The role and power of ethnic minorities in the cause of nation building and defense today

Assoc. Prof., Dr. DO NGOC NINH
Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics

1. Introduction

Promoting the role and strength of ethnic minorities in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland is a particularly important issue, one that follows a historical pattern in our nation’s history of state building and preservation. In the current period of renovation, this issue is even more important.

The Party and the State emphasized the importance of promoting the role and strength of ethnic minorities, issuing many resolutions, conclusions, directives, and strategies on this matter, focusing on leadership and direction for implementation: Central Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW, dated March 12, 2003 on ethnic affairs; Conclusion No. 65-KL/TW dated October 30, 2019 of the Politburo on continuing to implement Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW of the 9th Party Central Committee on ethnic affairs in the new situation; Ethnic affairs strategy for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2045 of the Government, etc. These documents all emphasize promoting the role and strength of ethnic minorities to contribute to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland and they outline specific solutions for achieving this goal.

2. Key issues related to promoting the role and strength of ethnic minorities in building and defending the Fatherland

The cause of building and defending the Fatherland

Building and defending the Fatherland are the missions that the entire Party, the entire army, and the entire people must undertake to ensure the country’s development in terms of economy, politics, culture, society, national defense, security, and foreign affairs. This also ensures that the people enjoy a prosperous and happy life, while maintaining the nation’s territorial integrity, airspace, and maritime boundaries, and thwarting the plots and actions of hostile forces aiming to undermine the Party, the socialist regime, and invade our country.

The key aspects of the cause of national building includes the following: Building an economically strong country; strengthening the political system; ensuring high levels of public support, and encouraging active participation in implementing the Party’s policies and the State’s laws; maintaining social order and safety; enhancing the nation’s political position and international prestige; building a strong cultural identity by preserving and promoting the cultural values and heritage of all ethnic groups, and widely promoting Vietnamese culture on the global stage; “Building a revolutionary, regular, elite People’s Army and People’s Police, gradually modernizing, with certain units advancing straight to modernization, meeting the increasing demands of defending the Fatherland”(1); expanding and enhancing the effectiveness of foreign relations to support nation-building and defense efforts.

The key aspects of the cause of protecting the Fatherland includes the following: protecting the country’s territorial integrity, airspace, and maritime boundaries; protecting the country’s economy, preventing and eliminating all activities that hinder and sabotage economic development; maintaining and ensuring political security, social order, and safety; defeating all plots and actions by hostile forces aimed at political stability, with a focus on firmly protecting internal politics, particularly within the Party; preserving and developing the cultural identities of ethnic minorities, while combating the encroachment of backward cultural elements and foreign lifestyles, especially the negative impacts of bourgeois culture and lifestyles; countering propaganda and distortion of hostile forces about the Vietnamese culture and people. Ensuring the healthy development of society, preventing and eliminating factors and activities that complicate or disrupt social stability, and defeating plots and actions to obstruct and sabotage our country’s foreign relations.

The causes of building and defending the Fatherland are closely interconnected, creating favorable conditions for mutual development. Both aim to achieve the lofty goals of our Party and people: a wealthy people, a strong country, democratic, equitable, and civilized, successfully building socialism and firmly protecting the socialist Fatherland.

The role of ethnic minorities in building and defending the Fatherland

Ethnic minorities are an integral part of the Vietnamese national community, contributing to the strength of the great national unity bloc, which is decisive in the success of the nation-building and defense efforts. Among the 54 ethnic groups living in our country forming the Vietnamese nation, there are 53 ethnic minorities, accounting for more than 14.6% of the country’s population. This strength of the great national unity of the Vietnamese ethnic groups has determined the victories and created the glorious history of our nation in the past, continues to do so in the current renewal process, and will remain so in the future(2).

Ethnic minorities play a very important role in the economic development of localities, contributing to balanced economic development among regions throughout the country.

Ethnic minorities are the core force in building and developing the culture of each ethnic group, creating the diverse cultural mosaic of Vietnam and contributing to the establishment of an advanced Vietnamese culture deeply imbued with national identity.

The ethnic minorities were directly involved in the fight to stop the invaders from the very first steps they took on our land, creating favorable conditions for the main force to prepare all necessary conditions to destroy them. Our nation’s heroic history of fighting against the Northern invaders has confirmed this. Notably, the wars against invaders on the southwestern border of our country and the northern border in 1979, as well as in the years that followed, once again confirmed this. Thanks to the indomitable and resilient fighting spirit of our people, including a large number of ethnic minorities in the southwestern, and northern border provinces, the enemy suffered heavy losses and was effectively halted, providing the necessary time to mobilize the main forces to defeat them.

Ethnic minorities are a very-important force that directly builds and promotes the role of the all-people national defense posture, the people’s security, and local reserve forces in the border areas of the Fatherland.

Ethnic minorities are the main force carrying out people-to-people diplomacy in border areas building peaceful, friendly, and cooperative borders for the mutual development of localities in both countries. They also promote the image of the country and people of Vietnam among the people of border countries.

Characteristics of ethnic minorities

There is a large difference between the different peoples of the ethnic minorities. The people are industrious, hard-working, thrifty, and capable of overcoming difficulties and hardships. They are honest, sincere, value friendships, and are confident, with a strong sense of ethnic identity. They are ready to protect their traditions, identity, culture, and fiercely oppose ethnic discrimination.

Ethnic minorities live in harmony with each other and with the Kinh people, showing love and mutual support for each other in times of difficulties and tribulations, and standing united to build their homeland and country, fighting against oppression, exploitation, and foreign invasion.

Each ethnic minority group has its own cultural identity, traditions, customs and practices consistent with the general cultural development of the Vietnamese ethnic community, contributing to creating a diverse and rich picture of Vietnamese national culture.

Ethnic minorities have great trust and pride in the Party and beloved Uncle Ho, wholeheartedly following the Party’s leadership in revolutionary efforts. They have made significant contributions in terms of human and material strength during the two resistance wars against colonialism and imperialism.

The cultural and socio-economic development levels in ethnic minority regions generally lag behind those of the Kinh majority. Most ethnic minority people still face considerable challenges in daily life, healthcare, and education.

The majority of ethnic minorities reside in villages, hamlets, communes, etc., (collectively referred to as hamlets); residential groups, neighborhoods, city blocks, hamlets, sub-areas, etc., (collectively referred to as residential groups)(3). They primarily live in border regions and high mountainous areas that are economically and socially underdeveloped but are of strategic importance for national defense and security. Ethnic minorities are the main target of exploitation by hostile forces aiming to sabotage our Party and State, causing division and hatred among ethnic groups, ethnic minorities, and Kinh people, and sabotaging the democratic policies of the Party and the State, destroying the great unity of the entire nation.

The strength of ethnic minorities

The strength of ethnic minorities is understood as the people’s ability to participate in activities in the locality and the country, achieving high results.

The strength of ethnic minorities includes both material and spiritual strengths. Material power includes wealth, property, labor, the environment, and the living and working areas of the people. Spiritual strength includes firm belief in the victory of the revolution under the Party’s leadership, the determination to overcome difficulties and hardships, without fear of sacrifice, including sacrificing one’s life, wholeheartedly and steadfastly following the Party to lead the revolution to victory. It also includes the solidarity of all peoples in the great unity bloc of the entire Vietnamese nation, and so on.

In terms of various social aspects, the strength of ethnic minorities includes, economic, political, cultural, national defense, and security potential... This strength is expressed in the actions of ethnic minorities. Ethnic minorities participate in patriotic emulation movements, building and defending the Fatherland in localities, under the leadership of party committees and organizations, mainly in villages and residential groups led by village cells, leading residential groups under the general leadership of the Party Committee and Party Committees of communes, wards, and towns in localities.

The main factors that create the strength of ethnic minorities

Firstly, the Party’s correct guidelines and policies, the State’s policies and laws, especially regarding ethnic minorities. Secondly, the realization of guidelines, policies, and leadership and successful implementation of party committees at all levels. Thirdly, the political prestige of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh among people of all ethnicities, along with the absolute trust of the people in the Party’s leadership, and the close bond between the Party and the ethnic minorities throughout the Party’s leadership of the revolution in Vietnam. Fourthly, the participation of a large number of ethnic minorities in implementing the Party’s guidelines and policies as well as the State’s laws. Fifthly, the great revolutionary achievements that the Party has brought to ethnic minorities.

Promoting the role and strength of ethnic minorities in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland

Promoting the role and strength of ethnic minorities in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland involves the leadership and direction activities of party committees at all levels in implementing the Party’s guidelines, policies, and State’s laws regarding on ethnic affairs. This is primarily carried out through the leadership of village cells and residential groups in areas where ethnic minorities live, with direct and regular involvement from Party committees and standing committees at the commune, ward, and township levels, as well as the participation of local political and social organizations and the people. The strength of the people is reflected in local emulation movements to build and protect the Fatherland. This allows the role and strength of ethnic minority communities to be clearly shown in local construction and protection activities, contributing to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland as a whole.

The content of promoting the role and strength of ethnic minority communities in building and defending the nation includes Party policies, resolutions, and decisions aimed at consolidating, developing, and effectively harnessing the role and strength of ethnic minority communities across economic, political, cultural, defense, and security domains.

The method of promoting the role and strength of ethnic minorities in building and defending the Fatherland is with the Party’s and State’s guidelines and policies on ethnic affairs and ensuring socio-economic development, national defense and security in areas where ethnic minorities live. This also involves policies and decisions of local party committees and authorities on these issues, as well as the implementation. Additionally it requires communication, education, and advocacy programs to persuade ethnic minorities to participate in consolidating and developing the role and strength of ethnic minorities, actively participating in activities to build and defend the Fatherland in the local level. Through organizational and cadre work in areas where ethnic minorities live, focusing on building and promoting the role of party committees, party organizations, authorities, the Fatherland Front, and political and social organizations at the village and neighborhood levels, as well as at the commune, ward, and township levels. Moreover, it involves the supervision and inspection work of higher-level Party committees over subordinate Party organizations to effectively address issues affecting ethnic minority communities and to prevent and eliminate the activities of hostile forces that exploit ethnic issues to distort and sabotage.

3. Results of promoting the role and strength of ethnic minorities in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland

Conclusion No. 65-KL/TW dated October 30, 2019, by the Politburo on continuing to implement Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW of the 9th Party Central Committee on ethnic affairs in the new situation clearly states: “After more than 15 years of implementing the Resolution, the ethnic affairs has seen many positive changes, achieving many comprehensive achievements in politics, economics, culture, society, national defense, security, and external relations; strengthening the great unity of peoples, contribute to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, and strengthening the trust of ethnic minorities in the Party and the State”(4).

Socio-economic infrastructure has been prioritized for investment, and the living standards of ethnic minority people have significantly improved. Education, training, and healthcare have made great strides; traditional cultural values of ethnic groups have been preserved and promoted; solidarity among ethnic groups continues to be strengthened. The grassroots political system in ethnic and mountainous areas has been strengthened, the cadre contingent has been consolidated, and better meets requirements and tasks; political security has been maintained and stabilized(5).

The Politburo emphasized that Party committees, authorities, and unions at all levels have concretized the implementation of Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW on ethnic affairs in line with the local and unit conditions. The State has issued policies and laws, allocated resources for socio-economic development, and ensured national defense and security in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. The Fatherland Front and people’s organizations have strengthened advocacy, propaganda, and encouragement of ethnic minorities to actively participate in campaigns and patriotic emulation movements, promoting internal resources for economic development, improving and enhancing lives, and contributing to national development.

However, there are still limitations and shortcomings: the awareness of many Party committees, cadres, and Party members about the role and necessity of promoting the strength of ethnic minority communities in the current construction and defense of the nation is not yet comprehensive and profound. Some important goals set out in Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW have not been realized. The results of implementing a number of key and urgent tasks for ethnic minority and mountainous areas, especially in the Northwest, the Central Highlands, the Southwest, and the Central Coast, have been slow to change.

The political awareness of a portion of the people is still limited, especially people in highland, remote, and mountainous areas. The living standards of ethnic minorities still face many difficulties, and socio-economic development is slow; poverty, near-poverty rates, and the risk of falling back into poverty remain high; The gap between rich and poor tends to increase. Obsolete customs, practices, and superstitions are slow to be addressed and there are still potential factors that complicate political security, social order, and safety.

4. Key solutions to continue promoting the role and strength of ethnic minorities in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland

Firstly, it is essential to raise awareness and responsibility among party committees, party organizations, and organizations within the political system at the commune, ward, and township levels; branch party committees; party members; and socio-political branches in villages and residential areas regarding the continued promotion of the role and strength of ethnic minority communities.

This is a very important issue and is the basis for organizations, cadres, and party members to take correct and effective actions in promoting the role and strength of ethnic minorities in the cause of construction, development and defense of the country. It is necessary to strengthen communication and raise awareness and responsibility, starting with the party committees at the commune, ward, and township levels, as well as the branch party committees in villages and residential areas, and the cadres and party members in areas with large ethnic minority populations. This is the core force, the nucleus of raising awareness and responsibility of the Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, ethnic minority communities, and forces participating in carrying out duties in the villages and residential groups as assigned.

Emphasis should be placed on incorporating the promotion of the role and strength of ethnic minority communities in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland into the regular meetings of party committees and specialized thematic meetings of party cells. The role of radio, grassroots radio systems, and mass media agencies at district and provincial levels should be promoted. There should be preliminary and summary conferences on the performance of party committees, party organizations, and socio-political organizations, especially party cells and mass organizations in villages and residential groups, to highlight examples of good people and good work.

Secondly, it is essential to strengthen, consolidate, and enhance the role and power of ethnic minority communities, creating the foundation and basis for promoting their role in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

Focus on implementing the goals of the Government’s Ethnic Affairs Strategy for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2045: creating an economic transition (average economic growth from 6.0 to 6.5%/year, forming and developing large, high-quality, eco-friendly economic regions, etc.); fundamentally addressing the situation of unplanned migration; planning, arranging, relocating, and arranging 100% of ethnic minority households residing scattered in special-use forests, remote areas, where there are risks of flash floods, and landslides. Eliminate makeshift and unstable housing; prevent ecological environmental degradation. Ensure that over 85% of communes and villages in ethnic minority and mountainous areas have infrastructure conditions meeting the requirements of socio-economic development and the living standards of the people; prevent and eliminate social evils, bad customs, and outdated practices. Strengthen and promote the solidarity of ethnic minorities with the great unity bloc of the whole nation, and so on. Successfully achieving these objectives will create a solid foundation to effectively promote the strength of ethnic minorities.

Thirdly, continue to merge villages and residential groups following the instructions of superiors to create an appropriate scale for these villages and residential groups to promote the role and strength of ethnic minorities in the cause of the construction and defense of the Fatherland. Additionally, launch and maintain patriotic emulation movements to build and defend the Fatherland in villages and residential groups.

Carefully consider and implement a suitable roadmap for merging villages and residential groups according to higher-level guidelines. Immediately merge villages and residential groups in places where there is a high consensus among the people and create favorable conditions for state management and socio-economic development, etc. In places where there is no consensus, the people’s leadership needs to be cautious, increasing efforts to persuade the people, and proceed gradually. Pay special attention to specific cases, such as villages with an insufficient number of households as required by regulations but that cannot be merged with other villages due to complex, divided terrain, large areas, or differences in customs and traditions, etc. These cases should be carefully reviewed, and proposals should be submitted to the appropriate authorities for decision-making.

After the villages and residential groups have been merged, the party committees should strengthen leadership and guidance to build the people’s national defense posture, ensure public security, mobilize reserve forces, and launch and maintain patriotic movements for nation-building and defense of the Fatherland within the villages and residential groups, thereby strongly promoting the role and strength of ethnic minority communities..

Fourthly, improving the quality of party branch committees, party cells, and mass organizations at the village and residential group levels, as well as the forces involved in local affairs, is essential to enhance the role and strength of ethnic minorities in building and defending the Fatherland. Special attention should be given to those with influence, especially village elders and community leaders.

The responsibilities at the village and residential group levels in ethnic minority areas, as regulated by the state, include: “(1) Community residents in villages and residential groups discuss and decide on policies and levels of contribution to infrastructure works and public welfare projects within communes, villages, and residential groups with all or part of the funding contributed by the people, as well as other self-management projects within the resident community complying with the provisions of the law. (2) The community residents participate in discussing and voting for the competent authorities to make decisions; participates in giving opinions before competent agencies that decide on the affairs of villages, residential groups, and communes in accordance with the provisions of the law on implementing democracy in communes, wards and towns. (3) Develop and implement village regulations and conventions of villages and residential groups; Participate in self-management in maintaining security, order, social safety, and environmental sanitation; Preserve and promote good cultural traditions in the locality and prevent and combat social evils. (4) Implement the Party’s guidelines and policies, the State’s policies and laws; Participate in and respond to movements and campaigns launched by the Party, the State, Fatherland Front, and socio-political organizations. (5) Elect, dismiss, recall village heads and residential group leaders”(6).

The organizations and forces responsible for handling tasks in villages and residential groups in ethnic minority regions include: village cells and residential groups leading and directing the organization and implementation of local tasks at their level; village heads, deputy village heads, group leaders, deputy leaders of residential groups; the Front working committees, political and social association branches. Forces participating in carrying out tasks in villages and residential groups include the Party, government, Fatherland Front organizations, socio-political organizations of communes, wards, and towns; the military, police party cells, primary and secondary schools of communes, wards, and towns; party cells and enterprises, border guards stationed in communes, wards, and towns (if any).

Other forces involved in carrying out tasks in villages and residential groups include those at commune, ward, and township levels, such as people’s inspection boards, community investment supervision boards, community digital technology groups, civil defense - fire prevention and fighting teams. forces in villages and residential At the village and residential group levels, these include the reconciliation teams, police forces, on-site militia and self-defense forces, village medical forces, population and family planning collaborators, prestigious people, elderly people’s associations, Red-Cross branches, and the people of various ethnic groups in villages and residential groups.

Improving the quality of the above organizations and forces is a particularly crucial factor that determines the continued enhancement of the role and strength of ethnic minorities in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. Emphasis should be placed on improving the quality of Party Committees of communes, wards, towns, village Party cells, and residential groups according to the tasks and solutions of Central Resolution 5, 13th term, on strengthening, consolidating, and building grassroots party organizations and improving the quality of party members in the new period to truly become the leading and organizing force to successfully promote the role and strength of ethnic minorities in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

Efforts should be made to attract ethnic minorities to participate in patriotic emulation movements to demonstrate and promote their role and strength; Emphasis should be placed on raising awareness and promoting the role of reputable people to promote the role and strength of ethnic minorities. Special attention should be given to fostering trust and rapport between village elders and community leaders and local party committees and governments, enhancing their understanding. Through this, the role of village elders and village heads in building and defending the Fatherland can be strongly promoted.

Fifthly, he leadership of district and provincial party committees, the Party itself, and the state’s investment should be strengthened, while political and social organizations at all levels should create favorable conditions for harnessing the role and strength of ethnic minorities in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

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Received: March 3, 2024; Revised: April 3, 2024; Approved for publication: April 22, 2024.

Endnotes:

(1) CPV: Documents of the 13th National Party Congress, vol. I, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, pp. 157-158.

(2) https://vietnam.opendevelopmentmekong.net/vi/topics/ethnic-minorities-and-indigenous-people/, accessed March 3, 2024.

(3) Circular No. 04/2012/TT-BNV, dated August 31, 2012, of the Ministry of Home Affairs guiding the organization and operation of villages and residential groups.

(4), (5) Conclusion No. 65-KL/TW dated October 30, 2019, of the Politburo on continuing to implement Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW of the 9th Party Central Committee on the ethnic affairs in the new situation.

(6) Consolidated document No. 01/VBHN-BNV, dated April 16, 2019, of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Guidance on the organization and operation of villages and residential groups.