Non-administrative decision

Amidst the torrential rains and floods in the high mountains, two names were mentioned with gratitude and respect by the locals: Mùa A Thi and Ma Seo Chứ. Both were village chiefs who proactively evacuated residents before receiving orders from higher authorities. Without paperwork or administrative orders, their decisions saved the lives of 90 people in Háng Pu Xi (Điện Biên) and 115 people in Kho Vàng (Lào Cai). These were decisions stemming from the heart, from a sense of responsibility, and from courage in the most perilous moment.

Village chief Mùa A Thi.

On August 1st, Mùa A Thi, a 26-year-old man, braved the nighttime floodwaters, calling for help and carrying an elderly woman to safety. That night, only village chief Thi and the survival of the entire village mattered. A few minutes' delay would have made Háng Pu Xi a "black spot" on this year's disaster map. Later, only five houses in Háng Pu Xi were severely damaged; the rest were buried under the floodwaters.

On another rainy night in September 2024, Ma Seo Chu, the head of Kho Vang village, made a life-or-death decision: to evacuate all 17 households with 115 people to the mountains. There was no phone signal, no contact with superiors. But Ma Seo Chu didn't hesitate. And that decision later brought relief to the entire community: over 100 people were saved, even though the entire village was buried by the flood.

Both actions might be considered "overstepping authority" if viewed through a rigid, bureaucratic lens. But without those "bold" decisions, more than 200 people might not be here today. They did the right thing, at a time when no one told them to; only their hearts, experience, and the dictates of their conscience guided them.

Why did they dare to make such a decision? Because they lived among the people, understood where landslides might occur, and when the stream might change course. They knew what the villagers feared most and what they needed most during a rainy night in the mountains. Without waiting for "directives" or citing "lack of guidance," they chose to act—to save lives. This wasn't arbitrariness, but the highest expression of responsibility, one that was both practical and ethical.

The government has taken timely and appropriate action. Immediately after the incident, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed that Mua A Thi, the courageous village chief who risked his life to save people from the raging flood, be commended. Prior to that, Ma Seo Chu also received a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister for his outstanding contributions to the prevention and mitigation of the consequences of Typhoon No. 3.

Commending individuals like Mùa A Thi and Ma Seo Chứ should not be limited to isolated events. Instead, it needs to become a consistent and powerful message from the entire political system: honoring, encouraging, and protecting those who "dare to think, dare to act, and dare to take responsibility," whether they are a village chief in a remote highland area or an ordinary youth union member in a border region.

Spreading examples like Mùa A Thi and Ma Seo Chứ is not simply an act of inspiration. It is also a way to shape a new standard for officials—those who prioritize the interests of the people above their own; those who act not for medals, but deserve the respect of society as a whole. And, that is also how we preserve the courage and compassion—the core elements that create the strength of a nation.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202508/quyet-dinh-khong-hanh-chinh-7691415/