Exactly 90 years ago, on March 28, 1935, at the First Congress of the Indochinese Communist Party, the worker-peasant self-defense force - the predecessor of today's militia - was officially established, marking the birth of a revolutionary armed organization with a broad mass character, closely attached to the people.

Since then, through long-term resistance wars and the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, the militia and self-defense force has always affirmed its role as one of the three important components of the people's armed forces, a reliable support for the Party committees, authorities and people at the grassroots level.

The Ho Chi Minh City militia and self-defense force was born in the struggle movement of the working class and working people under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam; with the resilient and indomitable tradition of Saigon - Cho Lon - Gia Dinh. The city's militia and self-defense force has continuously grown and developed throughout the resistance war against French colonialism and American imperialism, and even in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland in the new period.

Colonel Nguyen Thanh Trung, Political Commissar of the Ho Chi Minh City Command, commented that the Ho Chi Minh City militia and self-defense force always maintains good combat readiness, organizes rotating forces to increase patrols, and strictly control and manage the area.

PHOTO: THUY LIEU

"The militia force at the grassroots level is both independent and coordinates with the police and other forces to increase patrols, guard, block, and protect the safety of assigned key targets. Every year, many patrols are organized with more than 1 million militiamen participating, resolving 613 cases, arresting 856 subjects, and seizing assets worth over 1 billion VND. In addition, the standing militia force is assigned by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to coordinate with the traffic police to regulate traffic on central routes, contributing to limiting traffic congestion," informed the leader of the Ho Chi Minh City Command.

At the meeting, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Duong Ngoc Hai commented that the Ho Chi Minh City militia and self-defense force is constantly being consolidated and improved. Currently, the number of militia and self-defense forces is 1.47% of the population. The force components include: regular militia, mobile militia, local militia, military militia, and maritime militia.

"The activities of the Ho Chi Minh City armed forces in general and the militia and self-defense force in particular have created trust among the people and have been highly appreciated and trusted by Party committees and authorities at all levels. In the coming time, the Ho Chi Minh City militia and self-defense force needs to improve the quality of military training, political and ideological education, and be ready to fight in all situations. Closely coordinate with the People's Army, the People's Police and other forces to protect national security, maintain social order and safety, and contribute to building a civilized, modern, and humane Ho Chi Minh City," Mr. Hai emphasized.