At the outset let me thank the organisers for inviting me to attend the 30th anniversary celebrations of the heroic victory in the battle for Saigon and the defeat of imperialist forces in Vietnam. I feel honoured to be here amongst veterans of many a struggle, assembled from various parts of the globe. The entire world is observing the anniversary of this victory on the slogan of peace and unity.

I recall the fervour and gaiety that accompanied the victorious five days between April 29 and May 3, 1975. They marked a watershed in the history of the people of Indo-China. It saw peoples victories in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and the driving out of imperialist occupiers from these lands.

While on April 29, 1975 Vietnamese freedom fighters laid siege to the city of Saigon, the very next day they liberated it from the hands of the US occupation forces, thus fulfilling the dream of Comrade Ho Chi Minh. On May 1, Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia was liberated. The Pathet Lao fighters liberated Vientiane, the capital of Laos. .

The poignant scene of Le Duc Tho’s entry into Saigon riding a bicycle and reaching straight for a napalm-devastated house are still etched in memory.

But these victories came with a price. Over three million Vietnamese freedom fighters laid down their lives; many more millions of survivors were left with the lifetime disabilities inflicted upon them both on account of the war and by the ruthless use of chemical weapons on an innocent and freedom loving people.

The US occupiers had to finally leave losing more than 58,000 military personnel. The Vietnam War saw one of the bloodiest of campaigns conducted by imperialism in the post-Second World War period. It also saw one of the most ardently fought battles in defence of the motherland. The Vietnam War witnessed one of the most intense and passionate anti-imperialist campaigns and solidarity actions throughout the entire world. In India too huge solidarity demonstrations took place. Kolkata coined the slogan of “Amra Nam, Tumra Nam – Vietnam, Vietnam” (My name, Your name – Vietnam, Vietnam).

This triumph in Indo-China gave added strength to the forces of peace, liberation and freedom the world over. Imperialism led by the US had received its biggest setback ever. The socialist camp headed by the USSR acted as a bulwark against imperialist designs. It gave a big impetus to the progressive forces and served as an inspiration for the anti-imperialist forces.

Today, as the world celebrates the 30th anniversary of this historic victory, we note a qualitative change in the situation. The disintegration of the Soviet Union, the collapse of the East European socialist regimes have seen a rejuvenated imperialist offensive. We have seen during the past decade, how exploiting the situation arising out of the dismantling of the Soviet Union, the United States has embarked on a quest of hegemony and total domination. The aggressive measures taken by the Bush administration after the September 11 attacks have resulted in blatant onslaughts on the sovereignty of independent countries. It has promoted authoritarian and rightwing attacks on progressive movements and the rights of citizens. Neither the United Nations Charter nor international laws have any sanctity for it. Its naked intervention in Yugoslavia, the war in Afghanistan and finally the occupation of Iraq are all testimony to the aggressive nature of US imperialism. It is holding out threats to any country that dares to challenge its dictates.

Simultaneously, however, as during the Vietnam War, the forces of anti-imperialism and peace are also asserting themselves. The war of aggression against and occupation of Iraq saw the widest mobilisation of peace loving forces in all countries including the USA.

It needs no reiteration that the ultimate victory will be that of the people, of the peace loving forces.

Before I conclude, I would like to pay my respects to the great hero of the Vietnam revolution, Ho Chi Minh. A great visionary, Ho Chi Minh taught and inspired the people of Vietnam to fight not only for their liberation from imperialist occupation but simultaneously for completing the agrarian revolution.

I am proud to be here among the privileged few to attend these celebrations and once again thank the organisers for having invited me to attend the celebrations. I wish the Vietnam revolution and the Vietnamese people all success.