The peacekeeper in Ea Mdhar 1A village

The concrete road leading to the Cuôr Alai fields (Ea Mdhar 1A hamlet, Ea Nuôl commune) is now wide and smooth.

In the afternoon, children cycle around the village, the elderly stroll leisurely, and laughter echoes through the tranquil highland landscape. Few know that, to build this road, a man of the Ede ethnic group quietly donated his land and persistently went from house to house persuading the villagers to join in – that man is Ae Thiem (Mr. Y To Byă), a respected figure in Ea Mdhar 1A village whom the villagers still speak of with trust.

Officials from the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Ea Nuôl commune visited and listened to Ae Thiêm share his memories from his social work.

Born in 1959, Ae Thiêm grew up during a time of great upheaval in his village. From the late 1970s, he joined the militia, directly working with the villagers to maintain local security and hunt down FULRO.

In the following years, he continued to be involved in grassroots security work as a police officer, then served as both the Secretary of the Youth Union of the commune and the Deputy Head of the Commune Police, in charge of household registration management.

When he was sent to study intermediate-level political theory (in 1994), and subsequently held positions such as Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ea Nuôl commune, and then Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Ea Nuôl commune (2013-2019), Ae Thiêm maintained his familiar working style: being close to the people and relying on them to solve problems at the grassroots level. For him, mobilization is not just about explaining things so the people understand, but about earning their trust.

The head of Ea Mdhar 1A village, Ms. H Hara Mlô, regularly meets and exchanges ideas to learn from Ae Thiêm's experience.

Even after retirement, Ae Thiêm hasn't left the village. He continues to participate in the Ea Mdhar 1A Village Self-Management Board and is also in charge of the Elderly Association of the commune. The village currently has over 390 households with 1,791 inhabitants, of which the Ede ethnic group accounts for about 75%; there are 67 poor households and 28 near-poor households. In this context, the role of a respected figure like Ae Thiêm becomes even more important in maintaining stability at the grassroots level.

The story of donating land to build a road to the Cuôr Alai rice fields is recounted by the villagers as a milestone of change. When the new rural development program was implemented, expanding the main road faced many obstacles because land is a valuable means of production. Ae Thiêm didn't just persuade with empty words. He was the first to voluntarily donate a portion of his family's land, then patiently went to each house, explaining to the villagers the long-term benefits of a wider road, allowing agricultural vehicles to reach the fields, and ensuring their children could go to school without getting muddy. The sincerity of this villager created consensus, and the road was built voluntarily by the community.

Mr. Y To Byă recounted the days he spent campaigning to persuade villagers to donate land for road construction.

Not only has Ae Thiêm contributed to changing the face of the countryside, but he is also considered a "shield" maintaining peace in the village. Despite his advanced age, he remains sharp and well-versed in the tricks of digital fraud and harmful information that can affect the villagers. On the porch of his stilt house, he frequently reminds the villagers to be vigilant, analyzing right and wrong with simple, easy-to-understand stories, so that the elderly are not deceived and the young are not misled.

In a village where the Ede people are the majority, Ae Thiem is also a trusted mediator. From land disputes to disagreements in daily life, he patiently listens, combining legal and customary law to analyze the situation with reason and understanding. Thanks to the collective efforts of the community, including the persistent role of Ae Thiem, Ea Mdhar 1A has maintained security and order for many years, with over 90% of households achieving the title of "Culturally Advanced Family," and the material and spiritual lives of the people have steadily improved.

Ea Mdhar 1A village is becoming increasingly prosperous.

Speaking about Ae Thiêm, the head of Ea Mdhar 1A village, Ms. H Hara Mlô, said that for young officials, the work in the village is not without difficulties, but with his assistance, mobilizing the people and resolving arising issues has become easier.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202512/nguoi-giu-binh-yen-o-buon-ea-mdhar-1a-4060e32/