Footsteps that bring peace to the vast forest.

According to the plan, from the end of December of the previous year to the end of April of the following year, the highland communes of Son La province form inter-agency working groups to carry out propaganda and eradicate opium poppy cultivation.

Each person had to carry 15 to 20 kg of supplies on their shoulders for the journey of eating, sleeping, and carrying out their duties in the forest for many days.

Over a period of 3-7 days, each task force, consisting of approximately 15 members, carries food, hammocks, medicine, and machetes, traversing treacherous paths to eat, sleep, and carry out their duties in the forest.

We followed the inter-agency task force of Ta Xua commune, Son La province, on a patrol and inspection of the border area. This area used to be a place where opium poppies were replanted due to its rugged terrain, remoteness from residential areas, and lack of traffic. While the mist still covered the trails, the members of the inter-agency task force adjusted their backpacks, checking their food and equipment. Each person carried 15 to 20 kg of supplies for several days of living and sleeping in the forest. Some carried rice, others pots and pans, medicine, machetes, and protective gear. For them, this had become a familiar task every opium poppy eradication season.

Comrade Phung Van Duc, a police officer from Ta Xua commune and head of Task Force No. 2, said that border areas often have very complex terrain, requiring days of walking through the forest to access them. In some places, there have never been any trails, so the forces have to clear vegetation as they go to create paths.

As previously discussed, after only a few hours of hiking, the harshness of the old-growth forest became apparent. Steep slopes followed one another. Climbing up meant descending into deep ravines. Some sections were slippery, forcing everyone to cling to tree roots or hold onto rock faces to move forward. The hot, humid air made everyone sweat profusely, their clothes soaked. Amidst the vast wilderness, the small group silently pressed forward. The sounds of machetes clearing trees, footsteps treading on decaying leaves, and the rustling of the forest wind created the characteristic sounds of these extraordinary journeys. Thus, around noon, the group stopped on mountaintops, under the shade of trees, to quickly eat the meal they had brought along. Without much time to rest, they continued their journey before nightfall.

Dinner in the forest for the inter-agency task force always takes place around 9 PM. Besides the rice they brought, the members take advantage of the opportunity to catch stream fish and gather wild vegetables to improve their meals. After a long day of trekking through the forest and mountains, everyone is exhausted but still takes turns checking the area around their resting place to ensure safety. Many people use ferns as makeshift beds. Some choose large rocks by the stream to nap on. Before sleeping, everyone sprays insect repellent on their clothes and dries branches to prevent leeches from clinging to them. However, the cold, dampness, and the sounds of insects at night make sleep restless.

During their days in the forest, many members woke up at 4 a.m. to light fires and prepare for the day. The journey continued with a familiar rhythm: walking in the morning, resting at night, day after day deep in the forest. After days of continuous trekking, signs of exhaustion were evident on many faces. Their clothes were torn and scratched by thorns, their arms and legs were covered in insect bites, and many were bitten by leeches until they bled. The good news was that throughout the many days of inspection, the team had not found any areas of opium poppy replanting. According to the members, this was a sign that people's awareness had gradually changed after years of propaganda, persuasion, and vigorous eradication efforts.

Comrade Do Van Xiem, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ta Xua commune, said: Compared to the past, the area of ​​replanted opium poppies has decreased significantly. However, the risk of re-infestation remains, especially in remote areas bordering different provinces. Therefore, functional forces still have to maintain regular patrols and inspections during the opium poppy growing season.

Besides facing harsh natural conditions, the members of the task force also encountered many other dangers. Stories of past acts of resistance are still recounted today as warnings to the task force. Comrade Mua A Ba, a health worker in the commune and a member of the task force, said: "Going into the forest for many days requires participants to have good health and survival experience. More dangerous is the possibility of being threatened by those who resist. At one point, some individuals even rolled logs down from the mountain to obstruct the force from eradicating opium poppies. Many members of the task force have been threatened for participating in mobilizing people to eradicate opium poppies."

For over 20 years, such trips have taken place regularly every year during the opium poppy growing season. The core force of these inter-agency task forces mainly consists of local officials, commune police, militia, forest rangers, health workers, and people familiar with the area. They are the ones who directly stay in the forests and villages to prevent the return of opium poppies. What is commendable is that after these persistent efforts, the awareness of the highland people has changed significantly. Previously, opium poppies were considered a source of livelihood, but now many households have switched to growing corn and rice, developing livestock farming, and engaging in community tourism. The mountain slopes once stained purple with opium poppies are gradually being covered in green by forest trees and corn fields.

Without fanfare or ostentation, members of the inter-agency task force silently overcome dangers to maintain peace in the remote villages and hamlets of the highlands. These humble people are contributing to ensuring that each spring in the Northwest highlands is no longer tinged with the purple of opium poppies, but instead is filled with the green of hope and peaceful life.

QUOC TUAN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nhung-buoc-chan-giu-binh-yen-noi-dai-ngan-post965756.html