Militia and Self-Defense Forces: "Iron Wall" protecting the Fatherland

(Baonghean) - On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Militia and Self-Defense Force, Nghe An Newspaper interviewed Colonel Ha Tan Tien, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Commander of the Provincial Military Command.

The regular militia platoon of Nghi Hoa commune (Nghi Loc district) trains in martial arts. Photo: Trong Kien

PV:Dear comrade! The Nghe An Militia and Self-Defense Force was established very early and has achieved many glorious achievements, adding to the heroic tradition of the Soviet homeland. Could you please tell us more about this heroic historical journey?

Colonel Ha Tan Tien:The provincial militia force was born very early, an inevitable result of the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement. From the mountains to the plains and coasts, everywhere there were guerrilla groups as the core of the fight to protect the area, preventing the enemy from robbing and killing people. During the 9 years of resistance against the French colonialists, the militia always stood shoulder to shoulder with the main force, fighting the enemy, working, producing, transporting, and providing logistics to serve the front line.

During the resistance war against the US to save the country, Nghe An was both the frontline and the rear of the whole country, so the US imperialists repeatedly sent spies and commandos to sabotage and used over 40,000 planes and warships to drop and bombard more than 20,000 tons of bombs and ammunition of all kinds, causing serious consequences for the locality. In the face of difficulties, challenges and fierce bombs from the enemy, the provincial militia and self-defense forces, together with the regular army and local people, persevered in holding their ground, both producing and fighting, ensuring transportation, supporting the frontline; capturing and destroying most of the spy and commando groups, shooting down many planes, destroying and capturing many enemy pilots, sinking and burning many warships of all kinds. In addition to combat missions, hundreds of thousands of working days were also mobilized, along with traffic forces, youth volunteers, and frontline laborers, to dig and fill millions of cubic meters of earth and rock to fill bomb craters, repair bridges and roads, open many new routes, clear tens of thousands of bombs and mines of all kinds, successfully completing the task of ensuring traffic in the area, maintaining traffic arteries in all situations, and providing timely support to the battlefields.

Entering the stage of building and protecting the socialist Fatherland, Nghe An militia and self-defense forces have always been a powerful force of the all-people national defense posture and the people's security posture. In building the base, the security cluster is the master, ready to fight, the militia and self-defense forces are the core force. The voices and actions of those who eat, live and work together in the community have a positive effect on building a new life. In recent years, the province has mobilized thousands of militia and self-defense forces, hundreds of vehicles to participate in the fronts of storm and flood prevention, search and rescue, fire and explosion prevention, forest fire prevention, coordinated participation in preventing and fighting natural disasters, epidemics, social evils, maintaining political stability in the area and performing other urgent tasks when needed. Up to now, 965 units have organized militia and self-defense forces, including 480 militia units, 485 self-defense units, all military branches, reaching 1.4% of the population; 27.8% of party members. The militia and self-defense force has affirmed itself as an important force in the national defense and security situation of the province.

Thoroughly grasping the two strategic tasks set by the Party in the new period: Building and defending the Fatherland, the militia and self-defense force, together with the people of the province, has actively contributed to promoting the cause of industrialization and modernization, being exemplary in labor and production, together with other forces contributing to ensuring security and order - social order and safety in each locality. With great achievements in combat, combat service and labor and production, 10 collectives and 3 individuals in the militia and self-defense force of the province have been awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces and other noble awards by the State. The glorious achievements in the two resistance wars for national liberation and the cause of building and defending the Fatherland of the Nghe An militia and self-defense force have embellished the heroic tradition of the Soviet homeland.

PV:With those achievements, the provincial militia force has made great contributions to the cause of national liberation, construction and protection of the Fatherland. Could you please tell us about the position and role of the militia force in the past and present?

Colonel Ha Tan Tien:Militia and self-defense forces are armed forces of the masses, not separated from production and work, are a part of the people's armed forces under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the management and administration of the Government and People's Committees, the direct direction and command of military agencies at all levels, and are one of the main tools to protect the Party, protect the government, protect the lives and property of the people, and the property of the State at the grassroots level. This force is organized in communes, wards, and towns called militia, organized in State agencies, administrative and career units, economic organizations, and socio-political organizations called self-defense. Militia and self-defense forces are organized and built widely, are both local and mobile forces, capable of fighting the enemy as quickly and promptly as possible, everywhere, at all times, on all terrains, restraining, wearing down, dispersing, and destroying small parts of the enemy, creating conditions for the main force to attack and strike a decisive blow. Regarding the Militia and Self-Defense Forces, our Party has determined that they are a strategic force throughout the process of armed revolutionary struggle in our country.

The Dien Ngoc Commune Marine Militia Platoon (Dien Chau) trains in coastal defense. Photo: D.T.

The militia plays a very important role in protecting our rear. Because in any war, a strong rear is a constant factor deciding the victory of the resistance war.

The militia and self-defense forces, as well as the main force and local forces, are the children of the working people, enlightened and educated by the Party, not only having a high sense of patriotism but also a sense of class awareness. Therefore, under the leadership of the Party Committee and the administration of the authorities at all levels, the militia and self-defense forces are always the main tool to protect the national interests and the interests of the people at each base in all conditions.

PV:To meet the requirements and tasks in the new situation, how will the construction, education and training of the provincial militia and self-defense force be implemented?

Colonel Ha Tan Tien:In the coming time, the tasks and requirements for the militia and self-defense forces will be increasingly higher. Therefore, the work of building the militia and self-defense forces must meet the following objectives: Reasonable quantity, increasingly high overall quality, focusing on building political quality and reliability; organizing a lean, compact and tight staff; equipping suitable weapons; providing comprehensive and practical political and legal education and military training; increasing combat readiness and combat strength, better meeting the requirements of national defense and security tasks in the new situation, truly being a reliable political force of the Party committees, authorities and local people. Focus on building and improving the quality of the militia and self-defense forces in key areas and complex areas to ensure sufficient capacity to respond to situations that arise.

Building, educating and training the militia and self-defense force is the responsibility of the entire Party and people, so in the coming time, Party committees at all levels need to thoroughly grasp and concretize the Resolutions of the Party Congresses at all levels, Resolution 04 of the Provincial Party Committee on strengthening national defense and security. Continue to implement Directive 16 of the Central Secretariat (9th tenure) on strengthening the Party's leadership over the militia and self-defense force and the militia and self-defense force in the new situation; Military agencies at all levels shall advise Party committees and authorities to issue resolutions and directives to lead and direct during the term and annually on national defense, local military and militia and self-defense work. Strengthen information and propaganda work to create a fundamental change in awareness and raise responsibility in building the militia and self-defense force.

Regularly and strictly organize the review, registration, and management of citizens of military service age; select core military forces according to the motto "People know, people discuss, people elect". Focus on leading the building of mobile military forces, air defense militia, and regular militia in border areas, sea areas, and key areas under the direction of the Ministry and the Military Region. Consolidate, improve, and build self-defense forces in joint-stock enterprises, foreign-invested enterprises, private enterprises, limited liability companies, and private companies. Pay attention to leading the development of party members and union members to increase the proportion of party members and union members in the military. Strictly implement the program of political and legal education and military training for military subjects according to the regulations of the Ministry and the Military Region; at the same time, innovate educational methods to raise political and legal awareness and operational capacity of the military forces. Annually organize training courses for militia and self-defense officers to improve their comprehensive knowledge, select, train and use military commanders of communes, wards and towns...

PV:Thank you comrade!

Thanh Son(Perform)

Some activities of the militia in the province:

Photo: Dao Tuan - Chien Thang