Disillusioned by migration to find the 'promised land'

(Baonghean) - Illegal immigration across the border in Ky Son district has been a hot issue in recent years. Thanks to the involvement of all levels and sectors, this situation has decreased significantly. However, to stabilize the situation in the long term, synchronous solutions are required...

Following the officers and soldiers of Na Ngoi Border Post, we visited the family of Mr. Gia Chong Tenh, in Ca Duoi village, Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son district. This is one of the households that “returned home” after a period of time in Laos, hoping to find the promised land.

In the cramped house of his eldest son, with regret, Gia Chong Tenh said: “Instead of a comfortable, prosperous life like many people think, life in your country is no less difficult. Moreover, Vietnamese people who have settled illegally there are not supported by the local government, so life becomes even more unstable.”

More than 2 years ago, Gia Chong Tenh decided to sell all his assets and house to illegally migrate to Laos with his wife and children under the pretext of reuniting with relatives and family members. However, after 2 years of "struggling" in a foreign land, when he returned, his family no longer had a house or fields, and nearly 10 mouths had to live on the family of his eldest son. From a well-off family, after 2 years of free migration, he became penniless.

Officers of the 4th Defense Economic Group guide Mong people in Na Ngoi (Ky Son) to take care of the arrowroot model. Photo: D.C.

The next case we met was Gia Chong Po, in Ca Duoi village, Na Ngoi commune. Recalling the days of living a vagrant life due to free migration, Gia Chong Po shared: “There is no greater foolishness than this. Out of nowhere, he left his birthplace to lead a life of misery and hiding. Luckily, his house was not sold yet, otherwise...”.

In 2014, Gia Chong Po crossed the border to Laos, but after 6 months in a foreign land with many difficulties, no land to produce, and the Lao government increasing inspection and control of illegal residents, Gia Chong Po and his wife and children had to ask to return to Vietnam through the refugee return route.

Fortunately, because he only intended to “explore”, Gia Chong Po did not sell his house yet, so after a difficult time at first, with the help of the government and the officers of Na Ngoi Border Post, his family life finally stabilized again. Currently, Gia Chong Po has bought 2 motorbikes, 3 buffaloes, 1 cow and many other valuable assets.

Leaving Na Ngoi, we went to Huoi Tu commune, which is also one of the "hot spots" for illegal migration to Laos. Mr. Ho Nhia Khu - Chairman of the Commune Fatherland Front Committee said: Up to now, the commune still has 2 households with 11 people who migrated to Laos and have not returned. There are 2 households with 10 people who intended to migrate, but after the commune discovered and mobilized them, they gave up their intention. Also here, we met Mr. Denh Dua Cho in Huoi Kha village, Huoi Tu commune, a person who migrated to Laos and returned.

Cho said: Before 2000, following the instigation and enticement of some people that it was easier to do business in Laos, with more land and more production, I discussed with my wife to sell all our assets and send our children to Laos. But when we arrived, my family had no home, no job, no land for production; diseases were constantly raging, making everyone in the family ill. After many years of being away from home, in 2003, my family decided to return to our homeland. Fortunately and touched, with the care and support of the local government; the protection and care of the villagers, my family now has a stable life.

Through our research, we learned that the main reason why the Mong people in Ky Son migrated was because they wanted to reunite with their families and relatives on the other side of the border due to long-standing kinship ties. In addition, the nomadic customs that have existed for generations have not changed.

Along with that, the awareness of the nation and borders is still very limited, so people consider migration as normal. In addition, due to the enticement and instigation of some bad elements with the argument "going to Laos, you are free to do business, happy...", while the awareness level of the people is still limited, they are easily deceived.

According to statistics, if at the end of 2015, the migration situation in Ky Son district was still high, with 81 households/492 people, then in the first 6 months of 2016, there were only 35 households/165 people, mainly people from Huoi Tu, My Ly, Nam Can, Nam Can, Dooc May and Na Ngoi communes migrating to Bo Ly KhamXay and Xieng Khouang provinces (Laos). That shows that the illegal migration situation has decreased significantly, but to make the situation truly stable is a problem, requiring the participation of all levels and sectors in the area.

Border guards coordinate to propagate the prevention of migration in Huoi Tu commune (Ky Son). Photo: Tran Hai

According to Mr. Xeo Van Nam - Head of the Ky Son District Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Committee, in the work of propaganda against illegal migration, the district has directed the authorities and commune-level organizations to coordinate with village elders and village chiefs to strengthen propaganda and mobilize extensively to each village and each household so that people are clearly aware that illegal migration is a violation of the law and poses many potential risks.

At the same time, commune officials regularly participate in village activities; directly exchange, talk, and learn about the thoughts, aspirations, difficulties, and problems that the people are facing. Through inspections and reports from the people, if any family is discovered to have the intention of selling buffaloes, cows, or houses to migrate to Laos, the commune government will immediately approach and inform the people of the whole commune not to buy the houses, buffaloes, or cows of that family...

Mr. Vi Hoe - Secretary of Ky Son District Party Committee said: Every 6 months, Ky Son district coordinates with Noong Het, Muong Kham, Muong Quan and Muong Moc districts of Laos to organize meetings and report on the economic, political, defense and security development of the locality. This includes reporting on the illegal migration of Mong people in Ky Son district to Laos; at the same time, coordinating with the competent authorities of the neighboring country to organize strict inspections and return citizens living illegally in Laos to Vietnam.

Dang Nguyen