commemorate the female communist Raymonde Dien in Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, a seminar on the movement for peace during the war in Indochina was also organised.

Born on May 13, 1929 in the western part of France, Raymonde Dien is known by the Vietnamese and other peoples in the world for lying on the rail to block a train carrying tanks and other weapons to Indochina on February 23, 1950. Later, she joined other French communists in their support to the Vietnamese people in their fight against the French colonialists and US imperialists, for the struggle for peace for Vietnam.

On September 2, 2004, she was decorated with a Friendship Order by the Vietnamese State.

Even in her last days, she still joined various events on Vietnam, especially those in support of Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange.

Last year, Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang had visited the family of Raymonde Dien to convey condolences by the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and former Ambassador Nguyen Dinh Bin to the deceased family.

In the message of condolences, the Commission for External Relations affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State and people always keep in mind sentiments and valuable support of the French communist for Vietnam’s past struggle for national liberation, as well as its cause of national construction and defence.

On behalf of the Party Central Committee and Party leaders, the commission extended its deepest sympathy to the French Communist Party and the deceased family.

Raymonde Dien joined other French communists in their support to the Vietnamese people in their fight against the French colonialists and US imperialists, for the struggle for peace for Vietnam. Photo: VNA

Raymonde Dien (left) is known by the Vietnamese and other peoples in the world for lying on the rail to block a train carrying tanks and other weapons to Indochina on February 23, 1950. Photo: VNA

President Ho Chi Minh (L) meets with Raymonde Dien (second, left) in Hanoi in 1956. VNA file photo

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang in September 2022 visited the family of French communist Raymonde Dien – a symbol of the fight against the war by French colonialists in Vietnam, who passed away on August 19 at the age of 93. Photo: VNA

Hannah Nguyen

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