'Do not condone or cover up officials involved in the Formosa incident'

The conclusion of the Central Inspection Committee shows its determination not to condone or cover up officials involved in the Formosa Ha Tinh case.

The conclusion of the Central Inspection Committee to consider disciplining a series of officials related to the Formosa Ha Tinh case is creating more trust among the people in the Party's leadership and the implementation of Resolution 4 of the 12th Central Committee, tightening discipline and order within the Party is being carried out very seriously. Regarding this content, VOV reporter interviewed Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Manh Ha - former Director of the Institute of Party History - Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Manh Ha - former Director of the Institute of Party History - Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics. (Photo: Urban Economics)

PV:Sir, what is the significance of the announcement of the Central Inspection Committee's conclusion on considering disciplining many officials related to the Formosa Ha Tinh case at this time?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Manh Ha: This announcement is very much in line with the wishes of the people of Central Vietnam – those affected by Formosa and the people of the whole country who are expecting a drastic and serious implementation of the Resolution of the 12th Central Committee, Session 4, against those responsible for causing the environmental disaster.

Those directly and indirectly involved have been put under review, disciplined, and dealt with – demonstrating the determination of the Party and State not to condone, cover up, or deny responsibility for those who caused such a serious incident.

PV:After the recent marine environmental incident, Mr. Vo Kim Cu still affirmed that he did the right thing and that the incident was an accident. Now the Central Inspection Committee has pointed out: "The main responsibility belongs to comrade Vo Kim Cu during his time as Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Head of the Economic Zone Management Board". People are waiting for a correct judgment for irresponsible officials like Mr. Vo Kim Cu. What is your opinion on this issue?

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Manh Ha:There must have been a review from the time Mr. Vo Kim Cu was the leader of Ha Tinh province in management positions. He certainly could not have decided alone whether to lease Formosa for 50 or 70 years, while the State's regulations were only for 50-year leases, but he advocated leasing for 70 years and then announced that decision to the Central Government. Thus, he must be responsible for the decision regarding Formosa. We must find out whether his decision had any personal gain that violated the State's general regulations?

PV:In your opinion, should we consider Mr. Vo Kim Cu's current positions, when he is no longer in Ha Tinh but has moved to the Central Government to hold other positions?

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Manh Ha:Mr. Cu's current position is Chairman of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance. In addition, Mr. Cu is a member of the National Assembly's Economic Committee, so the National Assembly must have an opinion.

After that, the government must also have opinions from the conclusion of the Central Inspection Committee to clarify the extent of his violations for handling. People are looking forward to the next steps to be done quickly and resolutely.

PV: From the Formosa incident, we see that there are some types of frightening silence, far from the attitude of looking straight at the truth, correctly assessing the truth, and clearly stating the truth. Firstly, in the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee of Ha Tinh province, there are certainly many knowledgeable people who disagree or are concerned about the fact that a corporation that has affected the environment in many countries is investing in Ha Tinh; knowing that there were many violations in the implementation process, but not daring to speak up, not daring to express their opinions.Second, there is still the phenomenon of information concealment and even distortion of the truth. Do you think all these types of silence are manifestations of political and moral degradation?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Manh Ha: If we apply the manifestations of the Resolution of the 12th Central Committee, Session 4, on the degradation of political ideology, morality, and lifestyle, we will see it very clearly. In 2016, I went to Ha Tinh and learned that the Formosa area brought huge profits and income to Ha Tinh.

Obviously, people in Ha Tinh, seeing such benefits, also have preferential treatment, and many times those preferential treatments exceed regulations, causing very serious consequences for the people, the environment and the business environment in general.

I also agree that those violations are among the manifestations mentioned in Central Resolution 4.

PV:The Central Inspection Commission has pointed out that the violations of the Party Committee of the Ha Tinh Provincial People's Committee and related individuals are serious enough to warrant consideration and disciplinary action; Requesting the Standing Committee of the Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee to organize a review and consider disciplinary action against officials under its authority. In your opinion, with what mindset and attitude should the Standing Committee of the Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee organize a review and consider disciplinary action against officials?

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Manh Ha:Although some insiders said they had fulfilled their responsibilities and followed the correct procedures, why did the Central Inspection Commission now point out and publicly announce such a conclusion? Surely the Central Inspection Commission must have a basis. Those responsible and those who investigated to draw conclusions need to sit down together and clarify. To do so, the violations must be made public, and wherever there are mistakes, they must be reviewed.

People are not only waiting for the Central Inspection Commission to say “to the extent that it requires disciplinary action,” but even if they violate the law, they will be punished by law. I think that the next step is for the ministerial officials involved in Formosa to also be criticized and punished.

PV:Thank you sir./.

According to VOV