Peaceful support at the base

Kon Ro Bang 2 village, Vinh Quang commune, Kon Tum city, Kon Tum province is peaceful and quiet in the early morning sunlight that gently spreads on the woven straw roofs of the rustic, wild communal house. We came to Uncle A Bat's house with the expectation of hearing him tell us about a quarter of a century of work in ensuring security and order at the grassroots level. Dressed in the traditional costume of the Ba Na ethnic group, he smiled brightly and kindly, then slowly told us stories about his career.

Living in the middle of a security "hot spot"

Due to historical factors left behind along with the negative side of the market economy and integration, Vinh Quang commune is one of the areas that always has the potential risk of losing security and order, especially the plots and activities that violate national security by hostile forces taking advantage of issues related to ethnic minorities (accounting for 58% of the total population). This is also the area where the core subjects of FULRO and Dega were concentrated in the past.

Along with that, the situation of land disputes among the people and criminal offenses has become quite complicated. Therefore, since starting his work as a part-time police officer of the commune in 2000, Mr. A Bat has always kept in mind to contribute to maintaining a peaceful life for the villagers, so that the villagers can have absolute trust in the leadership of the Party and the State.

Uncle A Bat (left) wholeheartedly helps regular police reinforcements in the commune.

Recalling the story in 1975, at that time FULRO activities in the Central Highlands were rampant. 15-year-old A Bat and his family were determined not to flee with the villagers despite the whispers and distortions of FULRO elements. Family tradition and education had formed in Uncle A Bat a sense of absolute loyalty to the Party and the revolution.

In 2001, Vinh Quang commune was a "hot" area in terms of political security. Taking advantage of the lawsuit of 27 households in Kon Ro Bang village related to the planning and allocation of residential and production land, reactionary elements propagandizing the "Dega State" took advantage of it, inciting the masses to submit petitions to authorities at all levels and abroad. When the police force deployed to arrest and handle Jean Dak (self-proclaimed Deputy Governor of the "Dega State"), the core elements incited the people to obstruct, using rocks, sticks and stones to smash official vehicles, demanding the release of Jean Dak.

“Before that, Jean Dak met and persuaded me. I made it clear that I and the villagers only believed in the Party and Uncle Ho. Although I was afraid of being retaliated against or pressured by them on my wife, children and family, the heart of an upright person did not allow me to do anything against the safety and destiny of my homeland,” Uncle A Bat said. At the time of the incident, he actively coordinated with the police force to mobilize and isolate the leaders and key members, not allowing them to attract more people from other villages; at the same time, he mobilized people to obey the law, expose the reactionary nature of the separatist, autonomous “Dega State”, not participate in protests, riots, causing insecurity and disorder in the locality; thereby, the incident was thoroughly resolved.

Uncle A Bat is a prestigious person in the ethnic minority region recognized by the People's Committee of Kon Tum province. Through his voice, he always actively supports the police force in the work of grasping the situation, resolving complicated security and order issues in the locality, becoming an effective "extension" in ensuring security at the grassroots level. In his small chest pocket, he always carries a notebook. From actual monitoring, he diligently records people with signs of suspected law violations, especially teenagers who illegally buy, sell, and use drugs to provide to the police force for further verification, clarification, and handling.

A Thuan is 21 years old this year, and is the poorest family in the village. His father died early, his mother left for another place, and with the encouragement of friends, A Thuan has served two prison sentences for theft. Understanding Thuan's situation, Uncle A Bat has visited his house many times to encourage A Thuan. Uncle A Bat's efforts have contributed to a clear change in the law-abiding awareness of A Thuan and the youth of Kon Ro Bang 2 village. The number of young people committing criminal offenses has decreased, and is now very small compared to other villages.

In 2024, after the National Assembly and the Government implemented the Law on Forces Participating in Protecting Security and Order at the Grassroots Level, he was entrusted with the important responsibility of Head of the Security and Order Team. Although the allowance was small, he was always responsible for his work. Not only did he help Vinh Quang Commune Police grasp the local situation, promptly detect and provide valuable information, he also actively accompanied the Police force to patrol and control the area day and night.

Major Xieng Lang Thiep, Chief of Vinh Quang Commune Police, shared: “With the sense of responsibility and dedication of Uncle A Bat, the security and order situation in Kon Ro Bang 2 village has changed positively in recent years. This is the area that is assessed to have the most obvious complex transformation in security and order with crimes and law violations significantly reduced, almost non-existent, accounting for only 1.02% of the total number of cases in the whole commune from 2022 to present”.

Meaningful flag-raising ceremonies

Every Sunday morning or afternoon, on his old motorbike, Uncle A Bat stops by each house to encourage and remind villagers to join the flag-raising ceremony at 6am on Monday morning at the communal house. Most of the villagers are Ba Na people, farmers or hired workers in the city, so in order for them to join the flag-raising ceremony, he has to remind them to arrange their work and be there on time.

Uncle A Bat (far right) propagates security and order situation to people of Kon Ro Bang 2 village at the flag-raising ceremony on Monday.

On the first morning of the week, the singing of the National Anthem by the villagers resounded solemnly. The flag-raising ceremony has become an indispensable political activity every week for the people here. Uncle A Bat propagated to the villagers the directives of the Party, the State, the province, and the commune on the work of ensuring security and order; warned the villagers about new criminal tricks that need to be avoided, especially crimes using high technology to defraud and appropriate property; pointed out the limitations and inadequacies that currently exist in the village that can give rise to crime and need to be overcome. The attentive eyes and nods of the villagers are the motivation and belief that contribute to significantly improving the security and order situation in the village. Although it only lasts about 30 minutes, the village flag-raising ceremony has become a place containing the devotion of the man, now 65 years old, still enthusiastically and diligently contributing to protecting the peaceful life of the villagers.

Ms. Y B'Lai, Head of Kon Ro Bang 2 Village, shared: “Mr. A Bat is very dedicated. He updates and provides villagers with the latest security and order situation, helping them to prevent crimes and law violations. Thanks to that, up to now, the situation in the village has been basically stable compared to other villages, people obey the law, have a high awareness of protecting property, and do not become victims of crimes.”

Determined to eliminate bad customs

In addition to his role as a key factor in the task of protecting security and order, Uncle A Bat is also an active member in the front work of Kon Ro Bang 2 village. He especially attaches importance to eliminating backward customs so that people can build a new life and escape poverty. He has propagated and mobilized people to limit and simplify customs, not to sell buffaloes, cows, land, and not to organize long-term meals that cause waste; for poor households, he directly mobilized people in the village to contribute money to support the homeowner's funeral for the deceased. At the same time, he discussed and proposed to the village chief to include this commitment in the village's covenant and convention.

In particular, since the Kon Tum Provincial Party Committee issued Conclusion No. 08-KL/TU on February 24, 2021, implementing the campaign "Changing the mindset and working methods in ethnic minority areas, helping ethnic minorities to escape poverty sustainably", he is more determined to work with the local government to find solutions to eliminate this outdated procedure. Up to now, in Vinh Quang commune, there is no longer a situation where people eat lavishly at funerals, the procedures are organized quickly, safely and economically.

Uncle A Bat (far left) went to people's homes to propagate and mobilize them to participate in ensuring security and order.

After 25 years of quietly keeping the peace in the village, Uncle A Bat has been awarded many noble prizes, including Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister, Minister of Public Security, Chairman of Kon Tum Provincial People's Committee and many other forms of awards for his outstanding achievements in contributing to building national unity, developing the socio-economy of ethnic minority areas and ensuring security and order at the grassroots level.

Article and photos: HO KHANH VY

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-16/diem-tua-binh-yen-noi-co-so-834514