Vietnam: Son My village revived 47 years post-massacre

Quang Ngai, March 16 (VNA) – The Son My village in Tinh Khe commune of central Quang Ngai province, Vietnam is showing signs of recovery 47 years after a massacre conducted by US troops. In 2014, the total communal production value reached over 633 billion VND (30.1 million USD), climbing 12 percent from the previous year. The commune yields more than 4,100 tonnes of food annually and has reduced the rate of impoverished households to 3.91 percent. It has fulfilled 13 of the 19 critieria in the national programme on rural modernisation. On March 16, 1968, American troops killed 504 unarmed civilians in Tinh Khe communue, mostly elderly villagers, women and children. Hundreds of houses and thousands of cows and chickens were burned. That day is marked as a day of rememberance in Son My, Vietnam and around the world. This year the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism held an incence offering ceremony in Son My relic site in commemoration of the victims. A common attendee, Roy Mike Boehm, a US war veteran, was present at the event. The sound of his violin symbolised a prayer for the salvation of the innocent souls and a message of peace from Son My to friends worldwide.