Reportedly, Giang Thanh district has over 42km of borderline. Since it is home to Giang Thanh national border gate, a number of trails, and a broad system of rivers and canals, it is not easy for the district to manage the border and border gate.
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A standing militia post in Giang Thanh district, Kien Giang province |
Colonel Bui Canh Nha, Commanding Officer of the district Military Command, said that to prevent illegal immigration, border crossings, and diseases, the command has, over the past years, directed militia troops at the posts to team up with local public security, border, and other authorized forces to conduct patrols, monitor, and defend the borderline and border markers.
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A militia troop plays the role model in the disassembly and assembly of an AK sub-machine gun. |
The militia force has also prevented acts of violating national sovereignty in a timely manner, joined hands with local organizations to disseminate information, and encouraged local people to realize the Party’s guideline, the State’s laws, and other local resolutions, directives, and plans on socio-economic development and the enhancement of defense and security posture. Notably, they have cooperated with the border protection force of Cambodia to manage and maintain local security and order and promptly prevent violations of border regulations.
According to Col. Nha, “militia posts are arranged alternately with border posts, border checkpoints, and residential clusters in the local combat village and commune, and defensive area disposition.” The building of these standing militia posts faced difficulties at first. However, with due attention and direction from the local party committee and authorities, it has reaped important outcomes.
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Militia troops draw lessons after each duty performance. |
In these standing militia posts, there are kitchens, living and working spaces for militia troops, and other technical facilities for troops to perform their border protection duties.
Along with regular combat readiness capability training, the standing militia force garrisoned in these posts has promoted activities to tighten the solidarity between troops and local people, making the militia posts in border communes a fulcrum for local people in production and business operation. The force has also exerted efforts to enhance the ties between people living on both sides of the shared borderline and has been pro-actively engaged in forest fire fighting, disaster prevention and control, and search and rescue operations. It can be said that whenever people need, militia troops are present.
Tran Thanh Viet, a resident in Dong Cu Hamlet, Vinh Dieu commune, Giang Thanh district recalled that in late 2018, 10 hectares of to-be-harvested rice of his family were flooded. Thanks to the timely assistance of Dong Cu militia post, damage to his family was reduced remarkably. “Despite hardships and difficulties, militia troops actively supported local people. Thanks to the militia post, local people are no longer worried, and the border area is peaceful,” Viet said.
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The overview of a standing militia post in Giang Thanh district. Each post, covering an area of some 2 sq.km, is equipped with video, audio devices and has internet connection. |
In a recent conversation, Senior Colonel Nguyen Van Nganh, Chief of the Kien Giang provincial Military Command, said that the command has made recommendations to the provincial party committee and people’s committee to build standing militia posts in border areas to contribute to the firm building of defensive area and guarantee of defense and security posture in the locality. In the coming time, the command will give more advice to better the personnel organization and policies for militia troops to actualize the plan for the operation of militia and self-defense forces in the 2021-2015 period.
Translated by Mai Huong