Decoding the legend of Ta Dinh De – The final part: Ta Dinh De’s execution is the execution of many people

Especially Dr. Duong Thanh Bieu, former deputy director of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, welcomed me with much sympathy for this special historical figure.

“I myself have carefully studied the content of the security agency’s investigation in the second Ta Dinh De case in 1985. I see no basis to convict him. If only because of a few verses and rhymes passed down by word of mouth, If you use satire to condemn him, you must also condemn many people,” he said.

Detained for the second time

On September 15, 1985, Mr. Ta Dinh De was arrested for the second time. Public opinion was shaken again because this time he was detained for a more serious security crime than the previous time. Mr. Ta Manh Tien, his second son, was distraught and remembered that he was at work when he heard the news that his father was arrested. He rushed back and saw that he was already handcuffed. Mrs. Tho, his mother, had high blood pressure and had to go to the emergency room.

The family is in serious crisis. They had to sell their 12 square meter room at 8 Hang Ngang to temporarily stay at 222 Le Duan Lane. Without money to visit him, my mother and I had to borrow from everywhere. The disaster did not end when Mr. Tien was arrested again and then fired from his job just because he “accidentally asked for” some gasoline from the factory’s car to put in his motorbike and forgot to complete the paperwork.

Ta Dinh De was detained for more than a year. The investigation agency requested the Supreme People’s Procuracy to extend his special detention. Dr. Duong Thanh Bieu is working in Department 2C (security investigation investigation) assigned to research Ta Dinh De’s file. Many years later, mentioning this story in the book

Following the line of justice, he elaborated: “Holding the file in his arms, the image of Tse Dinh De suddenly appeared in my head. For me, Tse is an idol, like a brother. hero was deeply imprinted in the mind of my youth… A man who was praised by people in all parts of the country as a legendary figure, why is he now entangled in such a cycle of labor…”.

Dr. Bieu said that he objectively studied the investigation files carefully and found that Ta Dinh De showed signs of dissatisfaction with some of his superior officers, not “reactionary” or against the state. In the 1976 case, he was found not guilty by the court and acquitted, so his rights should have been restored afterward.

But for many years, Ta Dinh De was still not allowed to do that, making his family’s life very difficult. Dissatisfaction comes from this very reason.

In society, he heard and memorized many rhymes that people often passed on to each other during the difficult subsidy period such as Ton Dan is the king’s market/Church is the intermediary market to flatter the gods/Bac Qua is the traders’ market/Sidewalk is the heroic people’s market, or Now the leg of the pig is more precious than the truth, Food is more precious than human dignity, I am not satisfied with anything, Compensating the price for the salary is the bone to compensate for the skin…

However, at that time, not only Ta Dinh De knew these catchphrases, but also many people, including children. If you convict him of opposing the regime and spying with this evidence, how many more people will have to be convicted?

The Ta Dinh De case file was discussed in Department 2C meetings. Dr. Bieu remembers that in addition to those who supported his view that there was no basis to condemn Ta Dinh De, there were also very strong opposing opinions.

In the book Following the Line of Justice, he recorded that his colleagues “criticized” him harshly: “I find it strange. A corrupt person like Ta Dinh De has an opinion that prevents him from handling things as suggested by the agency.” investigating officer. Is this a simple legal phenomenon, a right-wing, evasive ideology?”.

Dr. Bieu recounted feeling cold down his spine and his heart beating fast because he was terribly insulted. He replied: “I’m not afraid of being accused of being right-wing, I’m just afraid of people being unjustly wronged.”

Finally, Dr. Bieu’s opinion that there was no basis to condemn Ta Dinh De was unanimously agreed upon by the leaders. On January 8, 1987, Director Tran Le signed an official dispatch replying to the Ministry of Public Security that there was no need to prosecute or try the case.

An official dispatch clearly states: “…To collect folk songs and proverbs… defame some Party and State officials and disseminate them to many others is due to the motive of dissatisfaction with the officials. leaders, including superiors and subordinates, in their relationship…

But the Penal Code defines the crime of “Propaganda against the socialist regime” in article 82 as consciously opposing the people’s government (for counter-revolutionary purposes, but if it is only because of backwardness and dissatisfaction, then not attributed to the motive of opposing the socialist regime)…

Now continuing to detain De to exploit the current espionage crime will not make any progress, if there is no evidence, just questioning is not good. Therefore, we see no need to bring this matter to prosecution or trial.”

After that, many meetings, debates, and even fierce debates between agencies and departments took place. It was not until December 7, 1987 that the case officially ended when the Supreme People’s Procuracy decided to release Ta Dinh De.

The burden of mourning is over

Warrior Ta Dinh De, whose hair turned white at the age of 70, was innocent and walked out of prison for the second time after more than 2 years of being detained without a sentence. The storms of life completely devastated his health but did not erase his straightforward, generous lifestyle.

When friends and people came to visit, he joked: “Now we have to call it Baccalaureate Topics.” Everyone laughed, understanding that the baccalaureate exam is a re-incarceration exam! Twice he was detained for four years in prison without any crime or sentence. How many people are as funny as you?

Near the end of his life, Ta Dinh De went to the South to live with his son Ta Dinh Hung and stay close to Mrs. Tho. It seemed like the premonition that his worldly mourning was about to end, he went to visit each of his friends in turn.

Visiting the house of former Deputy Director of the General Department of Railways Le Minh Duc, who was both his employee, his boss, and his friend, Ta Dinh De said: “Maybe this is the last time I visit you!”. Mr. Duc was sad, looking into his friend’s eyes he understood that it was a farewell to a life that had gone through all the drama and bitterness.

Three months before his death, Ta Dinh De returned to his hometown in the North. People around Hanoi train station often see an old man with a rakish mustache, quietly standing and watching the trains go back and forth with dreamy eyes reminiscing about distant events.

In the last days of his life, he visited every house of his surviving comrades. Shaking hands with General Hoang Minh Thao, Phung The Tai… – people who had been close friends since they were in Yunnan (China) in the 1930s – 1940s, he said goodbye again…

On February 29, 1998, Ta Dinh De breathed his last. Guests visiting him at the Ministry of National Defense Funeral Home included battlefield generals, Tay Tien veterans, Hanoi commandos, train drivers, former football players and especially many unfamiliar people. The person who had only heard of Ta Dinh De, but had never met him, wanted to come and light a stick of incense for him. People are indebted to him for saving their lives during the resistance war. And thanks to him, some people escaped injustice during the land reform.

A time of great glory and bitterness, it ends here! The heroic voice of General Van Phac (Tay Tien regiment) took him to a place where his comrades were resting: “Brother Ta Dinh De! Please go home and rest in peace with the legendary stories.” talking about you…”.

Nearly 10 years after his death, President Nguyen Minh Triet signed and posthumously awarded him the third-class Independence Medal. Many people came to give flowers to Ta Dinh De, placing flower bouquets in front of a hero’s portrait!