Don't let good people be hindered.

(Baonghean) - The campaign to return sidewalks to their original function as pedestrians rather than as places for commerce in Ho Chi Minh City, initiated by the resolute and specific direction of the Vice Chairman of District 1 People's Committee, continues to take place. However, new developments have begun to emerge around this issue that cannot be ignored.

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Initially, on social forums and some online newspapers, the issue was raised that “the campaign to reclaim the sidewalks is going a bit too far”. A lawyer spoke up in the newspaper saying that “District 1’s approach is going too far” because the handling of sidewalk encroachment must be regulated by the Law on Handling of Administrative Violations. To carry out the enforcement step, the district must follow the correct procedures as prescribed by the Law.

Vice Chairman of District 1 People's Committee Doan Ngoc Hai directly participated in directing functional forces to inspect and punish violations of encroachment on roadsides and sidewalks. Photo: Manh Linh/VNA

First, a record must be drawn up of the person who built the illegal structure, then a decision must be made to impose a penalty. Or if the penalty period has expired, a decision must be made to restore the original state and force the person who built the illegal structure to dismantle it. If the demolition is not carried out, a decision must be made to enforce the construction. The cost of enforcement shall be the responsibility of the violator...

Then, a representative of a newspaper sent a very “indecent” official dispatch asking to clarify the fact that the Vice Chairman of District 1 People’s Committee used watches and phones from expensive brands (although it was not yet determined whether it was true or not). Another newspaper, considered to be prestigious in the city, wrote an article asking whether “officials” can use luxury goods, re-examining the story of the watch and the phone that were considered expensive in a sophisticated way, but the intention was still aimed at the person who was wholeheartedly and wholeheartedly performing his duties and tasks.

After that, some people claiming to be owners of street vendors gathered in front of the District 1 People's Committee to protest the actions of the "deputy district chief", claiming that doing so had "destroyed their livelihood"... Some other people, with positions and influence, for some reason also spoke out insinuatingly saying this and that. If it continues like this, how many people will be enthusiastic and dedicated to doing good deeds?

Illustration photo, source: Internet

The real motives of those who write articles, speak out or gather to protest are not difficult to guess, because they cannot be outside of two things: fame and profit. The question here is whether a person who is trying very hard to do good for the whole community does not receive the full support of everyone? Is there a group of people who are concerned that the act of thoroughly clearing the sidewalks will inspire many places to follow suit, and perhaps force those who are waiting and hesitating to actively and decisively follow?

That would cause the "sidewalk economy" with its huge profits to suffer serious losses, reducing the interests of a certain interest group, so people began to fight back, looking for every way to "cool down" the actions of the "deputy district chief". Or maybe someone, simply not wanting others to be more prominent than themselves, also tried to prevent it. A bit suspicious, but it does not rule out the bad forces, taking advantage of this to incite those who suffered losses to gather and react in order to cause social instability from the streets...

Whatever the reason, we must agree on one thing: good people doing good deeds must be supported and protected to the end. People and authorities in Ho Chi Minh City in particular and the whole country in general need to be extremely alert and vigilant against the above-mentioned deceitful acts and arguments and have strong enough measures to prevent good people from being prevented from doing good deeds by anyone.

Duy Huong