Over the past years, the program has helped consolidate the close-knit military-civilian ties, deepening the image of Uncle Ho’s coast guard troops in the hearts of the people, and build a firm people’s heart posture, meeting the task requirements of protecting national maritime sovereignty and security in the new situation.
To make fishermen feel secure to fish offshore and hold on to the sea under the motto of each vessel going offshore is a sovereignty marker and each fisherman is a soldier to safeguard national sovereignty over the sea and islands, the Standing Board of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Coast Guard has partnered with their peers from coastal cities and provinces to carry out this meaningful program since 2019.
From that on, the program has been widely carried out, having great impacts and influences on the whole society.
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Lt. Gen. Bui Quoc Oai presents gifts to and talks with fishermen at a fishing port in Con Dao district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. |
Attentively, via this program, a number of mass mobilization activities have been conducted, such as the “Coast guards and ethnic and religious people,” “Border Spring,” “Tet on islands,” “Mid-autumn festival in border areas” programs, and the contest entitled “I love national sea and islands.” So far, the Vietnam Coast Guard Command’s affiliates have held 120 versions of the contest in 92 districts and towns in 35 cities and provinces nationwide.
The contest has held an educational and political significance and become a useful and effective playground, drawing the participation of a number of teachers, students, and people from all walks of life, receiving big applause from localities, and inspiring students to further study and improve knowledge of maritime sovereignty and skills of drug and school violence prevention and to show their citizen responsibility right in school age.
Notably, the Vietnam Coast Guard Command’s affiliates have held hundreds of meetings to disseminate information about Vietnam’s sea and islands, the UNCLOS 1982, the Law of Fisheries 2017, anti-IUU fishing regulation to nearly 200,000 cadres, Party members, people, fishermen, and students. The coast guard force has also conducted patrols, inspections at sea to encourage fishermen to comply with the law and to develop the sea economy sustainably.
Moreover, fishermen have also been provided with knowledge of maritime safety, fire prevention and control at sea, skills to deal with incidents at sea and given timely support to vessels and fishermen in distress.
In fact, the “Coast guards stand side-by-side with fishermen” program has helped enhance the great national unity bloc, raise patriotism, national pride, promote citizen responsibility in law observance, contributing to national sovereignty and security protection and the struggle to safeguard the nation’s maritime sovereignty. The program has truly been a strong fulcrum for fishermen nationwide to fish offshore, hold on to the sea and develop sea economy and a highlight in mass mobilization work.
To promote the mass mobilization work in the coming time, Lt. Gen. Bui Quoc Oai, Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Vietnam Coast Guard, said that renovation must be made with more effective leadership and direction from higher levels and closer coordination from localities. In addition, more programs and movements should be launched. Information exchange should be strengthened to keep coast guard units updated with situations in stationed areas, to give timely solutions to crimes and violations at sea and conduct disaster relief and search and rescue operations at sea.
The quality of dissemination, especially about legal information, among fishermen should be raised as well to stop fishermen from fishing illegally in foreign waters, consolidating the people’s trust in the leadership of the Party and the management of the State.
Translated by Mai Huong