Keep the border green.

Along the land border of Thanh Hoa province, there are 3,778 households/19,965 Mong people living in 47/146 villages, mainly concentrated in the former Muong Lat district; of which 1,771 households/9,654 Mong people follow a religion.

Officers from the Trung Lý Border Guard Post went to each house to disseminate legal information to the villagers.

Over the years, the security and order situation in the Mong ethnic minority areas along the border of the province has been basically stable. However, potential sources of instability remain. The activities of Protestantism and Catholicism are complex, with over 48% of the Mong people following these religions; in addition, strange religious phenomena such as "Salvation Grace" are infiltrating the religious life of the people. Religious organizations are increasing the presence of local clergy in the border area, promoting charitable activities to attract and develop followers, selecting and sending people to study religious doctrine and theology to train "core members" for the long-term development of their faith; and there is also propaganda and persuasion of parishioners to sell or donate land in sensitive and prime locations to expand and build chapels illegally.

In light of the above situation, the Provincial Border Guard Command, with its assigned functions and duties, and to effectively fulfill its role as the core, specialized force protecting border sovereignty and security, has done a good job of advising on and handling the situation and ensuring ethnic and religious security in the Mong ethnic minority areas; actively and proactively combating and effectively preventing the activities of reactionary elements exploiting the Mong ethnic minority in the border area to undermine the Party and the State.

In line with the motto of implementing "3 close ties, 4 together"; the reconnaissance force of the Provincial Border Guard has concretized this into the "4S and 5D" model (4S includes: "Early gathering, early assessment, early reporting, and early consultation and resolution"; 5D includes: "Closely following the area, closely following the target, closely following the people, closely following the locality, closely following the unit") to organize and implement. The Reconnaissance Department has implemented 9 plans, specialized topics, and operational activities to strengthen intelligence gathering and ensure security and order in the Mong ethnic minority areas. Therefore, in recent years, the reconnaissance force has always been able to promptly, thoroughly, and firmly grasp the situation from the grassroots level, control all developments, and identify the activities of various types of targets; proactively advise on resolving security and order-related incidents early, from afar, and from the grassroots level, avoiding passivity and surprise; contributing to maintaining stability in the Mong ethnic minority areas.

In Trung Ly border commune, the Mong ethnic group accounts for 60.49% of the total population, mainly living in remote and disadvantaged villages, concentrated in 11 villages with a total population of 4,741 people/833 households.

Over the years, Trung Ly Border Guard Station has implemented many measures and initiatives to regularly and actively promote and encourage the people to eliminate outdated customs, ensuring security, social order, and safety in the area, and helping the people develop economically , culturally, and socially, improving their material and spiritual lives, contributing to the protection and maintenance of the national border. A prime example is the implementation of the plan to promote cultural practices in funeral ceremonies among the Mong ethnic group in Thanh Hoa province, giai đoạn 2021-2025.

Major Nguyen Van Thien, Political Officer of Trung Ly Border Guard Station, said: "During the implementation of propaganda and mobilization, the unit paid special attention to promoting the role of influential people among the ethnic Mong people, and the exemplary role of cadres and Party members who are Mong ethnic people in mobilizing their relatives and families. 100% of Mong villages have incorporated regulations on cultural practices in funeral ceremonies into their village charters. The unit has actively advised the local Party committee and government on the 'four together' and 'four closely' principles, coordinating with various departments, organizations, and forces to implement many propaganda contents and measures to minimize and gradually eliminate child marriage and consanguineous marriage in the area, creating trust and building a strong foundation of people's support within the comprehensive border defense system."

Text and photos: Tuan Khoa

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/giu-mau-xanh-noi-bien-gioi-276687.htm