Small things, don't make a mountain out of a molehill

(Baonghean.vn) - Believing that the city government had not handled her petition properly, around mid-December 2015, Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung, residing in Group 5, K4, Le Loi Ward, sent a petition to Nghe An Newspaper. However, after investigation, it was found that the content of Ms. Nhung's petition was unreasonable...

Content of Ms. Nhung's petition: Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung and Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai both bought land from Ms. Phan Thi Huong (Ms. Nhung bought in 2012; Ms. Hai bought in 1993). Ms. Phan Thi Huong's land originated from residential land granted by Vifom Food Company to workers in 1988. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai's family has lived in residential group No. 1, K4 since buying the land, going through alley 24, Le Lai street; while Ms. Nhung lives in residential group No. 5, alley 8, Le Lai street, so for many years they have not been related to each other.

In 2013, Ms. Hai submitted a request to the city government to open a path through the land that Ms. Nhung was using (over 7 square meters of "extra" land that Ms. Phan Thi Huong had used since 1988) and was approved. Ms. Hai then arbitrarily knocked down the fence separating the two families to open a path, causing outrage not only to Ms. Nhung's family but also to the community of residential group number 5.

Ms. Nhung has filed a petition, and the Le Loi ward government also believes that the city’s decision to reclaim 7 square meters of land to open a traffic connection road is not in line with reality and without planning; at the same time, it does not receive the consensus of the majority of people. However, the city government does not listen to the opinions of the ward and the people but continues to direct the ward to open a path for Ms. Hai on the 7 square meters of “extra” land…

Current status of the 7m2 land after Le Loi ward dismantled the constructions on the land (Mrs. Nhung's house is on the right; next to it is the gray-yellow iron gate of Mrs. Hai's house).

According to Ms. Nhung, the 7m2 of "surplus" land originated from the land that Ms. Huong had filled in a pond and used since 1988 without any dispute with anyone; for these 7m2 of "surplus" land, for many years, no project or planning has been approved by the competent authority. Therefore, it is requested that the competent authority consider allowing the "rationalization" of the 7m2 of "surplus" land into her land. If the competent authority does not consider the request for "rationalization", the city needs to clarify the planning and implement reasonable compensation for construction works on the land. If the state reclaims it for community purposes, Ms. Nhung supports it, but if it is to open a path for Ms. Hai, she will not agree because Ms. Hai already has a path. Because these recommendations were not accepted by the City People's Committee, she continued to send petitions to the press agencies...

Regarding the settlement of Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung's petition, Vinh City People's Committee has responded in writing three times. Most recently, on December 2, 2015, in Official Dispatch No. 5906, Vinh City People's Committee commented: Based on the relevant records and documents, the use of approximately 7 square meters of land adjacent to Ms. Hai and Ms. Nhung's land for traffic purposes according to the approved planning is in accordance with legal regulations; assign Le Loi Ward to notify Ms. Nhung's household and related households about the construction planning and traffic planning records; and at the same time organize the dismantling of illegal constructions on the 7 square meter land.

According to the People's Committee of Le Loi Ward, the 7m2 plot of land that is "causing controversy" is identified as vacant land, adjacent to lane 8; and adjacent to both Ms. Hai's land and Ms. Nhung's land. This 7m2 plot of land was previously used by Ms. Huong. On it, Ms. Huong built a surrounding wall and opened a gate to the lane. Later, Ms. Huong sold the land to Ms. Nhung and kept the status quo. When the city agreed to let Ms. Hai open the road, Ms. Nhung and the people of residential group 5 did not agree with this solution, so they sent a petition. Following the direction of the City People's Committee, Le Loi Ward repeatedly urged Ms. Nhung to dismantle the fence and gate on the 7m2 area, but she did not comply.

Small alley to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hai's house before.

Asked about the viewpoint on resolving the case, according to Mr. Thai Giap Vinh - Chairman of the People's Committee of Le Loi Ward, because Ms. Hai already had a road; the community of Group 5 did not agree with Ms. Hai opening a road to alley 8; moreover, if Ms. Hai opened a new gate, it would be too close to Ms. Nhung's family's door, so it was easy to cause collisions, so the ward had intended to propose the city to auction (restrict) that 7m2 plot of land. However, following the direction of the superiors, on December 17, 2015, the ward organized forces to dismantle the fence and gate of Ms. Nhung's family on the vacant land; and Ms. Hai also opened the gate to go through the new path...

Observing the reality, the 7m2 plot of land, in addition to being adjacent to the land of the two women, is adjacent to the wall of Mrs. Lanh's family's house, the remaining part is connected to alley 8. Checking the planning drawing, it shows that alley 8 connects to a part of the 7m2 plot of land. Considering the road that Mrs. Hai used before, this is just a narrow alley stretching hundreds of meters, polluted and dirty by garbage and wastewater from the residential area. Mrs. Hai's house is at the end of the alley, so traveling is extremely inconvenient. With what has been witnessed, it is obvious that Mrs. Hai's wish to open the gate to alley 8 for convenient travel is legitimate; and the solution of Vinh City People's Committee is in accordance with the law. In exchange, the Le Loi ward government also recognized this.

On this planning drawing (provided by Le Loi Ward People's Committee), lane 8 is shown connecting to the 7m2 plot of land.

Through investigation, the reason why a small incident led to a prolonged petition and the city's instructions being slow to be handled was because Le Loi ward had intended to "legalize" the 7m2 land plot for Ms. Nhung; in addition, Ms. Hai's lifestyle made the residents of residential group No. 5 disagree. From that, it can be seen that in Le Loi ward, the management of vacant land is not strictly ensured. This is because, from 1988 until now, Ms. Huong and Ms. Nhung have used and built on vacant land, violating land and construction laws, but Le Loi ward has no plan to completely handle it. Only when Ms. Hai wanted to open a road, did Le Loi ward propose a plan to price the land plot, which was unreasonable. This is something Le Loi ward needs to learn from.

Regarding the issue of Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai, in many documents related to the incident, there are the minutes of the meeting of residential group No. 5 of block 4, Le Loi ward. In the minutes, the people of the residential group criticized the speech and lifestyle of Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai. The ancients have a saying "sell distant brothers, buy close neighbors", "Words do not cost money to buy, choose your words to please each other"... No matter what you say, living a lifestyle that allows neighbors to criticize is not right, not right. Therefore, Ms. Hai also needs to make adjustments to ensure affection with the community. Regarding Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung's petition, in our opinion, she should see that the decisions issued by the city are in accordance with the law to end the petition...

Ha Giang