VietNamNet Bridge – The president of the Fatherland Front in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, Y Dec H'Dok, spoke to Dai Doan Ket (Great Solidarity) newspaper about the Front's efforts to bolster its ranks.

How have you developed support among ethnic minorities in the region?

In previous years, the province has invested in infrastructure and public welfare projects in remote areas to improve the living conditions of ethnic minority people.

Local authorities have also paid much attention to the solidarity of minorities. The province's first The Entire People's Great Solidarity Festival earlier this year drew 240 representatives from ethnic minorities. The festival highlighted the solidarity of 40 groups who joined to build Dak Lak.

Another festival was also held, called Tay Nguyen Ethnic Minorities' Great Solidarity Festival. During the events, the front passed out information about its activities and goals.

How is the process of mobilising local people going?

We have many tactics to attract people to the front and other organisations. We have firmed up the organisation's structure especially the front's standing committees at provincial and district levels.

The staff have been trained well.

In 2006, the fronts organised 18 training classes with more than 1,700 attendees.

The provincial front has advised the provincial Party committee to organise a training class for 128 local cadres. Through the class, the cadres were educated in the role and aims of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front. It helped increase ties between the front and localities.

What has the front achieved by mobilising people?

The most important thing is that we have expanded the campaign to build cultured residential areas.

By late this year, 1,176 residential areas out of 2,277 will have launched the campaign, with more than 180,000 households certified as cultured families.

The provincial front's Day for the Poor campaign has mobilised VND4.4bil (US$75,000). With the money, fronts have helped build 534 houses for the poor.

The province has also implemented a Government programme to build houses for ethnic monitory people.

The front has worked with provincial departments of labour, invalids and social affairs, culture and information, and police to implement a resolution to build wealthy communes and wards, free of drugs and prostitution, in 12 districts and Buon Ma Thuot City.

How will you accomplish that?

The front needs to equip the people with legal knowledge. More than 2,800 information sessions have been organised for over 278,000 people.

Grassroots groups have established inspection boards under the fatherland fronts.

The people have exercised their role as masters in votes of confidence for posts in their communities. So far, 13 districts and 133 communes have held such voting systems.

(Source: Viet Nam News)