Điện Biên Phủ Victory awakens colonial countries' revolutions: Algerian scholar

This photo on May 7, 1954 shows a Vietnamese soldier waving a flag atop a French base as others assault the area at the Điện Biên Phủ battlefield. — VNA/VNS File Photo

ALGIERS — Việt Nam's Điện Biên Phủ Victory (May 7, 1954) over the French colonialists had a decisive influence on other nations, of which Algeria was an example, Mourad Lamoudi, member of the Central Committee of the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN) party has told Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondents in Algeria.

Lamoudi, who is in charge of the FLN’s external relations affairs, said that the Điện Biên Phủ Victory is a symbol of Việt Nam which carries international historical stature. What the Vietnamese people did and the victories they achieved were truly extraordinary.

He affirmed that the Điện Biên Phủ Victory contributed to awakening other peoples who were submerged by colonialism by proving that the power of colonialism could be completely defeated, that if a nation is determined to achieve the goal of self-liberation, it can achieve that goal. The colonised peoples at that time admired the Điện Biên Phủ Victory and loved the Vietnamese people very much, he stated.

Lamoudi underlined that the Điện Biên Phủ Victory inspired colonial countries by opening up hope to other peoples, especially countries colonised by France such as Algeria and those in Southern Africa, West Africa and Central Africa. Immediately after the victory, the Algerian revolution started on November 1, 1954 with inspiration and experience learnt from Việt Nam's revolution, he noted. The Vietnamese and Algerian revolutions sparked national liberation movements in Africa and other countries around the world.

According to the FLN official, the revolutions of Việt Nam and Algeria share the same goal to fight against colonialism to liberate the nation.

At that time, when people mentioned Indochina, they immediately thought of the three words "Điện Biên Phủ" as an action slogan. People used the slogan "Điện Biên Phủ" to remind themselves that they could win, said Lamoudi. “I think Điện Biên Phủ is a turning point in colonial history on the world map. That history was divided into two periods of before Điện Biên Phủ and after Điện Biên Phủ,” stated Lamoudi.

The Điện Biên Phủ Victory shattered the dogma of the invincibility of colonial powers, proving that oppressed countries can still make miracles against the power of colonial empires, he said, stressing that Algeria received that message.

In Africa, especially French-speaking countries, they talk about the Điện Biên Phủ Victory with pride. This international victory helped unite colonial peoples, becoming the common victory of those oppressed, said Lamoudi. — VNS

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