'Fulcrum' of the border region

Maintain border security

In recent years, in the border communes of Ky Son and Que Phong districts, the number of cases of illegal drug trafficking and storage has decreased, but still has many potential complications and unpredictable consequences. According to statistics from the authorities, in Na Ngoi commune over the past 3 years, drug crimes have shown signs of increasing again, although the number of cases each year is less than in previous years.

Specifically, in 2019, there were 16 cases with 21 criminals involved in drug trafficking and transportation; in 2020, there were 15 cases with 19 criminals arrested and prosecuted; and in the first 10 months of 2021, there were 15 cases with 23 criminals arrested and prosecuted.

To prevent drug crimes from raging in border villages, especially in Na Ngoi commune, functional forces and local authorities have applied many measures to fight and destroy them, with the active participation of officers and soldiers.Defense Economic Group 4(Military Region 4), the unit is located in Na Ngoi commune.

Defense Economic Group 4 helps people grow crops to develop the economy. Photo: Quang Son

It was determined that one of the reasons leading to the situation of people participating in trading, transporting banned goods, and illegal migration partly comes from limited awareness, difficult life, high poverty rate... Besides propaganda work, the 4th National Defense Economic Group has closely combined the economy with national defense, combined with the implementation ofproject, population stabilization program, production support... re-planning villages and residential areas along the border, forming a solid belt to protect the national border.

At the same time, closely coordinate with the Public Security and Military agencies of the two districts of Ky Son and Que Phong, 8 communes and 7 border posts to develop regulations, plans and specific action programs. On that basis, regularly exchange information; coordinate propaganda and mobilize the masses to strictly comply with the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws and local regulations. Thereby, raise awareness of ethnic minorities in protecting national border security and sovereignty; do not let bad guys lure them to illegally cross the border, participate in drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal proselytizing. Thanks to that, the security and order situation in the area where the unit performs its tasks has changed a lot.

Officers and staff of the 4th National Defense Economic Group instruct people in Tri Le commune, Que Phong district, Nghe An province on how to care for passion fruit trees. Photo: Huy Cuong

In the past 5 years, the 4th National Defense Economic Group has also coordinated to organize 22 training courses for more than 3,000 people including commune officials, village elders, village chiefs, prestigious people... on knowledge of animal husbandry, cultivation, and building a cultural lifestyle. Opened 18 literacy classes for nearly 500 participants, mobilized 98 students to return to class and sponsored 32poor students overcome difficultiesThanks to that, people feel secure and confident to stay in their homeland to do business and live, and almost no longer have the intention of freely migrating.

Building a national defense posture

In early November 2021, we had the opportunity to visit Na Ngoi commune and witness the changes in the lives of the people here. Compared to 5 years ago, not only have the roads been concreted and asphalted, but many villages and hamlets here are also more prosperous and wealthy. According to Mr. Mua Ba Gio - Chairman of the People's Committee of Na Ngoi commune (Ky Son): For many years, the National Defense Economic Group 4 has become a "fulcrum" in the border area, helping the locality maintain political security, protect national border security, and implement many practical programs to help the people of Na Ngoi commune rise up to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty such as supporting tree and animal seeds, building transformer stations, low-voltage power lines, infrastructure works, etc.

Defense Economic Group 4 gave gifts to support and sponsored 32 poor students overcoming difficulties in border villages. Photo: Quang Son

In 2021, Defense Economic Group 4 mobilized nearly 6,000 officers and employees to help people overcome the consequences of natural disasters, support the government with materials to build new rural areas worth nearly 100 million VND; help 5 schools in the area build cafeterias, roofs, playgrounds, and surrounding walls with nearly 180 million VND.

The unit also coordinated with Na Ngoi Border Guard Station to build charity houses worth over 100 million VND and implemented 35 economic models to help poor households with an amount of 180 million VND. In addition, it provided free medical examinations and medicine to over 21,000 people, equivalent to a material value of 2.5 billion VND, contributing to protecting and improving people's health.

Most recently, on July 7, 2021, the family of Va Ba Khua and Ly Y Chu in Nam Can village had their entire house burned down by fire. Defense Economic Group 4 promptly provided necessities and helped the family with more than 225 working days, all materials to build the surrounding wall and house foundation with a total amount of over 100 million VND.

Unit 4 of the Military Economic Group coordinated to support the construction of a house worth over 100 million VND for Mr. Va Ba Khua's family. Photo: Quang Son

According to Colonel Chu Huy Luong - Political Commissar of the 4th National Defense Economic Group: Ky Son National Defense Economic Zone is identified as an important area for national defense and security of Nghe An province. The 4th National Defense Economic Group not only participates in maintaining security, order and social safety in the border villages where it is stationed, but also carries out many activities to promote the local economy, culture and society, aiming to build a national defense posture closely combined with the people's security posture, firmly maintaining the sovereignty of the western border of Nghe An.

By October 2021, the delegation had invested in the construction of 43 projects, of which 42 projects were completed, 37/42 projects were handed over to the locality for management and use, contributing to the gradual completion of local infrastructure, creating initial conditions for stabilizing the population and promoting production. The projects in the essential infrastructure sectors combined with the planning program, arranging, re-arranging, and re-settling the population for 797 households, and re-planning concentrated production areas have formed clusters of villages along the border, creating a solid, interconnected position in protecting national sovereignty.

Defense Economic Group 4 coordinated with localities to support free medical examination and treatment, build roads, and prevent the Covid-19 epidemic. Photo: Quang Son

In addition, implementing the project to replicate the poverty reduction model in the period of 2016-2020, the unit has built 29 models of cultivation and livestock breeding, 29 rounds of providing trees and seedlings worth 7 billion VND for 667 households in 32 villages under Program 30a, 135. Many effective models such as raising buffaloes and cows for breeding, growing native peaches, Shan Tuyet tea... creating a clear change in the local socio-economic situation. Average income of poor households increased by 13-15%, crop productivity increased by 16.76%, creating jobs for 18.72% of rural workers, contributing to reducing poverty by an average of 4-6% (Ky Son district reduced poverty from 65.57% in 2015 to 42.21% in 2020; Que Phong district reduced poverty from 51.4% in 2015 to 22.6% in 2020)...

At the Conference to survey the results of construction and operation of the new Ky Son National Defense Economic Zone held in November 2021, leaders of Ky Son and Que Phong districts all said that the practical models and work of the National Defense Economic Group 4 are truly a lever of important significance in both socio-economic and defense-security aspects in the border area. Not only does it help the locality exploit its potential, create concentrated raw material areas and many jobs with high incomes for ethnic minorities, but it also contributes to limiting illegal migration, slash-and-burn farming, and protecting upstream forests...