As many as 2,223 sets of martyrs’ remains were found and reburied  in 2016, together with three collective martyrs’ graves, fulfilling 74 percent of the set target for the year, reported the National Steering Committee for Search and Collection of Martyrs’ Remains (Steering Committee 1232) during a conference in Hanoi on January 10.

Of the total, 767 sets of remains were tested, with 256 martyrs identified, according to the committee.

Addressing the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam praised the efforts of the Defence Ministry, relevant agencies and the Steering Committee 1237, especially officials and soldiers who directly engaged in the search and collection of the martyrs’ remains.

He asked the Defence Ministry to act as a coordinator who closely works with relevant agencies and localities to direct and supervise the implementation of tasks for 2017 with the highest political determination.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs was requested to complete a database on martyrs’ graves in cemeteries and transfer it to the Steering Committee 1237 for making martyrs’ profiles.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was assigned to coordinate with the Defence Ministry in designing plans to repatriate martyrs’ remains abroad.

Deputy PM Dam also urged agencies and localities to strengthen their coordination in the search and gathering of martyrs’ remains, while popularising the importance of the work to receive more public engagement.

A pilot model of searching map from communal to provincial levels will also be launched in several major localities, while the Military Forensic Institute’s DNA test centre will be upgraded.

The Deputy PM also stressed the need to increase investment to search teams, thus speeding up the progress of collecting martyrs’ remains at home and abroad.

VNA