Solution to reduce mass complaints: Follow the right procedures, promote democracy

(Baonghean) - Since the beginning of the year, there has been a phenomenon of mass complaints from the grassroots to all levels in our province. To overcome this situation, it requires the grassroots to do a good job of resolving complaints, denunciations, and disputes, not letting them linger for a long time...

According to statistics, in the first 9 months of 2014, there were 8 mass complaints to the provincial level such as: complaints of 290 households of Trung Do Industrial Cooperative members, of Ben Thuy Ward Loading and Unloading Cooperative members; complaints of more than 200 households who are business households at Ben Thuy market, complaints of small traders doing business at Vinh market's main hall; then complaints of shareholders of Nghe An Bridge and Road Construction Joint Stock Company; complaints of some small traders doing business at Hom market, Hop Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district... Looking back at these cases along with previous cases, it can be seen that the main conflicts focus on complaints about land, about compensation, land recovery, site clearance, about public ethics of civil servants...

Through investigation, the cause of mass petitions in Vinh City, in addition to the factor of being a central urban area, concentrating many socio-economic activities, large profitable land value, many markets, is also due to the fact that the city has not fully grasped information and ideological developments of the people to promptly handle them. The public dissemination of the Party's policies and the State's laws to the people, and the implementation of grassroots democracy is still limited. In addition, there are some cases where citizens make requests that are not in accordance with the law and deliberately take advantage of the large number of people coming to the government to put pressure on the government. In this situation, the City Party Committee and the City People's Committee have organized many meetings to rectify and discuss solutions to limit petitions and mass petitions. Comrade Vo Viet Thanh - Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Secretary of the City Party Committee. Vinh said: To reduce mass complaints, petitions and recommendations from citizens in the city, the City Party Committee has directed the City People's Committee to organize so that the Office and officers of the Inspection and Natural Resources - Environment sectors also meet with citizens every day and directly advise on the immediate resolution of petitions and recommendations. This is a major change for the city, because previously, they only met with citizens 1-2 times a month. Thanks to daily meetings and timely resolution of citizens' petitions, the regular meeting in September only had to meet with 2 citizens of the city. The number of people receiving meetings has decreased significantly, and the mentality of the people and officers is comfortable. The city also promotes the role of mass mobilization, the Fatherland Front, and mass organizations to regularly grasp the situation and guide people to properly implement the provisions of the law. Many long-standing complaints have been resolved satisfactorily, such as compensation for land clearance of the 72m road, the case at Nha Din market... The city has also strengthened management in all areas, especially strengthening inspections of sensitive areas that are prone to mass complaints, such as land management, compensation for land clearance, and cooperative management. At the same time, the city also stipulates that if any ward, commune, or field does not perform well, causing mass complaints, the leaders of that field or the leaders of that ward or commune must be responsible to the leaders of the City People's Committee. City leaders regularly inspect localities and closely monitor the grassroots to promptly resolve complications at the grassroots level.

According to Mr. Truong Xuan Ty - Chief Inspector of the city, as soon as a complaint arises, the government needs to organize a dialogue, listen to the opinions of the people to focus on resolving it in accordance with the provisions of the law, ensuring the rights and legitimate interests of the people, and not allowing hot spots to occur. In fact, in Vinh City, the city has focused on directing the resolution of a number of specific cases, such as: The case of traders at Kenh Bac market who had no place to do business. After receiving instructions from the Provincial People's Committee, the City People's Committee directed the construction of a temporary market and invited traders to agree on some related contents. Currently, the temporary market has come into operation and traders agree with the settlement of the City People's Committee. Regarding the case of traders at Ben Thuy market, implementing the instructions of the Provincial People's Committee, the City People's Committee has established an inspection team to inspect, review, and conclude some new recommendations of traders. Currently, the City People's Committee is reviewing the Draft Conclusion supplementing the above inspection contents to respond to the people as soon as possible, and at the same time, removing and disciplining the leaders of the Market Management Board. Regarding the case of the traders at the main hall of Vinh market complaining to the Provincial People's Committee, to resolve this issue, the Standing Committee of Vinh City Party Committee issued Official Dispatch 2003-CV/Th.U dated November 22, 2013 agreeing on the policy of leasing the 3rd floor of the main hall of Vinh market. However, up to now, the traders still do not agree, especially the exploitation of the 3rd floor for trading in clothing, shoes, and fabrics. In addition, the traders at Vinh market also complained about a number of other issues. The City People's Committee has established an inspection team to inspect and conclude the contents that the traders proposed and reflected. On October 8, 2014, the City People's Committee once again organized a dialogue with small traders, inviting relevant departments and agencies to attend. The city is persistently dialogue with small traders on this issue and will offer many options for them to choose from.

Looking back at the mass petitions in the province in recent times, we can see that: There are cases originating from the authorities themselves, the authorities at all levels have not fulfilled their responsibilities in handling petitions and complaints, have not fulfilled their duties when performing their duties and responsibilities. There are places where the work is not selected, chosen, and done properly, leading to unnecessary complications. The incompetent and inappropriate way of doing things is a cause of the complications in the markets in recent times. The grassroots democracy regulations have not been seriously implemented. The role of Party cells and Party committees towards the organizations where the petitions occurred is unclear and has not been effective.

Mr. Nguyen Chi Nham - Chief Inspector of the province said: Agencies and authorities at all levels need to apply 3 groups of solutions synchronously to limit the occurrence of mass complaints from markets. First, when enforcing the law, officials and civil servants must do it correctly, according to the process, according to the regime, and according to the right subjects. Second, it is necessary to implement the democratic regulations well: people know, people discuss, people inspect, places that implement the grassroots democratic regulations well will have few complaints and vice versa. When complaints arise, competent authorities must focus on resolving them right at the grassroots level and must resolve them effectively. The head must first contact citizens to "cool down" their frustrations. Then assign the staff agency to accurately classify the complaints, from which they can advise on the resolution process. When issuing documents or conclusions, it is necessary to clearly state what is right and what is wrong, and at the same time closely monitor the implementation of those conclusions. The role of the head of the Party Committee is very important. When handling mass complaints, authorities must comply with the complaint review and handling process.

Chau Lan