Major General Hầu Văn Lý, Deputy Director of the Domestic Security Department under the Ministry of Public Security addresses the press conference on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — By using the good to suppress the bad, promoting construction as a prevention measure and using positive information to overwhelm the negative, Việt Nam can foil activities aimed at dividing the great national solidarity bloc and inciting "secession" and "autonomy" in ethnic minority-inhabited areas that are being accelerated by hostile and reactionary forces, stated Major General Hầu Văn Lý, Deputy Director of the Domestic Security Department under the Ministry of Public Security.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Lý said that over the years, propaganda activities to harm the national solidarity and incite secession and autonomy have been carried out regularly and continuously by hostile and reactionary forces.

The common objectives of these activities are not only driving a wedge and stirring disunity among ethnic minority groups, and between ethnic minorities and the Government, but also causing confusion among part of the ethnic minority groups to inject new "evil cults" and religions to them, disrupting political and social life, and destabilising local security and order.

At the same time, the activities also aim to cause difficulties for the implementation of policies and orientations on socio-economic development, and security and defence in the areas, harming the effectiveness of state management measures of local authorities, said Lý.

The official underlined the need for authorised agencies and as well as local administrations to focus on popularising the socio-economic development achievements and positive changes in rural and ethnic minority-inhabited areas, along with policies and law regarding socio-economic development and ethnic minority affairs, ensuring that ethnic minority communities understand the great attention, priority, and favourable conditions that the Party and State have given to narrowing down development gap, promoting equality and national and religious solidarity, and reinforcing the communities’ confidence in the Party, State, and local administrations.

Lý also highlighted the need to honour outstanding models and good examples set by those from ethnic minority groups in the movement to protect the national security and socio-economic development.

At the same time, it is necessary to expose the nature, plots, methods, and tricks of reactionary individuals and organisations targeting ethnic minority groups, as well as evil and illegal organisations under the cover of religions in ethnic minority areas, preventing ethnic communities from being misled, deceived, or enticed to participate in these organisations, said Lý, stressing the need to refute the arguments that divide national unity and incite secession and autonomy by hostile and reactionary forces. — VNS