Don't let it be too late

(Baonghean) - In 1992, implementing the policy of clearing traffic corridors, ensuring visibility and avoiding accidents, Yen Thanh district established a clearance committee headed by the Vice Chairman. To facilitate the work, the district organized a conference to disseminate information to each resident. In particular, households subject to clearance were clearly informed of the policy, time, method and compensation policy (if compensated) and the legitimate wishes of the residents before the clearance.

The starting point of the “campaign” was My Thanh commune, on Highway 7, bordering Do Luong district. On the first day of the campaign, it was very happy and favorable that martyr Nguyen Thi Nhan’s mother volunteered to dismantle her house and build on the safety corridor. The mother’s support and leadership were unanimously responded by the people, the district’s radio and television system continuously reported the news, creating a widespread effect and the demolition was very favorable.

That year, the entire district demolished 1,016 houses and kiosks on all the roads with the support and consensus of the people. Only the flat house of Mr. Chau Quynh and his wife located next to the western abutment of Dinh bridge remained undisturbed.

Regarding Mr. Chau Quynh's house, the origin is as follows: In 1982, the District Party Committee and People's Committee of Yen Thanh District had a policy to develop industrial and handicraft services. Mr. Chau Quynh's family, a parishioner in Thanh Chuong District, had a good tailoring job, and applied to open a tailoring facility in the district center. The district approved and rented land for the tailoring facility.

At first, they only built a level 4 house, but later they built a solid house. The town government stopped them, made a record, and the family promised that if the Dinh bridge area was cleared and expanded in the future, they would demolish it themselves. But when the clearance was carried out, the family made excuses and refused, saying that he had bought the land and paid the town.

However, the Traffic Safety Clearance Board has proposed to the District People's Committee to settle the land in the most convenient place for his family to continue doing business. The new land location faces south at the town intersection, with a road length of 7 meters (while other households have 6 meters). However, Mr. Chau Quynh's family still did not accept.

Faced with that situation, the Traffic Safety Committee assigned the Inspectorate and the District Finance Department to review the records and documents on the collection of land sale money from the town to Mr. Chau Quynh's family, and then proceed with the handling.

Nearly a year later, all the documents and receipts for collecting money with the content "paying for land leveling to build a restaurant" with Mr. Chau Quynh's signature on the land he rented or borrowed from the town People's Committee were fully collected (at that time, the town People's Committee rented a land leveling machine, so whoever borrowed land to build a restaurant had to pay for the leveling).

When there was a full legal basis, the Evacuation Committee asked the family to demolish the house themselves, but the family refused to comply three or seven times, and even wrote a petition of slander and injustice to all levels.

Unable to compromise, the People's Committee of Yen Thanh district issued a decision to enforce. Before carrying out the enforcement, the force grasped the situation and set up a blockade to prevent any reckless or opposing behavior. The demolition force carried out the enforcement in the following order: They went to the family to announce the decision to enforce, but the homeowner locked the door, the hamlet cadres were responsible for calling the homeowner back, signing the minutes in front of a large crowd of people.

Faced with the government's reasonable and legal handling and resolution, the people all clearly understood: "Living in the Vietnamese sky, one must obey Vietnamese law, there is no other way...".

For unknown reasons, but shortly thereafter, his entire family moved elsewhere.

If only Mr. Chau Quynh's family had complied with traffic safety regulations like all the local people, not only would he have a stable production facility and be respected by everyone, but the district would also have another good citizen with good skills. But everything was too late.

Nguyen Trong Ha