Vo Chi Cong
Encyclopedia
Võ Chí Công was a Vietnam
ese Communist political figure and one-time President of Vietnam
.
, in 1912. He first became politically active in 1930, when he joined with Phan Bội Châu
and Phan Chu Trinh
, two early Vietnamese nationalists who opposed the French
colonial regime
. He joined the Communist Party of Indochina
in 1935, and fought with the Vietnamese resistance against the Vichy French during World War II
. He was arrested for his resistance activities in 1942.
(COSVN), and was a key figure in the South Vietnamese communist party during the Vietnam War
. After the reunification of Vietnam in 1976, Công was awarded a seat on the national Politburo
.
(the contemporary equivalent of the President of Vietnam
) in 1987. After his presidential term ended in 1992, Công became an advisor to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam
, until this advisory position was abolished in 1997.
on 8 September 2011, aged 99. The Vietnamese government granted him a televised state funeral
in recognition of his long political career.
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
ese Communist political figure and one-time President of Vietnam
President of Vietnam
The President of Vietnam is the head of state of Vietnam, although the functions of the President are often ceremonial...
.
Early life and political activities
Võ Chí Công was born Võ Toàn in Quảng Nam Province, VietnamQuang Nam Province
Quảng Nam is a province on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bordered by Thua Thien-Huế province to the north, the nation of Laos to the west, Kon Tum Province to the southwest, Quảng Ngãi Province to the southeast, the South China Sea to the east, and the city of Da Nang to the...
, in 1912. He first became politically active in 1930, when he joined with Phan Bội Châu
Phan Boi Chau
Phan Bội Châu was a pioneer of Vietnamese 20th century nationalism. In 1903, he formed a revolutionary organization called the “Reformation Society” ....
and Phan Chu Trinh
Phan Chu Trinh
Phan Chu Trinh also known as Phan Châu Trinh was a famous early 20th century Vietnamese nationalist. He also used the alias Tây Hồ. He sought to end France's brutal occupation of Vietnam...
, two early Vietnamese nationalists who opposed the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
colonial regime
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
. He joined the Communist Party of Indochina
Communist Party of Indochina
Communist Party of Indochina is one of three predecessors of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Other two predecessors are the Communist Party of Annam and the Communist League of Indochina....
in 1935, and fought with the Vietnamese resistance against the Vichy French during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was arrested for his resistance activities in 1942.
Vietcong founding member
After the war, Công faded into obscurity for a time, before becoming a founding member and Deputy Chairman of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (Vietcong) in 1961. He later became Deputy Secretary of the Central Office for South VietnamCOSVN
COSVN, pronounced "CŎS-vĭn" and standing for Central Office for South Vietnam , was the American term for People's Army of Vietnam political and military headquarters during the Vietnam War...
(COSVN), and was a key figure in the South Vietnamese communist party during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. After the reunification of Vietnam in 1976, Công was awarded a seat on the national Politburo
Politburo
Politburo , literally "Political Bureau [of the Central Committee]," is the executive committee for a number of communist political parties.-Marxist-Leninist states:...
.
Cabinet career and presidency
As a Politburo member, Công served in various cabinet posts, including Minister of Fisheries (1976-77), Minister of Agriculture (1977-78), and Deputy Prime Minister (1976-82), before becoming the Chairman of the Council of State of VietnamPresident of Vietnam
The President of Vietnam is the head of state of Vietnam, although the functions of the President are often ceremonial...
(the contemporary equivalent of the President of Vietnam
President of Vietnam
The President of Vietnam is the head of state of Vietnam, although the functions of the President are often ceremonial...
) in 1987. After his presidential term ended in 1992, Công became an advisor to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam established 1930, is the highest authority within the Communist Party of Vietnam elected by the Party National Congresses...
, until this advisory position was abolished in 1997.
Death
Công died in Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
on 8 September 2011, aged 99. The Vietnamese government granted him a televised state funeral
State funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition...
in recognition of his long political career.