Don't let 'gold thieves' happen again!

Detect and handle violations

Since September 2020, through many sources of information, the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district has determined that illegal gold mining has recurred in the communes of Yen Na, Yen Hoa, Yen Tinh and Huu Khuong. Specifically, in the area of ​​Pha Tooc stream (Hat village), Xung stream and Phep stream (Na Cang village) in Yen Tinh commune; Xai stream (Huoi Co village), Pa stream (Xan village) in Huu Khuong commune and Pu Phen hill area (bordering the 3 communes of Yen Na, Yen Hoa, Yen Tinh). Therefore, on September 29, 2020, the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district established an Inspection Team, directed the coordination with the authorities of Yen Tinh, Huu Khuong, Yen Na, Yen Hoa communes to organize inspections and handle violations in illegal mineral activities (in Decision No. 1090/QD-UBND).

At the Pha Tooc stream point in the Hat village protective forest (Yen Tinh commune), after 3 inspections, an illegal mining team was discovered, organized by local people in collaboration with Thai Nguyen people, setting up camps and gathering machines for the purpose of illegal mineral mining. The working group destroyed on the spot 1 old Dong Phong machine, 1 stone crusher, 5 camps, about 200m of water pipes and collapsed 2 tunnels of the illegal mining team in the Pha Tooc stream area.

At Khe Xai area, Huoi Co village, Huu Khuong commune, inspection discovered illegal mining tools including: 1 Dong Phong machine, 2 stone crushing rigs, 2 camps, 1 electric tool. These tools were identified as belonging to a group of 4 subjects organized by Mr. Pit Van Lan (resident of Huoi Co village, Huu Khuong commune) to illegally mine gold.

In Na Cang village, at Khe Phep point, 2 inspections were conducted and found 2 old stone mills, 2 camps, 2 old mines about 10m deep. At this location, the inspection team did not find any illegal mineral miners. The evidences were determined to have no owner and were destroyed on the spot by the team, and at the same time handed over to Yen Tinh commune authorities to continue monitoring the situation. In the Khe Xung area (bordering Nga My commune), 2 inspections were conducted.

On November 10, 2020, in conjunction with the Forest Protection Management Station and the Commune Police, an inspection was conducted and 5 people (all from Thai Nguyen) were discovered resting at the camp. There was an old Dong Phong machine, a stone crusher, an electric tool, and related personal belongings. Although the subjects were not engaged in illegal mineral exploitation, and no one claimed the above evidence, the team proceeded to destroy the evidence on the spot; at the same time, the 5 people involved in the camp were required to collect their personal belongings and leave the area...

According to Mr. Nguyen Phung Hung - Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, as of mid-November 2020, the Working Group established by the District People's Committee and the working group of the local authorities of Yen Tinh, Yen Na, Huu Khuong, and Yen Hoa communes had destroyed 19 Dong Phong machines, 19 stone crushing rigs, 18 electric tools, cut down about 500m of tio, 03 nickel plates, 7 kg of mercury and water pipes and other tools for illegal gold mining, burned many camps... Asked about the handling of subjects who are Thai Nguyen people participating in illegal gold mining groups, according to the Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Tuong Duong district, he said: "Through inspection, it was determined that these subjects are all laborers, hired by local people to carry out illegal gold mining. Therefore, the Inspection Group requested the local authorities to expel them from the area...".

Will handle the responsibility of the head!

According to the leaders of Tuong Duong district, from around 2013 - 2014 onwards, the illegal exploitation of gold minerals was a real problem, causing many consequences for the locality. When receiving information about the recurrence of "gold thieves", along with urgently directing inspection and thorough handling; the District People's Committee also identified one of the reasons as the local authorities were still negligent and had not fulfilled their state management responsibilities.

Therefore, by October 22, 2020, although the inspection and handling had achieved some results, the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district continued to issue Document No. 1080/UBND-NL directing the strengthening of inspection and handling of illegal exploitation of forest products and minerals. It clearly stated: "In the past time, illegal mining in Tuong Duong district has recurred, changing the flow and causing landslides, threatening human life, directly affecting the ecological environment and polluting water sources, causing unpredictable consequences to people's lives. Illegal miners have been inspected and handled by local authorities but have not been resolved and are showing signs of becoming more complicated...".

In addition to continuing to assign responsibility to relevant departments, offices, units and local authorities to step up inspection and handling work, in Document No. 1080/UBND-NL, the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district assigned responsibility: "The Party Secretary and Chairman of the Commune People's Committee must be responsible to the District Party Secretary and Chairman of the District People's Committee when illegal exploitation of forest products and gold minerals occurs in the area without taking measures to prevent or handle it or not reporting on the illegal exploitation of minerals occurring in the area, allowing it to continue for a long time and being discovered by the District People's Committee...".

To strengthen the responsibility of mineral resource management of authorities at all levels, on October 28, 2020, Tuong Duong District Party Committee also issued Official Dispatch No. 75-CV/HU directing Party committees at all levels to step up the dissemination, propaganda, popularization and education of laws on minerals and Directive 13-CT/TW of the Central Executive Committee on strengthening the Party's leadership in forest management, protection and care; The District People's Committee directed to focus on rectifying and improving state management of mineral resources; regularly direct the good implementation of inspection and supervision of mineral resource exploitation, processing and transportation activities...; The District Police Party Committee, the Forest Protection Department Party Cell, and the Protective Forest Management Board Party Cell strengthen leadership and direction of units to promote their roles and responsibilities, effectively perform assigned functions and tasks, and advise Party committees and authorities on plans to strengthen inspection, prevent and strictly handle illegal exploitation of mineral resources...

Also in this document, Tuong Duong District Party Committee assigned the Inspection Committee to advise and propose forms of consideration and handling for units, localities and leaders who allow illegal exploitation of mineral resources. At the same time, it affirmed: “Heads of Party committees, authorities, heads of agencies, departments and branches must take full responsibility before the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee when allowing illegal exploitation of minerals and forest products to occur in the area. Cases of cover-up, laxity, slow detection, and failure to promptly prevent illegal exploitation of minerals and forest products will be strictly handled by the Standing Committee according to regulations”.