Thanh Chuong district needs to thoroughly resolve citizens' complaints and denunciations.

On the morning of April 11, the Provincial People's Council's survey delegation led by Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Hoang Viet Duong had a meeting with Thanh Chuong district on receiving citizens, handling complaints, denunciations, and petitions in the district. Photo: Thanh Quynh

There are still many shortcomings

After listening to the Thanh Chuong District People's Committee report on citizen reception, handling of petitions, complaints, denunciations, recommendations and reflections from citizens from 2017 to the first quarter of 2019, members of the survey team pointed out the shortcomings in the locality's citizen reception work.

Specifically, the Citizen Reception Committee of Thanh Chuong district still holds multiple positions and is not in accordance with the Law on Citizen Reception; the focal point for managing and advising on handling petitions is still scattered, not in accordance with the Law, leading to many shortcomings in records, documents, and case grasping work; there are no unscheduled citizen receptions and direct dialogues, leading to the situation of many petitions going beyond the level.

Deputy Chief of the Provincial People's Council Office Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa also reflected on the situation of many petitions from citizens under the jurisdiction of the district. The Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Committee has forwarded the petitions but has not yet received a response from the Thanh Chuong District People's Committee.

In particular, the case of Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet (72 years old, Loc Son hamlet, Thanh Hung commune) who wished to apply for a land use right certificate but the locality did not process the procedure. After many meetings with the people, the District People's Committee has directed and urged the Thanh Hung Commune People's Committee 7 times to handle the case, but up to now the Commune People's Committee has not yet resolved it completely, leading to a prolonged situation of petitions.

Of the 333 cases reported, denounced and complained by people in Thanh Chuong district from 2017 to the first quarter of 2019, 235 cases were related to land (accounting for 70.5%). Photo: Documentary

At the working session, the survey team members requested the People's Committee of Thanh Chuong district to arrange specialized staff to receive citizens in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Citizen Reception; to increase dialogue with citizens, especially cases that have been resolved in accordance with legal regulations to avoid prolonged petitions and letters that go beyond the level; to fully implement the citizen reception regime as prescribed, including periodic, regular and ad hoc reception.

Strengthen dialogue and resolve petitions

Clarifying the issues of concern to the survey team, comrade Nguyen Van Que - Chairman of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee said that the locality pays special attention to resolving citizens' petitions and regularly includes the content of resolving complaints and denunciations for direction in meetings of Party committees and authorities.

However, because it is a densely populated area with complex social structures and people's lives still facing many difficulties, especially in resettlement areas, the district still has a number of complicated land-related cases left over from history.

Regarding the case of Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet, although the district leaders have repeatedly paid attention and given instructions, because the land area that Ms. Tuyet has owned since 1991 is reclaimed land (cannot be converted into residential land), and is currently still in dispute with other households, the People's Committee of Thanh Hung commune has not yet completely handled it.

For other outstanding issues, the District People's Committee will continue to direct departments, offices and grassroots units to have thorough and strict solutions. At the same time, gradually improve the quality of public reception work, especially unscheduled public receptions.

People of Thanh Lien commune (Thanh Chuong) give their opinions during the citizen reception session of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee. Photo courtesy

Concluding the working session, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Hoang Viet Duong assessed that the Party Committee and the Thanh Chuong district government had basically paid attention to and directed well the work of receiving people and resolving complaints, denunciations and reflections from the people, contributing to stabilizing the political security situation, social order and safety, creating momentum for the socio-economic development of the locality. In particular, the district had promptly handled many "hot" and prominent cases in the area.

Regarding the shortcomings pointed out by the survey team, localities need to seriously absorb, overcome and strictly implement the conclusions after the inspection and survey.

In the coming time, district leaders need to strengthen the direction of district and commune-level departments, offices, and expertise to monitor, guide, and direct the final resolution of outstanding cases; assign focal points to receive, classify petitions, and monitor cases in a scientific and legal manner; strengthen guidance and propaganda for citizens to understand their rights and obligations when making petitions, reports, and land disputes...

The head of the survey team also noted that the locality needs to innovate the method of receiving people and handling citizens' petitions, ensuring four factors: ethics - responsibility - seriousness - compliance with legal regulations; promptly supplement tasks and seriously implement Directive 02 dated January 7, 2019 of the Provincial People's Committee Chairman on strengthening the work of receiving people and handling citizens' petitions.

From 2017 to the first quarter of 2019, Thanh Chuong district received 515 citizens with 144 cases. The District People's Committee directed the settlement of 140/144 cases (reaching 97.2%). The remaining 4 cases are under the settlement period.

Regarding petitions, Thanh Chuong District People's Committee received 575 petitions from various sources with 333 cases.Of these, 235 cases were in the land sector (accounting for 70.5%), 56 cases were in the policy and regime sector (accounting for 16.8%), and 42 cases were in other sectors (accounting for 12.7%).Result: 312/333 cases have been resolved. 21 cases are still under resolution.