Not only do the soldiers in green uniforms protect the sovereignty of the territory and national border security, they also carry the mission of being the bridge between the people's hearts and the Party's will.

They are border guards who are strengthened to participate in the Party Committees of border communes; are party members who are introduced to participate in activities with the Party cells of border villages; are officers and professional soldiers assigned to be in charge of and accompany households in difficult circumstances, vulnerable groups, who are easily lured and exploited by hostile forces...

Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Long Sap commune, Moc Chau district, Son La guides people in implementing economic models.

What have the green-uniformed soldiers carrying a special mission done to, together with local Party committees and authorities, consolidate the political system, improve the leadership capacity, effectiveness and efficiency of Party committees and authorities at all levels in the border areas, bringing about changes in the border areas of the country? The series of articles “Special party members in Son La border" by the VOV Northwest reporter group mentioned this content.

The second mission on the shoulder of the soldier's uniform

Implementing the policy of the Secretariat on increasing border guards participating in border commune Party Committees, in recent times, Deputy Party Secretaries wearing green uniforms of Son La province have contributed to building "green steel ramparts" and "solid fortresses" throughout the high border areas.

The "revolution" changes party members' ideology

"Pa Khom village, Chieng Tuong commune is the border village that I am in charge of. The Pa Khom village Party cell had many problems in the past, and the Party cell secretary himself was involved in social evils. Party members did not dare to speak up, because the issue involved relatives, family members...

When I was assigned to be in charge of the village, right on the occasion of the Party cell congress and the implementation of Conclusion No. 1037 of the Son La Provincial Party Committee, as the Party cell secretary and village chief, I boldly proposed and advised the Party Committee to change the activities of the Party cell and change the personnel. During the congress, many Party members were very shy due to their relationships. After that, I was still determined to change and assigned a comrade with the ability and enthusiasm for the job to take on the position of Secretary and village chief."

The presence of the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the commune wearing a green military uniform has helped the border village of Pa Khom have obvious changes.

The "revolution" that changed the way of thinking and working of the Party Committee and Party members and changed the appearance of Pa Khom border village is a special memory for Mr. Quach Ngoc Dang, Chieng Tuong Border Guard Station, Son La Border Guard when he was promoted to participate in the Party Committee, holding the position of Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Chieng Tuong commune, Yen Chau district, Son La.

That is also what Pa Khom people acknowledge and cherish, as shared by Mr. Phang Lao Chanh, Party cell secretary and head of Pa Khom village: "Previously, Pa Khom had some party members with unstable ideology. After comrade Dang came to take charge of the village, he gave instructions and convinced the party members in the party cell, thoroughly understanding the party's viewpoints. Now Pa Khom has had clear changes. The party cell has gathered party members and united them, helping people develop the socio-economy, ensuring national defense and security. Since then, the party members in the party cell have complied well, no comrade has violated the law."

In 2016, Mr. Quach Ngoc Dang was the first cadre of Chieng Tuong Border Post as well as Son La Border Guard to carry on this mission, since the Secretariat's policy on strengthening Border Guard participation in border commune-level Party committees.

“At first, I encountered difficulties because I was living in a military environment. At the grassroots, the living conditions also changed. However, with the role of Deputy Secretary and the spirit of a soldier, I overcame the difficulties. During my time at the grassroots, I was also loved and cared for by the people, who created favorable conditions to help me complete my tasks well,” said Mr. Dang.

Mr. Quach Ngoc Dang (standing in the middle) has made many contributions to the border villages of Chieng Tuong.

During nearly two terms as Deputy Secretary of the Commune Party Committee, Mr. Dang has contributed to the Chieng Tuong Commune Party Committee to consolidate the grassroots political system in the border area, such as resolutely appointing capable people to be Party cell secretaries and village chiefs; guiding Party cells to improve the quality of activities...

In 2016, the Chieng Tuong Commune Party Committee had only 180 members and 13 Party cells, of which 2 were not sustainable. Now, the commune Party Committee has 15 Party cells and more than 260 members. People's lives have gradually changed, especially in 4 border villages where 100% of the population is Mong ethnic people.

Border villages are changing day by day.

Mr. Lu Van Cuong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Chau district, Son La province, affirmed: The policy of increasing border guards at the grassroots level is a very correct policy. In reality, grassroots officers have advised local Party committees and authorities to issue leadership resolutions on economic development in border communes, military-civilian programs, especially protecting the border, landmarks, and ensuring security and order in the area.

Transforming complex border areas

The image of the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee wearing a green military uniform is also deeply imprinted in the hearts of cadres, party members and people of Tan Xuan border commune, Van Ho district, Son La - a land once devastated by drugs, illegal immigration, illegal religious activities...

Staying close to the people since he was a border guard officer, with decades of working experience, when he was promoted to Deputy Secretary of the Tan Xuan Commune Party Committee, Lieutenant Colonel Do Van Loi advised the local Party Committee, authorities, and the unit's Command Committee on many solutions to consolidate the political base; promptly resolve incidents, not allowing them to become "hot spots" of security and order, affecting the local socio-economic development.

“In the past, there were many drug addicts, leading to theft, drug trafficking... I coordinated with the Party Committee, the government and relatives to encourage drug addicts to seek treatment. When a complicated incident occurred in the area, I reported to my superiors, proposed to the Party Committee and People's Committee to coordinate and assign people to the grassroots to grasp the incident, grasp the thoughts and the people to gradually resolve the issue. Together with the village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people there to propagate and mobilize.” – Lieutenant Colonel Do Van Loi recounted.

Lieutenant Colonel Do Van Loi, Deputy Secretary of the Tan Xuan Commune Party Committee, propagates and mobilizes many people who have made mistakes to seek treatment for drug addiction.

The presence of border guards in the Tan Xuan commune Party Committee has contributed significantly to the transformation of a difficult and complicated area in terms of security and order. For many consecutive years, Tan Xuan has been recognized as a safe commune in terms of security and order; the poverty rate has decreased to below 27%.

That is the pride and excitement of Mr. Ha Van Phui as well as the people here. “People’s lives are more stable, security and order are more assured, drug addicts have decreased significantly compared to before. People increasingly trust in the leadership of comrades, feel secure in production and economic development.”

From policy to practice

The turning point and changes in the mountainous border villages of Son La are proof of the results after more than 8 years of implementing the policy of increasing the number of Border Guard Station officers participating in the border commune Party Committees.

The policy of strengthening Border Guards to participate in border commune-level Party committees is of special interest to Son La province.

Colonel Ca Van Lap, Political Commissar of the Son La Border Guard Command, said: In recent years, in order to contribute to consolidating the political system at the provincial border base, the Provincial Party Committee and Border Guard Command have organized the implementation of the Conclusion of the Secretariat and the Guidance of the Central Organizing Committee on the policy of increasing the number of Party Committees of Border Guard Stations participating in the Party Committees at the district and commune levels. At the same time, advising the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee to issue decisions and regulations on coordination between the Border Guard Party Committee and the district Party Committees of border districts on the work of protecting territorial border sovereignty and building a strong all-people border defense in the locality.

Currently, the Son La Provincial Border Guard Party Committee has mobilized 17 Border Guard officers to reinforce 17 border communes, participating in Party committees, holding the position of Deputy Party Committee Secretary in charge of Party building, consolidating the grassroots political system, and participating in the People's Council at the commune level. At the same time, it has introduced 4 station commanders to participate in the border district-level Party committees.

The work of developing party members in difficult areas is of special concern to the Deputy Secretaries of the Commune Party Committee.

Lieutenant Colonel Dao Manh Tuong, Deputy Chief of Political Affairs of the Son La Provincial Border Guard, said: We base on the qualities, abilities, prestige of the cadres and knowledge of national defense, security, socio-economic knowledge, and the political system at the grassroots level of the comrades. On that basis, we advise the Party Committee and the Provincial Border Guard Command to select and introduce comrades to local Party committees. In addition, we also base on the thoughts, aspirations, as well as knowledge of local culture, society, and customs of the locality and the local ethnic groups to structure the sending of comrades to reinforce the border localities.

The contribution of the Deputy Party Secretaries of the commune wearing green military uniforms has helped people's lives.
Son La border area has many changes.

More than 270km of Son La province's border stretches through many communes and villages from lowland to highland, ethnic minority areas, where life is still difficult and full of deprivation. And there, border guards have joined forces with Party committees and authorities to consolidate the political system at the grassroots level, build a solid border defense posture, build a comprehensively strong border locality; contributing to firmly protecting national border security and sovereignty in the new situation.

Not only has the presence of border guards increased for border communes, but the presence of party members wearing “green uniforms” has also contributed to improving the operational efficiency of border village party cells, and is also an opportunity for border guards to promote their noble mission: connecting the people’s hearts and the Party’s will. This is the content of article 2 with the title: “Special party members at the border”.

Reporter Group/VOV - Northwest