At dawn, mist shrouded the mountains of Mengtong Township, and the villages at the foot of the mountains gradually woke up. Today, as usual, the villagers picked up their farming tools and prepared to head to the fields in the mountains. The fertile land here is ideal for growing tea and grass fruits. However, this land favored by nature hides a deadly danger - landmines. The war of many years ago left countless unexploded mines in these mountains, and they are like dormant monsters that may awaken at any moment.
Despite knowing the dangers, why do villagers still step on this land every day to risk their lives?
The impact of landmines on agricultural production
The view of the mine-mined villages on the Sino-Vietnamese border is the vast fields and barren hillsides filled with unexploded landmines that were the frontlines of historical Sino-Vietnamese border conflicts. As a representative of this area, most of the land of Mengtong Township is occupied by the remnants of the conflict, which has become a hidden danger that cannot be ignored in the daily life of residents.
In these villages, scattered stone walls and abandoned houses show traces of past wars. The daily lives of the villagers are inextricably linked to this dangerous land left behind by war. Landmines not only threaten the lives of villagers, but also severely limit their use of land, especially agriculture, which is their main source of livelihood. When the rainy season comes, water currents wash mines out of the soil to new locations, making areas that might otherwise be considered relatively safe dangerous again.
In Mengtong Township, the once thriving tea plantations are now in a barren land. Nearly half of the 20,000 acres of tea plantations, or 8,000 acres, are located in mined areas, which have become uncultivable due to the presence of mines. These tea plantations were once one of the pillars of the local economy. However, the threat of landmines has made these precious lands inaccessible, with endless tea trees overrun by weeds, and the once well-manicured tea trees are now overgrown with weeds and desolate.
Villagers had tried to enter the tea plantations in these minefields, but after several unfortunate mine explosions, everyone was deeply shocked. In these incidents, not only adults, but also curious children were injured by straying into unmarked minefields, which deepened the villagers' fear of the land. Landmines have become an untouchable forbidden place in the eyes of the residents, and even animals often die in these areas, which has brought a heavy blow to the psychology of the villagers.
The lack of access to these lands has severely affected the economic situation of the villagers. Tea was one of the main sources of income in Mengtong Township, but now, with the loss of a large amount of available land, the income of many families has plummeted. They have to find alternative livelihoods, but in such a predominantly agricultural region, other employment opportunities are very limited. Some families are beginning to try to grow crops with less land demand, such as vegetables and fruits, but the market value and profitability of these crops are far less than that of tea and cannot fully compensate for the economic losses.
Li Yunzhong's story and the reality of adventure
In 2006, at the first light of the morning, Li Yunzhong went to the mountains and forests in the minefield of Mengtong Township as usual, ready to pick the grass and fruits that grew here. Although these fruits are not expensive, they are in demand in the local market and can bring some extra income to the villagers. On that day, the sun shone through the treetops and dappled on the rugged mountain road, and Li Yunzhong followed the familiar path into the mountain forest.
The trails in the mountain forest are winding and lined with dense shrubs and low woods. Li Yunzhong carried a simple tool and a basket, ready to return with a full load. He carefully searched for grass fruits in the bushes, bending down to pick them from time to time. Although everyone in the village knows that there is a threat of landmines hidden in these mountains and forests, there is still a glimmer of hope that young people like Li Yunzhong will not become the unlucky ones.
However, misfortune still happened. During a harvest, Li Yunzhong accidentally stepped on an anti-infantry mine hidden in the covered soil. With a loud bang, a cloud of dust flew up, and his right calf was blown away in an instant. Pain and shock filled the silence of the forest for a moment.
The sound attracted nearby villagers, who hurried to the scene of the incident and saw Li Yunzhong lying on the ground, bleeding profusely and in critical condition. The villagers immediately lifted him up and cautiously walked out of the minefield, fear and nervousness filling everyone's hearts along the way. In a hurry, they tried to avoid possible minefields, fearing another explosion. Li Yunzhong was rushed to the nearest hospital, where doctors treated him first-hand, and although his life was saved, his right calf could not be recovered.
Li Yunzhong's adaptation and challenge
After that catastrophic accident, Li Yunzhong, with the help and encouragement of the local government, decided to change his livelihood and established a high-mountain tea factory. Although this decision was made in a difficult situation, he still hopes to find a silver lining in new areas.
Li Yunzhong's tea workshop is located on a safe piece of land far from the minefield. Although he is no longer able to do the manual labor he used to, he can still manage the processing and sale of tea. The workshop was small, consisting of a few simple brick and timber huts with the necessary equipment: a large iron pot for steaming tea, several long tables for drying and rolling tea leaves, and simple shelves for storing the finished products.
Every day, Li Yunzhong personally supervises the whole process of tea from picking to initial production, ensuring that every step of the way meets his strict requirements for quality. Because it is a high mountain tea, the tea leaves here have a unique aroma and taste due to the fact that they are grown at higher altitudes and in a fresh climate. All tea leaves are hand-picked, with only the most tender leaf tips selected, then traditionally hand-kneaded and naturally dried to preserve the natural aroma and nutrients of the tea.
Although Li Yunzhong's tea is of high quality, as a small-scale tea manufacturer, he faces a significant challenge in bringing his products to market. His workshop lacked the funds and channels for large-scale marketing, and relied on the local market and sales through word of mouth through acquaintances for most of the time. He often drives his tricycle and sells his tea at farmers' markets in surrounding towns, and sometimes participates in local tea fairs in the hope of attracting more buyers.
The tea market is highly competitive, and many large tea companies and experienced tea farmers have mature sales networks and brand effects, which makes Li Yunzhong's tea workshop relatively weak in the market. Although his tea is of good quality, it is difficult to compete with the big brands in terms of brand awareness and market coverage.
In order to boost sales, Li Yunzhong has also tried a variety of methods, including setting up a WeChat mall, promoting it through social media, and partnering with local tourist attractions to promote his tea as a specialty. He also plans to establish partnerships with local restaurants and tea houses to give more people the opportunity to taste his handmade teas. While these efforts are paying off, getting products from local markets to broader regional markets remains a challenging path.
The historical legacy of the mine village
In border areas like Mengtong Township, despite the obvious dangers and frequent accidents like Li Yunzhong's, for many border residents living in these areas, land is not only the foundation of their livelihood, but also the core of their economic resources.
Here, almost every family owns several plots of land for cultivation, whether it is to grow tea, grass fruits, or other crops. Although the land in the mountains is threatened by landmines all year round, these lands are blessed with natural conditions that often produce high-quality crops. Therefore, no matter how risky it is, every year during the planting season, the villagers return to the mountains and fields full of unknown dangers with their tools.
In the fields, the villagers are extremely careful, and they will choose the path that is as safe as possible into the farmland. Pathfinding with long sticks is a common precaution, and they gently tap the ground in front of them with sticks in an attempt to detect if there is anything unusual on the ground. This method, while primitive, largely helped them avoid stepping directly on a mine.
Once at their destination, they begin to work busily, farming and staying alert. They knew that as soon as they found signs of digging or loosening of the land, immediate evacuation was the only option, as it could mean that the mines were close at hand. Still, they had to take the risk, because without income from the land, the family would not be able to make ends meet.
During the harvest season, villagers form groups to assist each other and monitor their surroundings to make safety as safe as possible. Some of them are in charge of picking, while others watch around, just in case. At the end of the harvest, they transport their produce to village fairs or sell them through middlemen to city markets, where they make small profits but are enough to support basic needs.
Even so, accidents still happen from time to time. Every accident causes a shock among the villagers, but due to financial pressures, they have to choose between fear and survival. The village elders warn the young people to be more careful, while also teaching them some lessons on identifying where the mines might be hiding.
In this environment, every day of peace is a cherishing of life. Although the villagers are in a race against death every day, they have also learned to find meaning and value in life under this pressure. Their lives are fraught with uncertainty and risk, but they also foster a sense of resilience and interdependence.
Landmine clearance and future prospects
In 2016, a new page was opened in the mine-clearing operation in Mengtong Township. In this operation, GILO worked with the local government to mobilize significant resources and manpower, with the goal of clearing these mines, which have long threatened the lives of villagers. Demining teams are equipped with advanced detection equipment, such as metal detectors and ground-penetrating radars, which are able to detect metal objects deep in the ground and help determine the exact location of mines.
Mine clearance operations usually begin early in the morning, when temperatures are lower and the risk of mine explosion is relatively small. The minesweepers are dressed in heavy protective suits, and every movement is extremely careful. They followed a pre-set route, carefully examining the land with probes with each step forward. When the detector sounded the alarm, the entire team immediately stopped moving and was confirmed by experienced demining specialists. It is a slow and difficult process, and each small area cleared means the restoration of a safe piece of land for the local population.
In addition, mine clearance operations involve the safe dismantling or detonation of landmines. After identifying the mine's location, demining experts carefully excavate a trail leading to the mine and then use specialized tools to safely remove or detonate the mine. Every time a mine is successfully defused, there is a sense of celebration in the team, but then they repeat the process until all the mines are safely cleared.
These mine operations are not just technical exercises, but also reflect a deep concern for human security. Although villagers are not directly involved in these high-risk tasks, they provide valuable information, such as the possible distribution areas of the mines, which is often based on their life experiences and unfortunate events. Thanks to the efforts of the mine-clearing team, the once abandoned land has been gradually transformed into safe farming, and the villagers can let go of their fears and start planning for future agricultural activities.
- Li Peng.Unforgettable1979 Documentary Series of Self-Defense and Counter-Attack Operations against Vietnam[J].Weapons Knowledge,2004,0(11):48-53