Gong Festival of the Central Highlands people _Photo: Document
Trends in social structure change, relationships between ethnic groups and impacts and influences on sustainable development in the Central Highlands
The Central Highlands has a natural area of about 54.5 thousand km2 ( accounting for 16.8% of the country's area), is an important area in socio -economic development, ensuring national defense and security of the Fatherland; population of more than 6 million people (accounting for 6.1% of the country's population (1 ). Currently, the Central Highlands has about 2.2 million ethnic minorities (37.7% of the region's population); Many ethnic minorities from the northern localities have settled here for a long time (accounting for about 10%) (2) , such as the Tay, Nung, Mong, Thai, Muong, Dao, etc. The Central Highlands is also the long-standing residence of 12 local ethnic minorities (accounting for 27% of the total population of the region), including 8 ethnic groups belonging to the South Asian language family (Mon - Khmer group) (3) and 4 ethnic groups belonging to the Austronesian language family ( Malayo - Polynesian group) ( 4 ) . In addition, the proportion of ethnic minorities in the total population of each locality is relatively different, specifically: Kon Tum province is 54.93%; Gia Lai province is about 46.22%; Dak Lak province is 35.70%; Dak Nong province is 31.51%; Lam Dong province is 25.72% (5) .
Before 1975, the people of the Ethnic minorities live in many relatively independent areas, such as the Southeast of Kon Tum to the Northeast of Pleiku Plateau and the West of Binh Dinh, where the Ba-na people live; the Southeast of Pleiku Plateau to the foot of Chu Dliêya Mountain (Dak Lak Province) is where the Gia-rai people live; the Dak Nong Plateau and part of Di Linh Plateau are the areas of the M'nong people (6) ... When the country was unified, due to the need for socio-economic development, maintaining national security as well as the impact of the process of free migration, the population composition in the region changed greatly; the hamlets and villages of the local ethnic minorities were intermingled with each other and with the Kinh people or newly arrived ethnic groups, so there were still quite a few areas reserved exclusively for the local ethnic minorities. To date, the entire Central Highlands region has 722 commune-level administrative units (including 598 communes, 77 wards, 47 towns) with 7,768 residential areas, of which there are about 2,764 hamlets (villages, villages, and bons) of local ethnic minorities; about 5,000 hamlets (villages, villages, and bons) are in a state of many ethnic minorities living together (7) .
The richness and diversity of ethnic groups in the Central Highlands have had a strong impact on the process of transforming the social structure of the whole region, creating conditions for cultural and religious exchanges, connections, harmony, solidarity and mutual assistance among ethnic groups. Along with the development process, the relationship between ethnic groups has been increasingly expanded, notably the relationships within ethnic groups; between local ethnic minorities and newly arrived ethnic groups or with the Kinh people (the majority); between cross-border and transnational ethnic groups (with the same ethnic group and other ethnic groups); between ethnic groups in the same country through the administration and management of the State. The above relationships exist in most areas, from economy, society, culture, language, beliefs, religion, residential area, resource management and use to national defense, security, order, social safety (8) ,... To move towards sustainable development of the Central Highlands region, some of the following issues on economy - society, regional characteristics need to be noted, specifically:
First, thanks With the attention of the Party and the State, the Central Highlands economy has been constantly developing, especially the formation of large industrial crop specialized areas in the national and international value chain; per capita income has increased, the lives of the majority of the population, especially ethnic minorities, have been increasingly improved. However, the regional economy has developed rapidly, but not sustainably, agricultural production has not been linked to market demand; development is mainly present in urban areas, along main traffic routes, while remote areas are still slow to develop; agricultural labor accounts for a high proportion, production levels are still backward, and have not escaped the habit of passive farming, waiting, relying heavily on natural conditions,...
Although the poverty rate among ethnic minorities has decreased annually, the rate is quite slow; in many localities, the poverty rate among ethnic minorities is up to 85% - 90%; the near-poor and re-poor groups are still quite large due to lack of land, no stable jobs and occupations, and lack of suitable livelihoods (9) . In many places, people have not fully benefited from health insurance policies, loans, and production support; the situation of destroying and encroaching on forest land for slash-and-burn farming, transferring land, and illegally exploiting forest products is common; child marriage and children dropping out of school have not been completely resolved,...
Second, the process of free migration led to a high increase in the population of the Central Highlands, the largest of which was the Kinh (about 62.3%); then, many ethnic minorities in the North (such as Tay, Nung, Thai, Dao, Mong, etc.) appeared one after another, bringing with them a number of new religious and belief systems; the proportion of local ethnic minorities in 1945 was very high, but by 2019 it was only over 27%. Up to now, free migration from many other localities to the Central Highlands is still ongoing, potentially causing conflicts and creating prolonged "hot spots"; currently, more than 11,200 free migrant households have arranged themselves and intermingled in residential areas and areas, and nearly 19,000 free migrant households are scattered outside the planning, and have not been stably arranged into the residential planning project (10) .
Third, the technical expertise and quality of human resources in the region are lower than the national average. Specifically, among about 3.5 million workers, the proportion of workers with university degrees or higher accounts for only 6.1% (11) , while the proportion of workers aged 15 and over who have received training accounts for only about 17% (12) . On the other hand, up to now, the number of ethnic minority cadres participating in leadership and management in localities in the Central Highlands is still low. For example, in Gia Lai province, ethnic minorities account for more than 50% of the population, but there are only 5,830 ethnic minority cadres out of a total of 34,900 cadres, civil servants and public employees in the province (about 16.7%); That rate in Kon Tum province is 15.86% (2,985 people out of a total of 18,814 cadres, civil servants and public employees in the province) (13) .
Fourth , in the past, imperialism and hostile forces often took advantage of religious issues to cause division and destroy the great national unity bloc, sabotage peace and the stable and developed life of the people. Currently, the Central Highlands is the area of operation of many religious organizations with a large number of followers (about 2.3 million people); nearly 4,000 dignitaries, 10,000 officials and over 1,300 places of worship in operation. Of which, Catholicism is the most populous religion in the region and the Central Highlands is also the place with the largest concentration of ethnic minority Catholic followers in Vietnam, accounting for 81% of ethnic minority followers in the Catholic Church of Vietnam); Along with Buddhism, the majority of followers are Kinh people (currently, there are over 670 thousand followers, about 1,900 dignitaries, over 2,800 officials and more than 570 places of worship), in addition to other major religions such as Protestantism and Cao Dai ( 14) .
Thursday, the region The Central Highlands has a very important geopolitical position for the process of protecting, building and developing the country in general; therefore, hostile forces have stepped up the implementation of the "peaceful evolution" strategy. Reactionary organizations have actively supported and directed the Phun-ro forces residing abroad to establish the so-called "autonomous De-ga" state to incite and divide the great national unity bloc here through new forms of religious or "social charity" color, typically "Mountain People's Association" (MFI); "Human Rights of Montagnards" (MHRO); "Unified Montagnards" (UMP)...
The Party and State's policies and guidelines in building and strengthening the relationship between ethnic groups associated with sustainable socio-economic development in the Central Highlands region
During the two struggles against the French colonialists and the American imperialists, the people of the Central Highlands were closely attached, “sharing the same fate and hardships” with the people of the whole country like blood brothers, thereby forming a sustainable community cohesion; creating a strong, everlasting vitality and becoming a heroic tradition and indomitable spirit of the people here. More than 100 years ago, the great leader VI Lenin requested that the democratic government ensure: “absolute equality of rights for all ethnic groups in the country and unconditional protection of the rights of all ethnic minorities” (15) . During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh was always interested in building close relationships between ethnic groups to consolidate and strengthen the great national unity bloc. He affirmed: “The Kinh or Tho, Muong or Man, Gia Rai or Ede, Xe Dang or Ba Na and other ethnic minorities are all descendants of Vietnam, all blood brothers. We live and die together, we are happy and miserable together, we help each other in times of hunger and fullness” (16) and emphasized: “Rivers may dry up, mountains may wear away, but our solidarity will never diminish” (17) . Accordingly, he believed that respecting and supporting each other is a natural thing and has become a historical tradition of the ethnic groups on the land of Vietnam, because “We must love each other, respect each other, and help each other to seek the common happiness of ourselves and our descendants” (18) ; Therefore, from now on, " the peoples who have united must unite even more, who have struggled even more, to firmly preserve their independence to build a new Vietnam. When it is difficult, we work together, when it is peaceful, we enjoy it together" ( 19 ) . Most recently, Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW, dated November 24, 2023, of the 8th Central Conference, Session XIII, "On continuing to promote the tradition and strength of great national unity, building our country to be increasingly prosperous and happy" determined the goal of building a prosperous and happy Vietnam; Becoming a developed, high-income country by 2045 is a common point to motivate and encourage all people and ethnic groups to unite and join hands for the future of the nation and the happiness of the people, together "arousing patriotism, national pride and self-esteem, promoting the great strength of the great national unity bloc" (20) .
Since the country was reunified, bearing in mind President Ho Chi Minh's advice, the task of building and developing the Central Highlands region and the whole country towards socialism has always been of interest to our Party and State, gradually exploiting effectively the potential and strengths of natural resources and people to serve the cause of improving the material and spiritual life of the people. However, some policies and strategies have not been really effective; the relationship between ethnic minorities and the Party and State or between local ethnic minorities and the majority ethnic groups, newly immigrated ethnic groups in some places and at some times is not good. In that situation, our Party and State have proposed many policies and solutions to raise awareness of the role and position of the Central Highlands region, advocating better exploitation of potentials and advantages associated with synchronous combination of fields, from economy, culture, society, national defense - security, ... to building a political system for the region to develop quickly and sustainably; Continue to implement development solutions that are suitable to the specific characteristics of the region in terms of geography, history, culture, society, and the characteristics of the local community. In particular, Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW, dated October 6, 2022, of the Politburo, "On the direction of socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the Central Highlands region to 2030, with a vision to 2045" assesses the opportunities and challenges to build the Central Highlands region to develop more strongly in the current period through strategic goals, which set out specific targets to be achieved by 2030 and a vision to 2045 (21) . Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW clearly states that rapid and sustainable development of the Central Highlands is a major policy of the Party and State, a continuous and central task, of great significance to the development of localities in the region and the whole country; The construction and development of the Central Highlands must harmoniously combine economic, cultural, social development, protection of resources and environment closely linked with national defense, security and foreign affairs; the development of the Central Highlands must be consistent with the socio-economic development strategy of the whole country, ensuring consistency with the national planning system, consistent with the national strategy on sustainable development, green growth and adaptation to climate change; building an advanced Central Highlands culture, imbued with national identity, unified in diversity, respecting the different cultural values among ethnic groups, considering this as the driving force and foundation for the development and international integration of the region; focusing on the work of building and rectifying the Party and a clean, strong and comprehensive political system.
People harvest coffee in the Central Highlands_Source: phunuvietnam.vn
Solutions to harmoniously resolve the relationship between ethnic groups, contribute to building and promoting the great national unity bloc, arouse the will of self-reliance and self-improvement, create motivation and foundation for sustainable development of the Central Highlands region.
Firstly, continue to effectively and comprehensively implement the Party and State's guidelines and policies (22) in socio-economic development, ensure stability, and harmoniously resolve the relationship between ethnic groups in the Central Highlands. In addition, focus on preserving and promoting the spirit of solidarity and attachment between the Kinh people and ethnic minorities in the region; solidarity between local ethnic minorities and migrants from other places, etc., considering this a valuable tradition, an irreplaceable endogenous strength, creating a foundation for localities in the region to develop sustainably.
Second , regularly propagate, educate, and raise awareness of ethnic/national relations, awareness of national/national spirit; foster pure and healthy feelings in relations between ethnic minorities. Proactively fight against plots and tricks of exploiting ethnic and religious issues to divide the great national unity bloc; build relations between ethnic groups on the basis of equality, solidarity, respect and mutual assistance for development within the framework of the Constitution and law. Strengthen scientific research on the Central Highlands in many aspects, such as history, ethnicity, culture, psychology, society, etc.; attach importance to theoretical scientific research, summarize practices to grasp the trend of movement in ethnic relations, in order to provide a scientific basis for the Party and State's policies.
Third, focus on building relationships between ethnic groups in the spirit of equality, solidarity, respect and mutual assistance for development; ethnic groups have the right to use their own language and writing, preserve their national identity, promote their fine customs, practices, traditions and culture; promote the value of cultural heritage and traditional values of ethnic minorities. On the other hand, build a socio-economic development strategy suitable to the cultural characteristics of ethnic minorities; have a balance, harmony and reasonableness of interests between localities in the region and the surrounding areas; apply forms of production, business and solve land and forest land issues suitable to the customs, culture and traditions of ethnic groups. Organize a progressive life, promote the potential and strengths of each locality and each ethnic group to ensure the right to enjoy; build a policy of prioritizing the development of education and training, promoting the will of self-reliance and self-improvement; Constantly improve people's knowledge, promote the role of intellectuals, prestigious people, leaders and managers of ethnic minorities.
Fourth, respect the identity and have appropriate policies to preserve and promote ethnic culture through developing projects to exploit and develop the cultural values of ethnic communities; strive to preserve, promote and absorb the cultural quintessence among ethnic groups, contributing to building a common culture while ensuring harmony, solidarity and unity. Encourage and create conditions for ethnic minorities to learn their own language and writing; ensure the right to use their own language and writing in litigation activities; properly handle the relationship between preserving traditional culture and religious culture.
Fifth , focus on building the relationship between the State and religious organizations on the basis of freedom of belief and religion within the framework of the law, maintain and develop religion in the spirit: religions are equal before the law; the State respects and protects the right to freedom of belief and religion; no one is allowed to violate freedom of belief and religion or take advantage of belief and religion to violate the law. Attach importance to state management of religious activities in each locality; promote the proactive spirit of all levels and sectors in fighting and handling elements that take advantage of religion and ethnicity, dignitaries and followers to plot division, conflict and riots. Focus on raising awareness among religious followers and ethnic minorities about the Party's policies and the State's laws related to ethnic and religious issues, etc. In addition, fight to prevent, combat and eliminate narrow-mindedness, discrimination and ethnic division; Step by step effectively resolve the seeds of contradictions, conflicts, and ethnic secession, ensure political stability, order, and social security in the Central Highlands region, and continue to consolidate and promote the great strength of the great national unity bloc./.
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(1) See: General Statistics Office: Statistical Yearbook 2021 , Statistical Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, p. 90
(2) See: Report No. 576/BC-HDDT14, dated May 18, 2018, of the Ethnic Council, "Regarding the survey results on the implementation of the policy to stabilize production and life for spontaneous migrants to the Central Highlands provinces"
(3) includes the following ethnic groups: Ba-na, Co-ho, Xo-dang, M'nong, Gie-trieng, Ma, Romam, Bo-rau
(4) includes ethnic groups : Ede, Gia Rai, Churu, Raglai
(5) See: General Statistics Office: Results of the 2019 Population and Housing Census , Statistical Publishing House, Hanoi, 2020, Table 2, pp. 152 - 161
(6) See: Nguyen Thi Hoai Phuong: "Some notes on ethnic issues in the Central Highlands today", Electronic Information Portal of the Ethnic Magazine , June 21, 2013, http://tapchidantoc.ubdt.gov.vn/2013-06-21/e4ae75004011b41c93c0bb3da27dd78c-cema.htm
(7) Central Highlands Steering Committee: “Some issues related to ethnic relations, trends of change in ethnic relations and implementation of ethnic policies in the Central Highlands provinces”, Dak Lak, 2017
(8) See: Nguyen Van Minh: "Some issues on ethnic relations in the Central Highlands today", Journal of Ethnology , February 2019 issue, p. 23
(9) See: Pham Thi Hoang Ha - Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen: "Socio-economic development policies associated with promoting the spirit of self-reliance and self-reliance of ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands - Current situation and solutions", Communist Magazine , No. 1,003 (December 2022), p. 95
(10) See: Trieu Van Binh: "Impact of spontaneous migration on the socio-economy of the Central Highlands provinces", Electronic Propaganda Magazine , September 23, 2020, https://tuyengiao.vn/tac-dong-cua-dan-di-cu-tu-do-den-kinh-te-xa-hoi-cac-tinh-tay-nguyen-135005
(11) See: Tran Thi Minh Tram - Le Van Phuc: "Developing human resources for science, technology and innovation in the Central and Central Highlands provinces today", Electronic Communist Magazine , March 18, 2023, https://www.tapchicongsan.org.vn/web/guest/kinh-te/-/2018/827162/phat-trien-nguon-nhan-luc-khoa-hoc%2C-cong-nghe-va-doi-moi-sang-tao-o-cac-tinh-mien-trung-va-tay-nguyen-hien-nay.aspx
(12) See: General Statistics Office: Statistical Yearbook 2021, op. cit. , p. 159
(13) See: Pham Thi Hoang Ha - Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen: "Socio-economic development policies associated with promoting the spirit of self-reliance and self-reliance of ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands - Current situation and solutions", ibid , p. 96
(14) See: Tran Son: “Ensuring freedom of belief and religion in the Central Highlands”, Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper , October 7, 2023, https://dangcongsan.vn/bao-dam-quyen-cho-nguoi-dan-toc-thieu-so/tin-tuc/dam-bao-quyen-tu-do-tin-nguong-ton-giao-o-tay-nguyen-645610.html
(15) VI Lenin: Complete Works , National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2005, vol. 23, p. 266
(16), (17), (18), (19) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works , National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2011, vol. 4, pp. 249, 250, 249, 155
(20) Nguyen Phu Trong: Promoting the tradition of great national unity, building our country to be increasingly rich, civilized, and happy , National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2023, p. 17
(21) See: Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW, dated October 6, 2022, of the Politburo, "On the direction of socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the Central Highlands region to 2030, with a vision to 2045"
(22) Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW, dated October 6, 2022, of the Politburo, “On the direction of socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the Central Highlands region to 2030, with a vision to 2045; Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW, dated March 12, 2003, of the Central Executive Committee, “On ethnic work” ; Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW, dated January 18, 2002, of the Politburo, “On socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the Central Highlands region in the 2001-2010 period”; Conclusion No. 12-KL/TW, dated October 24, 2011, of the Politburo, “On continuing to implement Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW on developing the Central Highlands region in the 2011-2020 period”; Conclusion No. 65-KL/TW, dated October 30, 2019, of the Politburo, "On continuing to implement Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW of the 9th Party Central Committee on ethnic work in the new situation" ; Decree No. 05/2011/ND-CP, dated January 14, 2011, of the Government, "On ethnic work" ; Decision No. 132/QD-TTg, dated October 8, 2002, of the Prime Minister, "On resolving production land and residential land for ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands",...
Source: https://tapchicongsan.org.vn/web/guest/van_hoa_xa_hoi/-/2018/1109803/giai-quyet-hai-hoa-quan-he-giua-cac-dan-toc%2C-cong-phan-xay-dung-va-phat-huy-khoi-dai-doan-ket-toan-dan-toc%2C-tao-dong-luc%2C-nen-tang-cho-su-phat-trien-ben-vung-vung-tay-nguyen-trong-boi-canh-moi.aspx
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