Coordinate bilateral patrols and check border markers during flood season

Photo caption — Thuong Phuoc International Border Gate Border Guard Station ( Dong Thap ), Kaoh Roka Border Guard Police Station (Prey Veng province) and Cambodian Border Guard Company 3 check border markers and signs during flood season.

Faced with that situation, the Border Guard force of Dong Thap province and the functional forces of Prey Veng province (Cambodia) conducted bilateral patrols, checking border markers and sign posts to ensure the integrity of the border marker system, maintain border security and strengthen the friendly cooperative relationship between the two provinces.

Coordinated bilateral patrols

Floodwaters rose, the fields became vast seas of water, many border markers and sign posts were submerged in water. Recently, the Thuong Phuoc International Border Gate Border Guard Station (Dong Thap province) coordinated with the Kaoh Roka Border Guard Police Station (Prey Veng province) and the 3rd Cambodian Border Guard Company to organize a bilateral patrol. Because the floodwaters were still deep, the two sides had to patrol by boat; inspecting 4 main border markers, 6 secondary border markers and 12 sign posts to clarify the border. During the bilateral patrol, the forces of both sides had to immerse themselves in water to check the current status of each border marker and sign post to clarify the border.

Lieutenant Lam Thanh An, Armed Team Leader of Thuong Phuoc International Border Gate Border Guard Station, said that during this bilateral patrol with the neighboring country's forces, the two sides agreed on the time and location for the patrol as planned. For markers that were deeply submerged in water, the two sides' forces dived down to examine the integrity of the markers and the signs; from there, the Border Guard Station's command staff proposed measures to continue handling them during the flood season.

Also participating in the bilateral patrol was Captain Maut Tha, Captain of Company 3, Cambodian Border Guard. According to Captain Maut Tha, the bilateral patrol during the flood season aims to review the current status of border markers and promptly report to superiors any arising situations. Through checking the previous situation and this bilateral patrol, the border guards of both sides checked and the results showed that the current status of the markers and sign posts had not changed.

After the patrol, the two sides agreed to sign a record on the status of the border markers and committed to protecting the border, ensuring security and order in the border area. In addition, during the bilateral patrol, the functional forces of Dong Thap province and Prey Veng province (Cambodia) also exchanged news and situations related to the two sides of the border; thereby further strengthening the relationship between the two sides.

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Trung Hieu, Deputy Head of Thuong Phuoc International Border Guard Station, said that based on the actual situation, at the beginning of the flood season, the unit had developed a plan and discussed and agreed with the competent forces of the neighboring country to install markers to identify the landmarks. Currently, the flood water is starting to recede, based on the actual situation and according to regulations, the unit has developed a specific plan, coordinated with the neighboring country to discuss and agree on the location, time, and method of conducting patrols and conducted bilateral patrols to re-check the system of markers and signposts.

Building a border of friendship, cooperation and sustainable development

According to the Border Guard of Dong Thap province, the unit has overcome difficulties, proactively organized border surveys and advised the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People's Committee on border demarcation and marker planting according to the Supplementary Treaty on Border Demarcation and Marker Planting between the two Governments of Vietnam and Cambodia. On the Vietnam - Cambodia border, Dong Thap is the first province to complete border demarcation and marker planting with Prey Veng province in 2018; built 16 main markers, 101 secondary markers and 30 sign posts to clarify the border.

Dong Thap shares a border with Prey Veng province (Cambodia) of more than 50 km (of which nearly 12 km is on land, more than 38 km is on river); 2 international border gates (Dinh Ba, Thuong Phuoc), 5 secondary border gates (Thong Binh, Binh Phu, A Don, Moc Ra, So Thuong). Based on the Cooperation Agreement between the two countries, the Dong Thap Provincial Border Guard Command identifies bilateral patrolling as a key task. Dong Thap Border Guard regularly coordinates with Cambodia's border protection force to inspect the system of border markers, prevent illegal entry and exit, smuggling, and maintain security and order.

Along with the task of managing and controlling immigration, the Border Guard of Dong Thap province focuses on foreign affairs, especially implementing bilateral patrol activities, talks and border diplomacy with border protection forces of neighboring countries. In addition to professional activities, the Border Guard Stations of Dong Thap also actively carry out foreign affairs, twinning programs, coordinate with organizations and sponsoring units to organize gift giving, medical examinations, and free medicine distribution for people in Cambodia...

With the motto “Proactive, flexible, humane, serving the people”, the Border Guard of Dong Thap province has been continuing to promote tradition, strengthening comprehensive cooperation with the Cambodian border protection force. Thanks to that, border security sovereignty is maintained, creating a solid foundation for economic, cultural and social development in the border area, contributing to building a peaceful , friendly, cooperative and sustainable development border between Dong Thap and Prey Veng provinces.