Le Hong Khiem
| Personal details | |
|---|---|
| Official photograph, 7558 | |
| Native name | Lê Hồng Khiêm |
| Honorific prefix | President |
| Birth Date | 19 Suna 7521 |
| Birth place | Nam Ô, Hai Mau |
| Death date | 19 Herfa 7602 (aged 81) |
| Death place | Sa Ðoc, |
| Cause of death | TBD |
| Resting place | Lê Hồng Khiêm Memorial, Revolution Square, Huế Lộc |
| Citizenship | Dao Thom |
| Nationality | Daothomese |
| Party | Đảo Mới |
| Height | 167.64 centimetres |
| Spouse | Đoàn Thị Giàu (m. 7543, d. 7594) |
| Children | 2 |
| Mother | Hoàng Thị Loan (b. 7503, d. 7582) |
| Father | Lê Quốc Minh (b. 7501, d. 7584) |
| Residence | Sa Ðoc (personal) |
| Occupation | Political theorist |
| Profession | Politician |
| Known for | Socialism, Co-Founder of the DRDT |
| President of Dao Thom | |
| Term Start | 7577 |
| Term End | 7586 |
| Predecessor | position established |
| Successor | Nguyễn Cơ Thạch |
Lê Hồng Khiêm was a Daothomese politician, political theorist, and revolutionary who is considered the most prominent of the Co-Founders of the Democratic Republic of Dao Thom and served as its first President from 7577 to 7586. He is also colloquially known by the people as "Uncle Lê" (Bác Lê).
Early life
Lê was born on 19 Suna 7521 to Lê Quốc Minh and Hoàng Thị Loan, in the town of Nam Ô in Hải Mẫu province. He was the oldest of three children with two younger sisters, Lê Thị Thanh (born 7523, died 7594) and Lê Tất Đạt (born 7526, died 7601). His father was a clerk in the provincial administration under the Anisoran colonial authorities, and his mother worked as a seamstress in a shop she ran with her older sister and two other ladies who were close friends of the family.
While he considered himself an "average student", Lê performed well in his studies, being recognised as an especially talented writer. He likewise developed a deep fondness for reading and books. He received his general education certificate in 7539 RH. He earned a job with the office of the Anisoran trade factor in Lang Ðoc, the provincial seat and a minor port on the northeastern coast of Lotus Island. He later recounted in his autobiography that the work was, "simple but satisfying," describing his job as being responsible for helping draw up the papers for a variety of trade arrangements which brought investment and business into the area.
Career and politics
Revolutionary work
Lê worked in the trade factor's office for the next fourteen years, until in early 7553 RH when he resigned in protest over the arrest of his long-time friend, Phạm Văn Đồng, who had been taken by the colonial authorities after being accused of subversive activities. Having heard of the growing Popular Revolution for several years, Lê sought out associates he knew who were involved in its agitation and spent time with them, finding an interest in the philosophies they shared and agreeing that peaceful resistance to the continued Anisoran presence in the country, even against the backdrop of the ongoing Pan-Anarian War. He helped plan several peaceful protest marches across the country until being thrust into the limelight during the Suối Tiên Protest in Bến Giang in mid-7554 RH, when the protest leader, Trần Văn Đỗ, was unable to make his planned appearance due to the onset of appendicitis. Having heard Lê speak at several smaller protests over the previous year, several of the others recommended he give a brief speech in Trần's stead. Standing on a makeshift scaffold he gave a short, fifteen-minute speech to the nearly 8,000 assembled in Suối Tiên Square which cemented his place as one of the leading figures in the spreading revolution.
This cemented Lê's status as a voice of reason in the revolution, and he began to work directly with Trần Văn Đỗ, who was able to rejoin the work after a successful surgery to remove his inflamed appendix and a period of rest and recovery. The two began to appear at protests and gatherings, several times defying colonial authorities doing so. Lê penned a formal petition which was signed by hundreds of his fellow countrymen and delivered to the colonial governor in 7556 RH. Lê was arrested twice in that same year but released both times for insufficient evidence to warrant prosecution. When the Quy Thiết rising happened and dozens were injured and two people died in an ensuing rush, he spoke openly and critically of the violence of both sides, insisting that peaceful transition was the only legitimate option. A combination of post-PAW domestic concerns and the fallout of several smaller but similar incidents ultimately forced the Anisoran government to announce its withdrawal from the islands. Lê and Trần were among the Daothomese present on the docks in Đà Lâm where the governor handed over the instrument announcing the withdrawal before boarding the final ship to Anisora on 1 Solma.
Immediately following the withdrawal of the colonial presence, Lê was adamant in his calls that the nation should chart a new course forward for itself, free of past influences and political systems and anything connected to the colonial period. This included, according to his pamphlet on the subject, the abdication of the king and the abolition of the monarchy. This was ultimately decided by a popular referendum, and the last king, Nguyễn Công Thành, abdicated and withdrew to a small, private estate on Plum Blossom Island.
Post-revolutionary work
The Provisional People's Government of Dao Thom (Chính phủ nhân dân lâm thời Đào Thơm) was established in Hue Loc in 7560 RG, with the nation choosing to simply call itself the State of Dao Thom (Bang Đào Thơm). Lê declined all invitations to be involved in its work, claiming that he had done all he could and that it was up to the people to forge their path forward. Returning to his hometown of Nam Ô, he occupied his time with his writing and began to pen regular pamphlets on the prospect of a socialist future for the nation. Having read both In the Cause of the People and Labour and Dignity by Aleksandr Belikov, he recognised the potential for a stable, prosperous future in the new political system. Between 7560 and 7574, he penned more than thirty pamphlets which discussed his theories and ideas, using Belikov's writings as a reference and inspiration, and over time drew an increasing number of supporters into the camp calling for socialist reform.
In 7575, Lê traveled to Arvor and met with several of its founders, who were active participants in the recently established socialist government. Discussions with those founders and observing the political process of the new republic, Lê returned to Đào Thơm a month later with new inspirations and ideas. Penning a new pamphlet entitled Beginning the Path of One Hundred Steps (Bắt đầu con đường trăm bước), he met with members of the government and formally proposed his plan for shifting the nation to a socialist government and economy, which he called the Hundred Steps Programme (Chương trình Trăm Bước). In these meetings, Lê and the council enacted the Hundred Steps. A constitution was drawn up in the People's Consultative Congress of 7576 RH, and after several drafts and clarifications, the constitution was formally signed by people's representatives from every province and became the supreme law of the new Democratic Republic of Dao Thom on 1 Vetrun 7577. Huế Lộc was officially named the new capital of the nation.
President
While he insisted that he wished to hold no formal role in the nation, Lê was elected its first president as the result of a largely grassroots effort to ensure his name was on the ballot. Even though he succeeded in convincing the other two who had declared their candidacy to remain on the ballot and stand for election, he won with just over 75% of the vote. Phạm Mạnh Hùng was likewise elected the nation's first premier. Lê and Phạm established Đảo Mới ("New Islands"), which serves as the system through which candidates stand for elections and the government and its membership spread the socialist message and promote its agenda.
Throughout his first term, 7577 to 7581, Lê traveled the country extensively, visiting a variety of major projects underway as well as factories, workshops, and other businesses. He likewise made trips to schools, medical centres, and community events, where he discussed the government's efforts to modernise and grow the nation's socialist system as well as its economy. The Hundred Steps Programme would become the foundation upon which the nation set its policies for growth and modernisation. He also received ambassadors from Arvor, Auresia, and other states who chose to grant the new democratic republic diplomatic recognition. Through this recognition, Lê worked to bring trade opportunities and further co-operation with friendly nations. He supported Premier Phạm in the development of a foreign policy of engagement and peaceful exchange, which helped to bolster the economic outlook and brought new jobs and opportunities which the nation was able to capitalise on. He made six foreign trips during his first term and used the opportunities in each to introduce the socialist state to the modern world.
During his second term, as the nation stabilised further, Lê stepped back from the more active role he had maintained during his first term in office. He lent his support to the initiatives to expand and improve education and healthcare, further modernise and develop national infrastructure, and to establish a capable and up to date defence capability. A state visit to Arvor in 7584 RH saw the finalisation of the first formal defence treaty between the two nations and the exchange of arms and equipment, as well as training officers to develop the nation's capacities.
In his farewell address to the nation at the end of his second term in 7586 RH, Lê told the people, "We have laid the foundations for a promising and prosperous future through the tenets of socialism. It is up to the generations that will follow us to keep our momentum going and ensure the brighter tomorrow we all want for our people and our land."
After turning over the presidential task to his successor, Nguyễn Cơ Thạch, Lê retired to a small house he had purchased in Sa Ðoc, on the shores of Vinh Hoi Channel between Lotus Island and Orchid Island. He would live out the rest of his life there, spending his days reading, writing, and tending a small garden with his wife.
Later life
Lê lived the remainder of his life at Sa Ðoc. After the death of his wife, Đoàn Thị Giàu, in 7594 RH, his public appearances became less frequent. After suffering a stroke in 7600, he lost the ability to write and lived his last year and a half in the care of his eldest granddaughter, Kiều Mộng Thu. He passed in his sleep on 19 Herfa 7602 RH. The nation gave him a state funeral and three days of remembrance before his ashes and those of his wife were placed inside the plinth upon which a memorial statue of him was erected in 7605 RH which stands in the centre of Revolution Square outside the Government District. Small statues of him have since been erected in several other locations throughout the country, including in his hometown of Nam Ô and in Sa Ðoc. A large statue of him with one arm outstretched stands on the banks of the harbour in Bến Giang was erected in 7611 RH and greets every ship that enters the port. It has become a tradition among Daothomese ship crews to "wave to Uncle Lê" whenever their ship enters the harbour.
Personal life
Marriage and children
In 7543 RH, shortly after his 22nd birthday, Lê married Đoàn Thị Giàu, the daughter of a respected merchant in the town of Ninh Liêu, not far from his native Nam Ô. They had three children: sons Lê Kim Tuyến (born 7544, died 7622) and Lê Văn Dĩnh (born 7546, died 7620) and daughter Lê Quỳnh Hoa (born 7548, died 7632). Known for being a quiet, soft-spoken woman, Đoàn lent her husband's work her wholehearted support. Through her father, Đoàn Văn Hậu, who was sympathetic to the socialist cause, she helped build popular support for the revolution behind the scenes. When Lê was elected president, she likewise supported his political efforts, and became popular among the people for her simple style and charm, and they called her Dì Đoàn (Aunt Đoàn). In her role as the spouse of the head of state, she saw to the planning of many public and private events and gained a reputation for being a gracious hostess. During Lê's presidency, she helped found the Women's Volunteer Service Organisation (Tổ chức Dịch vụ Tình nguyện Phụ nữ), which helped to put together a variety of public service volunteer efforts that both helped to spread the socialist message and engage grassroots support in providing aid to those who needed it while focusing much of its efforts on community beautification and social works, such as helping citizens ensure they were signed up for the Public Health Service.
Đoàn died in 7594 at the age of 72. She and Lê were married 51 years at her passing. Lê wrote in his journal the day after her death, "The gentle song of my life has fallen silent. I will miss her greatly." He would outlive her by eight years. Her ashes are interred alongside those of her husband in the plinth of the Lê Hồng Khiêm Memorial on Revolution Square outside the Government District in Huế Lộc.
Honours
- Order of the Friendship of Peoples (Arvor, 7585 RH)
Private life trivia
- A decade after his death, the National Bank began printing all of its currency notes with his likeness on them, as his had become the most recognised face in the nation.