Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, May 16 (VNA) -- A conference on mobilising the masses in central highlands provinces was held in the city of Buon Ma Thuot in Dac Lac province on May 15 and 16.

Participating in the conference held under the chairmanship of Truong Quang Duoc, Politburo member of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and Chairman of the Party CC's Mass Mobilisation Commission, were leaders of the party and people's committees of Dac Lac, Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Lam Dong provinces . Also in attendance were leaders of districts and towns as well as representatives of eight outstanding communes in the Central Highlands. All met at the conference to review mass mobilisation work and the political situation in central highlands provinces in recent months.

Speakers discussed the socio-economic development and cultural life in their localities. They also uncovered manouvres by hostile forces and pointed to weak and in effective aspects in the mass mobilisation work, particularly the failure of party officials and members to live close to the population, which, speakers said, weakened party-people relationships.

The conference stressed that in the regions inhabited by minority people, massive investment inlows into central highlands provinces proved ineffective due to many policies which were made without due consideration for the historic and social characteristics of minority people. Many shortcomings were found in the provision of education to people of this region. Participants in the conference also expressed the opinion that the training of minority group officials was inadequate and needed to be improved.

The conference, therefore, agreed on urgent measures for central highlands provinces to consolidate their political systems, especially in areas inhabited by minority people. They agreed that the consolidation of Party organisations, authorities, fatherland front, and other mass organisations at the grassroots level was of great importance.

The conference proposed that central highlands provinces authorities settle the question relating to land for production for minority people. It was also proposed that State farms and plantations recruit more workers of minority groups with a view to raising their skills.

Other proposals were to pour State investment into key projects and infrastructure construction in a manner commensurate with central highlands characteristics, to give training to more minority people, and to pay more attention to social policies relating to public healthcare, poverty eradication, and national cultural development.--VNA