Keep the village free from drug abuse.

The voices of religious leaders and respected figures among the ethnic minority communities in An Cu commune have contributed to raising awareness of drug prevention and control in the community, maintaining peace in the villages and hamlets.

Venerable Chau Soc Phi Rin (far right) - Abbot of Van Rau Pagoda, in coordination with the An Cu Commune Police, conducts a drug prevention and control campaign among the Khmer people. Photo: THI HOA

Towards a drug-free community.

An Cư currently has 6,442 households, of which the Khmer people account for 67.45% of the population, and there are 18 Khmer Theravada Buddhist temples. According to the Standing Deputy Secretary of the An Cư Commune Party Committee, Néang Sêm, the commune police advised the Party Committee and the People's Committee of the commune to develop a specific plan and roadmap for implementing the "Drug-Free Commune" model.

Sray Skoth hamlet, with over 97% Khmer residents, was selected as the first pilot site for the transformation. “According to the plan, by June 15, 2026, Sray Skoth hamlet will complete the transformation into a drug-free hamlet, and then the model will be expanded to the remaining hamlets. We strive to ensure that An Cu basically meets the criteria of a drug-free commune by 2028 and maintains this status until 2030,” said Ms. Neang Sem.

Currently, the entire commune has 13 influential figures among the ethnic minority community. To effectively achieve the set goals, the An Cu Commune Police regularly meet and exchange information with the abbots and influential figures to coordinate propaganda efforts, raise public awareness about the harmful effects of drugs, and encourage people to actively participate in preventing and combating social evils and maintaining security and order in the locality.

In addition to disseminating information, religious leaders actively cooperate by providing information to authorities regarding suspected drug-related cases. According to the An Cu Commune Police, based on information from the abbots of Khmer Theravada Buddhist temples, the police have discovered and handled many cases of illegal drug use in secluded areas. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Vu, Deputy Head of the An Cu Commune Police, said: “Reputable individuals, the abbots of the temples, cooperate very well with the police. In some cases, outsiders take advantage of the large, secluded temple grounds to gather and use drugs, and the abbots promptly report it to the police for handling. The commune police invited 12 individuals for rapid drug testing, and through this, 5 cases related to drugs were detected and promptly dealt with.”

Raising awareness about drug prevention and control.

In Sray Skoth hamlet, Mr. Chau Menh is one of the active participants in drug prevention and control propaganda in the community. Not only does he remind his children and grandchildren, but he also regularly educates his neighbors about the harmful effects of drugs on themselves, their families, and society. "I regularly remind my children, grandchildren, and the youth in the hamlet about the harmful effects of drugs, such as how they can cause people to lose their sense of awareness, leading to violations of the law...", Mr. Chau Menh shared.

Religious leaders and influential figures within the Khmer community actively collaborate with local authorities in disseminating information about drug prevention and control. For the Khmer people, the teachings of the monks always have a profound and widespread impact, fostering strong consensus. Venerable Chau Soc Phi Rin, the abbot of Van Rau Pagoda, stated that the pagoda regularly incorporates content about the harmful effects of drugs into religious activities and ceremonies to help Buddhists understand and raise their awareness of the responsibility to manage their children. “The monks educate Buddhists about the dangers of drugs through religious activities, thereby encouraging people to remind their children to stay away from this vice,” said Venerable Chau Soc Phi Rin.

In the coming period, the An Cu Commune Police will continue to closely coordinate with religious leaders and influential people to strengthen propaganda work. At the same time, they will proactively identify individuals suspected of being involved in drug-related activities to promptly combat and handle them, contributing to maintaining security and order, building a safe and healthy living environment, and ensuring a peaceful life for the people.

THI HOA (Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions)

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/giu-phum-soc-khong-te-nan-ma-tuy-a487513.html