Spreading mass mobilization model
After 18 years of implementation, the military-civilian model celebrating traditional Chol Chnam Thmay festival has made new milestones in the mass mobilization work of Military Region 9 and Can Tho city’s armed forces. Originated from Can Tho city, this model has been spread nationwide, drawing the participation of many troops and Khmer people.
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Women Union of Soc Trang provincial Military Command joins activities during the event. |
With the theme “Soc Trang provincial armed forces return to the root and celebrate traditional Chol Chnam Thmay festival,” the Soc Trang provincial Military Command organized activities in response to the festival in Vinh Phuoc ward, Vinh Chau town, which is home to mostly Khmer people.
Political Commissar of the Soc Trang provincial Military Command Senior Colonel Do Tien Sy held that the unit disseminated information among troops, local authorities and people about the meaning of activities in celebration of the traditional Chol Chnam Thmay festival, and directed affiliated units to organize these activities as scheduled, while mobilizing all resources to bring practical outcomes. Therefore, the activities were held as regulated, meeting local people’s demands.
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Leaders of the Can Tho city Military Command offer scholarships to poor students with good academic outcomes. |
After successfully organizing traditional Chol Chnam Thmay festival celebrations in Minh Hoa commune, Chau Thanh district last year, this year, the Kien Giang provincial Military Command continued these activities in An Minh Bac commune, U Minh Thuong district to support local Khmer people.
“In order to ensure the schedule of these activities, since the end of 2023, the unit, in coordination with local authorities and Khmer people, has implemented projects and programs as planned. Thanks to that, all the activities have been completed and exceeded the planned targets,” added Senior Colonel Cao Minh Tam, Deputy Political Commissar of the Kien Giang provincial Military Command.
Many practical construction and activities
After the launching ceremony of the activities held for Khmer people on the occasion of the traditional Chol Chnam Thmay festival at Xeo Me Pagoda, the armed forces, together with local forces, actively conducted their assigned tasks.
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Leaders of Soc Trang province hand over gifts to pagodas on the occasion of the traditional Chol Chnam Thmay Festival. |
In addition to disseminating information about the Party’s guidelines and policies, and State’s laws, the program was also an occasion to implement gratitude activities, such as presenting gifts to policy and needy households, granting scholarships and bicycles to needy students, building and upgrading roads, to name but a few.
Meanwhile, in Can Tho city, local armed forces worked with the authorities of Chau Van Liem ward, O Mon district to build projects and clean the environment around the Khmer Theravada Buddhist Academy, presented 15 gratitude and “great unity” houses to religious people. In addition, it also granted 300 gifts to needy Khmer people, offered 100 scholarships to needy Khmer students with good academic outcomes, provided free health check-ups and medicines to local people, among others.
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Inaugurating a military-civilian project during the event |
For many Khmer people in Loan My commune, Tam Binh district, Vinh Long province, this year’s traditional New Year festival would be a memorable event, because this was the first time they have had chance to join meaningful activities organized by the Vinh Long provincial Military Command, such as listening to the history of Dai Tho Pagoda, presenting 109 gifts to poor Khmer households, and folk games, among others.
For ethnic minority people in general, and the Khmer people in particular, the military-civilian program creates favorable conditions for them to raise awareness and build the new-style rural area, eliminate backward customs, preserve and uphold valuable cultural values, and promote the great national unity, to name but a few.
With the spirit of “No one is left behind,” the military-civilian model holds important significance, contributing to showing the solidarity among ethnic minority groups, and tightening military-civilian ties.
Translated by Minh Anh