Fernandes visits Vietnam's `secret holes'
By Man Mohan
The Times of India News Service
HO CHI MINH CITY (South Vietnam): Indian defence minister George Fernandes
slowly thumped his feet over dry tree leaves and said: ``It is here.'' The
impressed Vietnamese army officers clapped.
Fernandes had found one of the ``secret holes'' to enter the famous Cu-Chi
tunnels 70 km from here in lush green bamboo jungles. The tunnels in Chu-Chi
district have gone into the fighting history of the Vietnamese people as a
legend and become world famous. The Vietnamese guerrillas virtually lived
underground in a cobweb of 250 km long tunnels north of Saigon river.
Through 30 years of war, first against the French and later against the
Americans, the Cu-Chi heroes inflicted heavy damages on the enemy which most
of the time could not detect their movements underground. The first tunnel,
built in 1948 during the war against the French, was followed by more
against the Americans.
Using these tunnels, the Vietnamese armed forces and Cu-Chi people,
including women and children, had killed 20,000 Americans, destroyed more
than 5,000 tanks and armoured cars, shot down and damaged 256 aircraft,
wrecked and burnt 22 war boats and ships, dismantled and annihilated
military posts over 270 times.
Soon after arriving here from Hanoi on Wednesday morning, Fernandes drove
straight to the Cu-Chi tunnels which have been restored at Ben-Duoc or
Phu-My-Hung heroic village. The tropical jungle is entwined with thick
bamboo and other plants, making movement difficult.
In thick foliage are spread underground system of three layers of tunnels
each connected with another, comprising weapons store room, command
headquarters, kitchen, rest rooms and tiny vents of air. Overground, the
tunnels were camouflaged, like the ``hole'' Fernandes discovered by feeling
the ground with his feet.
Fernandes went down the tunnels up to two levels ``to have a feel of the
place.'' Coming overground, he just said: ``Terrific...Only after seeing
these tunnels one can understand the determination with which they had
fought.'' One feels suffocated while traversing through narrow tunnels.
The tunnels were built to fit in small and slim Vietnamese. The Americans
could never enter them. But they had used all tricks to destroy these
tunnels but were unsuccessful. They had used water, ``sewer rats'' (30,000
troops for the operation) to peel off the crust of the earth; B-52 fighters
to bomb the villages and used 3,000 Alsatian dogs to smell the guerrillas.
Americans had had described the tunnels as ``underground
village!''......``Dangerous Secert Zone!''
The Vietnamese are preserving the entire 200-km long tunnel system, although
only a small portion is open to tourists. Outside, there are many souvenirs
shops selling famous Cu-Chi guerrillas' green caps and white-grey checks
scarf and many other ``war mementos'' like miniature of American tanks,
fighter planes, artillery pieces and guns.
If you ever happen to visit the Cu-Chi tunnels, do not hesitate. Just step
down underground, and you will uncover many interesting things about the
brave people who with limited resources could defeat world's most powerful
army.
For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service
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