Border guard soldiers have quietly devoted themselves, overcoming hardships and challenges to disseminate information and encourage local residents to strictly follow the Party’s guidelines and the State’s laws and policies. They have accompanied the local people in fostering socio-economic development in this vital frontier area.
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Officers and soldiers of the Border Post of Tinh Bien International Border Gate in a patrol session (Photo: bienphong.com.vn) |
The Border Post of Tinh Bien International Border Gate is responsible for managing and protecting a 16 km-long border section running through the communes of An Nong, An Phu, and Nhon Hung in Tinh Bien district, bordering Takeo province of Cambodia. This area is home to a diverse population, including Khmer, Cham, Chinese-Vietnamese, and Kinh people, with the Khmer being one of the most long-established and populous ethnic groups.
Most Khmer residents here rely on traditional farming, such as cultivating rice and sugarcane, and raising cattle and goats. Some engage in small-scale trading, tapping palm sugar, or seasonal work in Cambodia. Due to limited resources and legal awareness, many face difficult and unstable living conditions.
As the core force in safeguarding national sovereignty and border security, the Border Post has closely coordinated with local authorities and residents to maintain political security and public order. At the same time, they have actively helped locals escape poverty and improve their living standards through practical and meaningful activities. These efforts have strengthened the bond between soldiers and civilians, contributing to building a strong all-people border defense posture.
More than a decade ago, due to economic hardship and lack of legal awareness, a small number of local residents were lured into illegal cross-border activities. However, thanks to strong efforts in education and outreach by border guards and local authorities, violations of the law have significantly declined.
Implementing Directive 681-CT/DU of the Standing Board of the Party Committee of the Border Guard Command, the station has assigned its Party members to support households in border areas. Currently, 35 Party members are responsible for 70 households in Tinh Bien ward and An Nong commune. By participating in local grassroots Party cells and directly supporting families, these members have played a key role in disseminating laws and encouraging locals to follow the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws, thereby contributing to maintaining security for socio-economic development.
Thanks to their close connection with locals, border guard troops have quickly grasped situational developments and detected and handled violations in a timely manner, helping maintain political security and social order.
Nguyen Hoai An, a Party member from Tinh Bien ward, is pleased with the positive changes in the locality. He said that the practical achievements partly result from the initiative of assigning Party members to localities. He noted that border guard troops have become active members of local Party cells, facilitating communication and community transformation. As a result, many ethnic minority households have been able to build permanent homes, purchase essential goods, and increase their incomes, with poverty rates steadily declining.
These assigned Party members have acted as bridges between the border guard force and ethnic communities. They have regularly visited and listened to locals, thereby providing appropriate support. Their efforts have contributed to enhancing locals’ trust in the Party and the State. Through information dissemination and legal education activities, border guard troops have helped raise awareness of rights and obligations, and encouraged people to strictly abide by laws and participate in preventing and combating cross-border smuggling and illegal trade.
In recent years, the Border Post has made recommendations to local Party committees and authorities to develop effective socio-economic development models. They have also partnered with local departments and organizations to conduct agricultural training, provide seeds and livestock, and guide residents in applying science and technology to increase productivity.
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The unit’s officers and soldiers inquire after and present gifts to Khmer monks on the occasion of the Chol Chnam Thmay. |
Additionally, the unit has sponsored and cared for students from poor families, especially Khmer children, offering support for education and living expenses to help them stay in school and build brighter futures. Through the "Shelter for the Poor on the Border" program, the border post has mobilized resources to build new homes for poor and policy-beneficiary families, ensuring stable living conditions for productive work.
These practical and compassionate efforts have greatly contributed to poverty reduction, improved living conditions, and stronger civil-military solidarity, helping build a firm all-people border defense posture and ensuring security and order in the border area.
Translated by Tran Hoai