Formosa fires spokesperson who said 'fish or steel mill'.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of April 27, Mr. Chu Xuan Pham, Deputy Head of the External Relations Department of Formosa Ha Tinh Company, stated: "My highest-ranking supervisor informed me that I have been fired. I deserve this, and I sincerely apologize to you all, and to the people of Vietnam."

Cua Lo beach is outside the suspected toxic contamination zone in Central Vietnam.

Recently, following the mass fish deaths from Ha Tinh to Thua Thien - Hue, Mr. Chu Xuan Pham made a statement on television and in the press: "Sometimes you gain one thing but lose another. I have to be honest. We can't build a steel plant here when the surrounding sea has plenty of fish and shrimp... We try our best, but sometimes we have to accept (sacrifice) something for the project."

"Why did rice production used to take place here, but not anymore? Because once the factory is built, there can't be any more rice crops. Sometimes, you can't have both, so you have to choose between fishing and shrimp farming or a modern steel industry..."

Mr. Chu Xuan Pham bowed his head and apologized to the Vietnamese people for his statements.

By the afternoon of April 26th, Formosa Ha Tinh Company held a press conference, denying Mr. Pham's statements, and the Formosa company leaders bowed their heads and apologized to Vietnam for those remarks.

This afternoon, sources indicate that Formosa Ha Tinh Company has not yet issued an official document dismissing Mr. Pham. However, in a phone conversation with reporters, Mr. Pham said: “I apologize for my statement. I have been fired, so all I can do now is apologize to the Vietnamese people and to you all. I deserve to be fired; if I were given a chance to be imprisoned, I would gladly accept it.”

When a reporter asked, "But I understand that Formosa hasn't made a decision to fire you yet," Mr. Pham said, "My top boss has met with me and told me that I'm definitely going to be fired. I'm not allowed to say much, and I'm hesitant to explain the reasons. I sincerely apologize for the trouble I've caused everyone. I did speak up, and I deserve this. That's how the corporation is, and I understand that. I only regret that I shouldn't have done that for the company, that I shouldn't have done that for the people."

When asked about his plans for the near future, Mr. Pham said: "I will definitely have to return to my country soon. I have already packed my things. Once again, I would like to apologize to the people of Vietnam."

Khanh An