Bac Kan is a mountainous province with a rich revolutionary tradition, holding a significant position in various aspects of Viet Bac region and Military Region 1. In recent years, thanks to the attention of the Party and State, the Party organisations, authorities, armed forces, and people of Bac Kan Province have made efforts to overcome difficulties and vigorously implement two strategic tasks of building and defending the Fatherland, achieving comprehensive results. However, due to historical legacies and various other reasons, Bac Kan is still facing many challenges. Its socio-economic development is still at low level, and the living conditions of the people, especially those in remote areas, have not seen significant improvements. Meanwhile, hostile and reactionary forces have taken advantage of “ethnic” and “religious” issues to intensify disruptive activities and undermine the great national unity.

Given this situation, the Provincial Party Committee and Military Command focus on providing advice and leadership in the implementation of national defence and military tasks and strengthening the all people’s national defence foundation. Specifically, they emphasise the construction of a solid “people’s hearts-and-minds” posture in each locality as a prerequisite for achieving development goals.

Building the “people’s-hearts-and minds” posture is a process of promoting patriotism, solidarity, willpower, trust, and determination of the entire population. It forms a strong political and spiritual foundation to mobilise the comprehensive strength of the nation in building and defending the Fatherland. Recognising this, to contribute to strengthening and promoting the “people’s hearts-and-minds” posture in the all-people defence in accordance with the Resolution of the 13^th Party Congress, first and foremost, the Provincial Party Committee and Military Command have closely coordinated with functional agencies in assisting the Provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee in leading and directing the organisation of learning and communicating resolutions and directives related to national defence and military work, especially the 8^th Party Central Resolution (the 11^th Tenure) on “Strategies to protect the Fatherland in the new situation”, the Politburo’s Resolution No.28-NQ/TW, dated September 22^nd, 2008, (the 10^th Tenure) on the continued construction of centrally-run provinces and cities into solid defence areas in the new situation, and the Government’s Decree No.21/2019/NĐ-CP, dated February 22^nd, 2019, on defence areas and national defence and military strategies, etc. Based on this, they have concretised and issued resolutions, directives, and plans for local defence and military work that are suitable for the characteristics of the province. They have also improved the leadership, management, and administration methods of the Party committees and authorities at all levels, the functions and tasks of each level and sector, and the responsibilities of the entire population in building the all-people defence, people’s security, and the all-people defence posture in association with the people’s security posture.

The provincial armed forces join hands in building new rural areas

Additionally, they have strengthened propaganda and education within the Party Committee, the people, and the armed forces regarding national defence and military tasks and the protection of the Fatherland. In-depth propaganda and education have clarified the Party’s direction and policies regarding the construction of the all-people defence and all-people defence posture in association with the people’s security posture, National Defence Law, Military Service Law, Self-Defence Force Law, Reserve Force Law, history and traditions of the Capital of war resistance, and various local defence and military tasks. To achieve effectiveness, the Military Command has actively provided advice to the Provincial Council for Defence and Security Education to direct the innovation and improvement of the quality of defence and security education for various subjects, especially cadres at all levels, village elders, heads of villages and clans, religious dignitaries, and young generations. Through military agency’s advice, the Province has built and promoted the role of the contingent of spokespersons and propagandists, especially at the local level, in remote and deep areas. It has also directed the Propaganda and Education sector to enhance the quality of propaganda on various mass media outlets, integrate propaganda on the Party’s direction and policies into the people’s festivals and cultural activities, etc. Through these efforts, they aim to guide thoughts and raise awareness and responsibilities of cadres, Party members, and the people regarding national defence and military tasks and the protection of the Fatherland; gain a clear understanding of the subjects, partners, strategies, “peaceful evolution” schemes, and tactics of hostile forces and illegal religious organisations, associations, and reactionary groups; awaken and promote the tradition of patriotism and pride in the revolutionary homeland and the vigilance of the people of various ethnic groups; and strengthen the people’s trust in the leadership of the Party, Party committees, and authorities, making the “Party’s will” blend with the “people’s hearts-and-minds”.

In addition to effectively carrying out propaganda and education work, the provincial armed forces have also proactively participated in building clean and strong political systems at all levels, enhancing the leadership capacity and combat readiness of the Party organisations and the management and administration of the authorities, and maximising the advisory role of agencies in implementing national defence and military tasks and protecting the Fatherland. Grasping and implementing Resolution No.18-NQ/TW, dated October 25^th, 2017, of the Party Central Committee (the 12^th Tenure) on “Some issues related to continuing to renovate and streamline the organisational apparatus of the political system, making it lean, efficient, and effective”, the localities have focused on amending, supplementing, and improving regulations and provisions regarding personnel management, ensuring tight coordination among all stages in the personnel work process; reviewing and supplementing the key personnel planning at all levels in accordance with regulations; paying attention to innovating and enhancing the quality of training and development of personnel according to title standards; and renewing the leadership styles and enhancing capabilities for concretising the Party’s direction and policies in a way that is relevant to the local situation.

Staying closely aligned with the leadership and guidance of the Provincial Party Committee, People’s Council, and People’s Committee, the Provincial armed forces have effectively fulfiled their functions as the “combat force” and “working force”, upheld the qualities of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” to take the lead in propaganda and mobilising the people to follow the Party’s direction and the State’s laws, and participated in building the political system and implementing defence and military tasks at the grassroots level. Military agencies at all levels have regularly grasped the situation and provided recommendations to the local Party committees and authorities for the efficient implementation of the Project on strengthening and enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the political system’s operations, socio-economic development, and local defence and security assurance (CT229). They have also actively participated in building various cultural and defence and security models, new rural models, etc., generating high levels of enthusiasm and consensus among the people and enhancing the effectiveness of leadership, direction, and administration at the local and grassroots levels in terms of national defence.

Bac Kan is a mountainous province with a significant population of ethnic minorities, varying levels of awareness, and the persistence of outdated customs. Exploiting these characteristics, bad guys have intensified their subversive activities to entice and incite the local people, undermine the policies of national unity, and cause political instability, social order issues, and security concerns. In response to this reality, the Provincial Military Command has resolutely and comprehensively implemented measures to do well the ethnic and religious work and policies and strengthen the unity of the entire population. Each year, local grassroots units develop programmes and plans for monitoring and seriously implementing them according to legal regulations; hold meetings and dialogues with the population regarding the local policies; leverage the activities of the People’s Inspection Board and the Community Investment Monitoring Board; and tightly manage the establishment and activities of religions, social organisations, and non-governmental organisations operating in the area. Notably, implementing Resolution No.20-NQ/TU, dated June 1^st, 2012, of Bac Kan Provincial Party Committee Standing Commission regarding the organisation of the struggle to eliminate the illegal organisation of Duong Van Minh, the Provincial armed forces have closely coordinated with relevant authorities in establishing task forces to grasp the situation and activities of the leading and core individuals and sought to understand the aspirations of the local population. Based on this, they have engaged in propaganda and mobilisation to encourage the people to resist the leading figures exploiting the situation to build and rebuild the operational houses and convinced households to sign commitments to renounce participation in the illegal organisation of Duong Van Minh. To date, 100% of households and individuals in the Province have signed commitments to renounce and not participate in this illegal organisation.

To contribute to the construction of a robust “people’s hearts-and-minds” posture, the Provincial armed forces have actively coordinated with local Party committees, authorities, political organisations, and socio-political organisations in effectively implementing Resolution No.88/2019/QH14, dated November 18^th, 2019, of the National Assembly, approving the Comprehensive Socio-Economic Development Plan for Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the 2021 - 2030 period and national programs and objectives for sustainable poverty reduction and performed well in the military rear policy work and various campaigns and movements initiated by the Party and the State. During the period from 2013 to 2023, the Provincial armed forces mobilised 13,595 labour days, repaired 149.66 kilometres of rural roads, dredged 88.965 kilometres of internal canals, repaired and renovated 45 bridges, and built 31 schools and 11 communal cultural houses. They also participated in demolishing 300 temporary and dilapidated houses and constructing cultural infrastructure facilities for the communes in the Safe Zone and CT229 area with budget funded by the Ministry of National Defence, etc.

With the high determination and collective efforts of the entire political system and the people, political security, order, and social safety in the Province have been maintained. The political system at grassroots levels has been consolidated, streamlined, and operated more efficiently. Attention has been given to investing in economic and social infrastructure, and the living standards of the people have been improved. So far, 100% of its communes can be accessed by car all-year-round with complete medical stations, and a system of radio and television, and solid schools. The ethnic minority people have always trusted and followed the Party, strictly adhered to the Constitution and the law, and effectively implemented programmes and plans related to the self-defence militia, mobilisation of reserve forces, conscription, and military recruitment. In 2021, when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, despite many difficulties, the ethnic minority people of the Province donated and supported over 100 tons of food and essential supplies to their fellow citizens in the South. This effort was highly recognised and appreciated by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the people nationwide.

Building on the achievements and traditions of the revolutionary homeland, in the coming time, Bac Kan Provincial armed forces will continue to play a pivotal role in closely coordinating with functional agencies in providing advice and support to the Party committees and authorities at all levels to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of state management in the fields of national defence and security. They will also uphold the roles of the Steering Committee 35 and Task Force 47 in resolutely combating, exposing, and defeating the plots, schemes, and subversive activities of hostile forces in cyberspace, maintaining the “ideological front” and contributing to the consolidation and development of the “people’s hearts-and-minds” posture. This will serve as the foundation for harnessing the collective strength of the entire people to successfully realise the mission of building and defending the Fatherland in the new circumstances.

Senior Colonel LA VAN HAO, Commissar of the Provincial Military Command