The voice of the community
For many years, elder Ksor Bong of Bi village, Ia O commune, has always been a spiritual support for the villagers and a respected voice in maintaining political security and social order in the border area. He shared that Bi village borders Cambodia, so maintaining solidarity and friendship between the two sides is an extremely important task. Therefore, border guards regularly organize propaganda and mobilization activities so that villagers clearly understand their responsibilities, jointly preserving friendly relations and preventing complicated issues that could affect border security.
According to elder Ksor Bong, the bond between the border guards and village elders has helped villagers raise awareness, comply well with the law, and at the same time strengthen their trust in the Party, the State, and the armed forces. As a result, the situation of political security and social order in the border area has always been firmly maintained.
With simple and approachable words, elder Bong conveys legal messages in an easy-to-understand manner, planting in the hearts of villagers trust and attachment to the armed forces. His sincere advice and everyday stories help villagers better understand their civic responsibilities, thereby enhancing their awareness of complying with the Party’s guidelines and policies and the State’s laws. He has strengthened people’s trust in the leadership of Party committees and authorities, and at the same time affirmed that protecting the border is not only the task of the armed forces but also the shared responsibility of the entire community.
Similarly, elder Ro Mah Bloi of Trien village, Ia Pnon commune, who once experienced terrifying days during the Pol Pot regime, often shares simple yet meaningful stories. He said that whenever conflicts arise in the village, from land disputes to family disagreements, he patiently analyzes, explains, and advises younger generations with both reason and affection. With his prestige and sense of responsibility, his words are always listened to by villagers, so many cases are resolved satisfactorily at the grassroots level, preventing them from becoming “hot spots” in terms of security and order.
Thanks to elder Bloi’s persistent advocacy, many outdated customs that had long existed in the community have gradually been eliminated. In particular, child marriage, once a concern in the border region, has been promptly prevented. He frequently reminds young people in the village about the harmful effects of early marriage, encouraging families to let their children continue studying and build progressive and happy families.
His perseverance has contributed to positive changes in social life, helping villagers stabilize their lives and feel secure in production and labor. Not stopping at mediation, elder Bloi also actively coordinates with border guards in legal propaganda. He often accompanies border officers to each household to explain the Party’s guidelines, the State’s policies and laws, as well as each citizen’s responsibility in protecting the border.
A bridge between the Party, authorities and the people
Clearly recognizing the particularly important role of village elders and reputable individuals, the Gia Lai Provincial Border Guard Command has coordinated with Party committees and local authorities to implement many solutions to provide them with legal knowledge, national defense and security awareness, and mass mobilization skills. Thanks to this, they have become effective bridges between the Party, authorities, border forces and the people.
Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ia O commune Phan Dinh Tham said that the role of village elders in the community life of Gia Lai’s border areas is not only symbolic but also of profound practical value. In ethnic minority communities, village elders are regarded as “big shady trees,” knowledgeable about customs and practices, with prestige and weighty voices. They not only preserve cultural identity and pass on traditional values to younger generations but also serve as bridges between authorities and the people. When village elders speak, villagers usually trust and follow them, because it is a voice originating from the community itself, close and persuasive. Many village elders have become shining examples respected and followed by villagers.
Colonel Ro Mah Tuan, Deputy Political Commissar of the Gia Lai Provincial Border Guard Command, affirmed that village elders and reputable individuals are spiritual pillars for the people. Through heartfelt propaganda, they help the people trust and well comply with the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws. In border protection work, they regularly remind villagers to raise vigilance, not to listen to bad actors, maintain solidarity among ethnic groups and friendship with Cambodia. Their silent yet persistent contributions have helped the locality maintain political stability and social order, creating a solid foundation for socio-economic development in the border region.
In 2025, village elders and reputable individuals in the Gia Lai border area, together with border guard stations, participated in propaganda activities and successfully resolved dozens of cases of family conflicts and land disputes, and persuaded many child marriage couples to abandon outdated customs. At the same time, 43 village elders in key areas joined border guards in border patrols and mobilized dozens of households to switch crops, develop household economies, and build livestock and poultry facilities.
With the advocacy of village elders and reputable individuals and the companionship of border guards, many households have boldly changed their thinking and practices, transformed production and livestock models toward sustainability, and built prosperous lives.
Promoting the role of village elders and reputable individuals in the community is also strengthening the “people’s heart posture” in border areas. From the attachment, dedication and prestige of this important contingent, the people’s trust is consolidated, creating the power of unity so that the Fatherland’s frontier remains peaceful.
