Commune official disciplined after using excavator to destroy neighbor's house in Thanh Chuong

On January 13, Mr. Nguyen Van Que - Chairman of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee said that he had just signed a decision to discipline 5 Thanh My commune officials related to the land dispute that Nghe An Newspaper reported nearly 3 months ago. All 5 commune officials were disciplined with a reprimand.

Brought an excavator to destroy a neighbor's house because of 40 cm of dirt on the road surface.

(Baonghean.vn) - Believing that his neighbor was building a house on his land, Mr. Bac hired an excavator to destroy part of the house.

Accordingly, Mr. Pham Xuan Luc - Chairman of Thanh My Commune People's Committee was disciplined for "Lack of responsibility, lax management in the field of land", Mr. Nguyen Huu Luong - Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee was disciplined for "Lack of responsibility in advising and directing the resolution of land disputes". Meanwhile, two Deputy Commune Police Officers, Mr. Vo Van Tinh and Phan Ba ​​Hien, were disciplined for "Lack of responsibility in advising and promptly resolving the issue of using an excavator to destroy a neighbor's house". In addition, Mr. Luu Van Thuy - a land officer was disciplined for "Lack of responsibility in advising and resolving land disputes".

Previously, on September 22, 2017, Mr. Tran Dinh Bac (51 years old) hired an excavator to destroy part of the house, claiming that his neighbor Nguyen Duy Huu (village 5, Thanh My commune, Thanh Chuong) was building a house on his land. “I went to the commune police to report to the committee and saw Mr. Tinh, the commune police deputy, playing volleyball. I said: “Sir, someone is destroying my house.”

Mr. Tinh said: "It's right to destroy. But it's after working hours now...", Mr. Huu shared. This person also said that when he went to the house of Mr. Nguyen Huu Luong - Vice Chairman of Thanh My Commune People's Committee to report, this person said: "It's already been destroyed, what can I do now? I can't glue the house back together...".

Disputed area between two families in Thanh My commune (Thanh Chuong). Photo: Tien Hung

According to the investigation of Nghe An Newspaper reporter, this land dispute has been going on for decades, spanning 4 generations of landowners but has not been thoroughly resolved by the local government. Accordingly, in 1994, after changing the purpose of use from agricultural land, Thanh My commune sold a plot of land located next to the inter-district road to Mr. Le Viet Linh.

This plot of land is adjacent to the garden of Mr. Nguyen Duy Binh (father of Mr. Nguyen Duy Huu). “Because he bought it but did not use it, this area was often encroached upon by Mr. Binh and his son who lived next door. After many arguments, Mr. Linh transferred this plot of land to his son-in-law. However, after a short time of ownership, this person could not stand the encroachment all day long, so he continued to transfer it to Mr. Le Huy Hai (67 years old)” - Mr. Hoang Tien Tho - Secretary of the Thanh My Commune Party Committee said.

In 2016, Mr. Binh passed away. Some time later, Huu, who was working in China, returned to his hometown and built a small shop with his brother, continuing to encroach on Mr. Bac's land by about 40 cm of road frontage. During the construction process, Huu and his brothers argued many times with Mrs. Nguyen Thi Long (Mr. Bac's wife).

Her husband is in prison, and she alone cannot stop her neighbors from building a house. Ms. Long has repeatedly sent petitions to the local authorities to complain. However, instead of resolving the matter, the leaders of Thanh My commune have pushed the issue to the Village Management Board. A few months ago, Mr. Bac finished serving his prison sentence and returned home. The two families quarreled many times. Mr. Bac then issued an "ultimatum", forcing Mr. Huu's family to demolish the house within three days, otherwise he would call someone to come and demolish it.

Regarding the act of using an excavator to destroy a neighbor's house, Colonel Luong The Loc - Head of Thanh Chuong District Police said that the police are still waiting for an assessment of the damage to prosecute Mr. Bac for the crime of property destruction. "There are some assets that have just been listed so it takes time to assess. However, with the assets we have previously identified, Mr. Bac will definitely be prosecuted. The problem is only the penalty framework," said Colonel Loc. In addition, the excavator driver hired by Mr. Bac is also being considered for responsibility.

Meanwhile, regarding the land dispute, the authorities are still reviewing the records for comparison, and taking specific measurements to determine whether or not there is encroachment. According to the people, not only has Mr. Bac's land been encroached upon, Mr. Huu's household has also encroached on public land for decades, but the local authorities have not yet taken action.

Mr. Bac used an excavator to destroy his neighbor's house. Photo provided by a resident.

On this occasion, the Chairman of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee also signed a disciplinary decision.Two officials of Thanh Mai commune, Mr. Tran Cong Bang - Chairman of the Commune People's Committee and Mr. Ha Quang Nam - Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee. Both of them were disciplined with a reprimand for "Lack of responsibility in state management of forest protection and development".

Speaking to reporters on January 12, the Chairman of Thanh Mai Commune People's Committee said that the disciplinary action was related to violations in deforestation from nearly a year ago.

Accordingly, in May 2017, Mr. Tran Van Hao (33 years old, brother-in-law of the Chairman of Thanh Mai Commune People's Committee) sold to Mr. Le Dinh Chien (33 years old, Thanh Thuy Commune) a quantity of firewood for more than 22 million VND, in the forest of Da Bia hamlet. According to Mr. Chien, due to the terrain leading to the firewood collection site being a steep mountain road, coupled with unfavorable weather, the transportation of firewood encountered many difficulties, prolonging the transportation time. On the morning of August 11, 2017, Mr. Chien asked his younger brother to go into the forest with him to continue transporting firewood, but was obstructed by Mr. Hao.

Thinking that the purchase of firewood had been agreed upon and paid in cash, but before they could collect all the firewood, the seller himself obstructed them, causing a conflict and struggle between Mr. Chien and Hao. Mr. Chien's younger brother was then slashed and seriously injured by Hao.
This amount of firewood was later determined to have originated from the destruction of natural forests that had been contracted to Mr. Tran Cong Bang and several other households. However, speaking to Nghe An Newspaper reporters, Mr. Bang said that he had transferred this area to his brother-in-law in 2016. In fact, the transfer of forest land also violated regulations on management and protection of the contracted forests.
In addition, according to the forest rangers' inspection record of deforestation, another large area of ​​deforested forest is also under the management of Mr. Ha Quang Nam - Vice Chairman of Thanh Mai Commune People's Committee.

However, in the Decision on administrative sanctions for deforestation, there was only Mr. Tran Van Hao (fined 25 million VND); Mr. Nguyen Phung Hao (fined 15 million VND); Mr. Dau Dinh Khanh (fined 7.5 million VND) and Mr. Ha Quang Hong (fined 40 million VND) but there was no name of the two leaders of Thanh Mai commune.