Building a strong foundation of public support.

We arrived at the Po Hen Border Guard Post just as the unit's officers and soldiers were cleaning up and moving to their new base after a period of investment and construction. Major Tran Dai Duong, the post's political officer , said: "The Po Hen Border Guard Post manages and protects over 12km of land border with China and is located in Hai Son commune (Mong Cai city). Over the past period, the unit has always proactively implemented measures to manage and maintain security and order in its area of ​​operation, while actively participating in helping the people develop production and build new rural areas... Through this, we contribute to building a strong foundation of public support and enhancing the effectiveness of the nationwide movement to protect national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and border security."

Officers and soldiers of the Pò Hèn Border Guard Post help local people plant trees to develop their economy . Photo: MAI ANH

Accompanying border guards on a mission to Luc Chan village, Hai Son commune, we met Mr. Ly A Chang, Party Secretary and Head of Luc Chan village, Hai Son commune. During our conversation, Mr. Chang shared: "The Border Guard officers are always actively researching and understanding the situation to advise the Party Committee and local government on implementing tasks related to building political foundations and developing the local economy, culture, and society. At the same time, they directly survey the terrain, climate, and soil conditions in the area to encourage and guide the people in developing their economy." Mr. Chang also recounted that, in the past, the lives of the people in the commune were very difficult, with most of the cultivated land located near the border, and crops like corn and rice were often destroyed by vandals. After being informed and encouraged by border guard officers, he and the local people actively participated with the Border Guard in protecting the border and boundary markers, preventing any malicious acts from infringing upon national sovereignty and border security. As a result, the lives of the people have gradually changed, and security and order in the area have been ensured.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Duong, President of the Women's Union of Hai Son commune, said: "Because the people on both sides of the border have close relationships and many similar cultural traits, in the past, many families had members crossing the border freely to graze livestock and cultivate crops without knowing they were violating the law and border regulations. Since the Hai Son Women's Union coordinated with the border guard station to strengthen propaganda activities, women have actively shared with their husbands, children, and family members the Party's guidelines and the State's policies and laws... Thanks to this, to date, almost no people or women have violated the law by crossing the border illegally anymore."

Standing shoulder to shoulder with the Border Guard to protect border sovereignty.

With the motto "Listen to the people, explain so the people understand, and earn their trust" and "Eat together, live together, work together, and speak the local language together," officers and soldiers of the Pò Hèn Border Guard Post regularly visit villages and hamlets near the border to help people with labor and production, develop the economy, and simultaneously educate and persuade people not to be lured by malicious individuals into violating the law; and to raise awareness in protecting the border and boundary markers. To date, the entire border system and boundary markers in the unit's area of ​​responsibility have been voluntarily protected by hundreds of households and individuals.

In 2022, officials and people in the border commune participated in hundreds of border patrol missions with the unit; clearing border patrol routes 20 times with nearly 1,000 participants. The unit also proactively detected and coordinated with local Party committees, authorities, and other forces to effectively combat various types of crimes and social evils, preventing the occurrence of hotspots in the area. The people trusted and provided the border guard station with many valuable sources of information serving the work of border management and protection... contributing to the firm protection of national territorial sovereignty and border security.

Officers and soldiers of the Pò Hèn Border Guard Post disseminate legal information to the local people. Photo: MAI ANH

In addition to managing and protecting the border, the Po Hen Border Guard Post has proactively and creatively implemented a comprehensive range of border defense measures. It has effectively carried out border diplomacy; advised the Hai Son Commune People's Committee to direct Po Hen village to maintain the twinning program between Po Hen village (Vietnam) and Than San village (China). It has also done a good job of disseminating information, especially to the people on both sides of the border, regarding compliance with agreements and treaties, particularly the three legal documents on the border after demarcation and marker placement. The unit regularly assigns officers to educate the people on both sides of the border about respecting the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of each side, sharing responsibility in managing and protecting the border and markers, maintaining friendship and solidarity between the people on both sides of the border, and creating favorable conditions for the economic, cultural, and social development of each side.

"Through practical actions alongside the people, the image of border guards at the forefront of the Fatherland is becoming increasingly close and dear to the people in the area. The people have become 'extended arms' helping the Po Hen Border Guard Post fulfill all assigned political tasks; contributing significantly together with the Border Guard of the entire province to maintaining security and order and firmly protecting national border sovereignty," affirmed Major Tran Dai Duong, Political Officer of the Po Hen Border Guard Post.

The lives of the people in the mountainous border regions are undergoing significant changes. The landscape of border villages is truly flourishing. These changes are due in no small part to the contributions of the soldiers in green uniforms. Their actions have further enhanced the image of the Ho Chi Minh Army in the hearts of the ethnic people in the border areas.

DUY KHIEM