From self-made stars
In late 2011, in the border area, a clandestine group prepared rudimentary weapons, sewed uniforms, cast stars, and made insignia for the so-called "Mong Police" and "Mong Soldiers"; at the same time, they organized training, recruited people to join, and prepared to resist law enforcement forces. These uniforms and insignia were very rudimentary, but the risk of unrest, riots, and panic they could cause in the villages was real.
The ringleader was Trang A Cho. After the large gathering in Muong Nha, Dien Bien province in May 2011, Cho fled to Lai Chau, where he connected with several individuals in Sin Ho district, drafted a "political platform," "regulations," assigned roles, and recruited people to participate in activities aimed at establishing a "Mong State." They called themselves the "Group of 7 Wings."
The suspects' hiding places are spread across a wide area, mainly dense forests and rugged mountains near the border. A hasty arrest could allow them to cross the border or resist arrest; a delay could jeopardize their planned disruptions during the 2012 Lunar New Year.
Security forces meticulously screened each individual, clearly categorizing those to be arrested and those who could be persuaded to return; simultaneously, they coordinated with local authorities to disseminate information, explain the situation, and stabilize the situation. Through the operation, the authorities dismantled a group of 14 individuals in Sin Ho, Muong Te, and Tam Duong. After some individuals were arrested, 11 of the 15 who were in hiding returned and surrendered. Four of them were subsequently brought to trial for activities aimed at overthrowing the people's government.
The investigation into this case reveals a consistent principle throughout the development and combat efforts of the Lai Chau Public Security force: resolutely fighting and dealing with the ringleaders; persistently persuading and reforming those who have been misled; and neutralizing threats before the incident escalates into a flashpoint.
On January 10, 1953, the Lai Chau Provincial Police Department was established. In the early days, the force was small, resources were scarce, while the area was vast, transportation was difficult, and the security situation was complex. Security officers coordinated efforts to suppress bandits, re-educate former South Vietnamese soldiers and officials, and dismantle espionage networks planted by the enemy.
During the preparation and execution of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, the Security forces coordinated the protection of command centers, vital transportation routes, warehouses, weapons, food supplies, and marching and stationed units; they also mobilized the people to keep the transportation routes serving the campaign secret.
Following the victory at Dien Bien Phu in May 1954, the struggle to protect the revolutionary government in the highlands continued. Reactionary organizations exploited the rugged terrain, inciting the proclamation of kingship and causing riots in Ho Thau, Giao San, Sin Ho, and many other areas.
Security officers continued to stay close to the villages, mobilize the people, gather information, classify individuals, and combine education and persuasion with resolute action against the ringleaders. In 1959, the functional forces coordinated to quell a riot in Phong Tho. In 1967, a team of special agents infiltrating the Leng Su Sin area in Muong Te was discovered and stopped.
During the war against the US, the former Lai Chau province was one of the areas where the enemy deployed spies and commandos to infiltrate and sabotage. Security forces discovered 19 groups, arrested nearly 200 individuals, and seized numerous weapons, radio equipment, and other supplies used in their operations.
Many outstanding cadres from Lai Chau were deployed to the Southern battlefield. Their achievements are little known, because the success of the Security forces is often measured by incidents that never happened.
After 1975, the Lai Chau Public Security forces continued their mission of protecting national sovereignty and border security; dismantling organizations and foiling plots to incite riots and overthrow the government. During the border defense battle in February 1979, security officers coordinated the protection of leadership agencies, guided people in border districts to evacuate to the rear, and detected and apprehended spies and informants.
The (new) Lai Chau province was officially separated from the old Lai Chau province (to form the two provinces of Lai Chau and Dien Bien) and came into operation on January 1, 2004, according to Resolution No. 22/2003/QH11 of the National Assembly.
Since the province was separated in 2004, issues related to ethnicity, religion, migration, resettlement, economic security, internal political security, and cybersecurity have become increasingly intertwined in Lai Chau. Propaganda and recruitment efforts aimed at establishing a "Mong State" emerged in some areas from 2005 onwards.
In Pu Sam Cap, Dao San, Pa Tan, Ma Quai, Huoi Luong, Nam Ban, and several other communes, individuals propagated and enticed people to participate, organized martial arts training, and prepared weapons, maps, badges, and costumes. Many people, due to a lack of information, were lured by these empty promises and deceptive rhetoric.
Security forces simultaneously combated and dismantled these groups while advising Party committees and authorities on directing and strengthening mass mobilization efforts. Those who were misled were categorized to determine appropriate measures; each affected village and commune was strengthened and transformed according to specific plans. To date, no villages or communes remain affected by the activities of establishing a "Mong State"; the number of people following heretical or strange sects has decreased by more than 98%.
In 2014, in the districts of Nam Nhun, Than Uyen, and Tan Uyen, hundreds of people gathered to protest against compensation, land clearance, and resettlement related to hydroelectric projects. Some extremists incited the people to surround the headquarters, detain officials, and attack law enforcement officers.
Security forces have been advising Party committees and authorities on organizing dialogues to resolve legitimate requests, while also gathering evidence and clarifying the leading and instigating roles of each individual; 15 individuals have been prosecuted. The situation is gradually stabilizing, preventing the formation of prolonged hotspots.
In early 2020, security forces promptly detected a large gathering in Giang Ly Cha village, Ta Tong commune, Muong Te district; they advised the Party committee and local authorities to implement a plan to resolve the situation. The ringleaders were arrested; the crowd was persuaded to disperse, preventing the incident from spreading.
The roots of peace
Cases and investigations are often summarized by numbers: how many suspects were arrested, how much evidence was seized, how many cases were resolved. But behind those numbers are months of dedicated work by officials, who stayed in remote areas, researched each family and clan, met with influential people, and patiently explained to the people the true nature and tactics of inflammatory rhetoric.
Colonel Vu Van Hien, former Head of the Internal Security Department, spent many years directly combating the activities aimed at establishing a "Mong State." From 2005 to 2020, he participated in directing and resolving many complex cases; directly deterring, educating, and bringing nearly 100 individuals before the public for accountability.
Colonel Sung A Sua, Deputy Director of the Lai Chau Provincial Police, previously worked for 15 years in the Internal Security Department. Many other key leaders also rose through the ranks of the security forces; they grew up being close to the people and rooted in the grassroots, because combating activities that exploit ethnic issues cannot rely solely on professional methods but must begin with the trust of the people.
This belief helped law enforcement agencies to identify and isolate the ringleaders and key figures, while simultaneously persuading those who were misled due to lack of information or limited awareness. Some had previously fled into the forest, but after being persuaded by their families, the government, and police officers, they voluntarily returned. In some villages that were heavily influenced by the propaganda of establishing a "Mong State," the people are now proactively providing information and working with law enforcement to prevent infiltration and manipulation by malicious individuals.
In recent years, the Internal Political Security Force of the Lai Chau Provincial Police has advised competent authorities to issue more than 100 documents on protecting state secrets; organized training for more than 1,000 cadres, civil servants, and employees. The force also investigated and verified more than 3,100 cases for appointment and transfer purposes, and 800 cases for Party congresses, National Assembly elections, and People's Council elections at all levels.
On the internet, authorities have posted more than 10,000 news articles to combat and refute false and hostile viewpoints; they have detected thousands of pieces of distorted information and advised on handling them according to regulations. The methods of struggle have changed, but the requirement to maintain the ideological front and strengthen the people's trust remains the overarching principle.
Foreign Security forces continue to closely monitor border areas, proactively detecting and combating activities of foreign intelligence agencies involving collusion, recruitment, and information gathering; and coordinating the protection of important delegations, political events, and key targets.
The Internal Security Department of the Lai Chau Provincial Police has been awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces twice, in 1980 and 2015; and has received numerous Military Merit Orders, Combat Merit Orders, and Orders for Protecting the Fatherland. Many collectives and individuals belonging to the Foreign Security and Internal Political Security forces have also been awarded prestigious honors.
Throughout the 80-year journey of the People's Security Force, the traditions of the Security Force in the Northwest border region have been built upon actions like these.
Source: https://cand.vn/binh-yen-nhung-ban-lang-bien-gioi-post814512.html
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