No prosecution for deforestation case in Bac Son commune?!!!

The deforestation incidents in Bac Son commune occurred between February 2020 and February 2021, and were reported by Nghe An Electronic Newspaper in a number of articles, such as: "Behind the deforestation in Bac Son commune"; “Forest destruction in Bac Son commune (Quy Hop): Must continue to be clarified”…

Cover of the article “Behind the deforestation in Bac Son” published on Nghe An Electronic Newspaper on June 27, 2021. Photo: Nhat Lan

Receiving the information and request from the People's Committee of Quy Hop district in Official Dispatch No. 752/UBND-NN dated June 25, 2021, Quy Hop Forest Protection Department organized the verification.

Nearly 2 months later, on August 18, 2021, Quy Hop Forest Protection Department issued Decision No. 91/QD-KL deciding not to prosecute the criminal case. Specifically: "Not to prosecute the criminal case for the crime denunciation report according to the content of the information source reflected in Nghe An Electronic Newspaper on June 27, 2021 and Official Dispatch No. 752/UBND-NN dated June 25, 2021 of Quy Hop District People's Committee".

Scene of deforestation in Bac Son commune. Photo: NPV

Regarding the reason for the decision not to prosecute the criminal case, according to Quy Hop Forest Protection Department, it is because: "After verifying the source of the crime report, it was found that: There is not enough basis to conclude that there are signs of a crime in the forestry case in Bac Son commune, Quy Hop district".

Regarding the deforestation case in the communeBac Son, in the articles published by Nghe An Electronic Newspaper, focused on clarifying and informing the following contents: In 2006, Ms. Mac Thi Hoan's household was assigned by the State to manage and protect the forest with an area of ​​9.3 hectares; in 2019, the People's Committee of Quy Hop district continued to assign the forest in Decision No. 3258/QD-UBND. From February 2020 to February 2021, on the area of ​​9.3 hectares of forest managed and protected by Ms. Mac Thi Hoan's household, the People's Committee of Bac Son commune and functional forces discovered 4 acts of forest destruction (cutting down trees, opening roads, clearing bushes, ground cover...).

The working delegation of the Chairman of the People's Committee of Quy Hop district inspected the scene of deforestation in Bac Son commune. Photo: NPV

Regarding the area of ​​9.3 hectares of forest that the People's Committee of Quy Hop district assigned to Ms. Mac Thi Hoan's household to manage and protect in 2019, it was determined to be "natural forest land; planted forest land is 0m², bare land is 0m²". But at the end of June 2021, the reality showed that the area of ​​9.3 hectares was basically bare land, with newly planted cinnamon and young acacia trees; there were a number of trees scattered about, including trees with their roots intertwined and their bark peeled.

The articles also provide information about signs that behind the deforestation cases in Bac Son commune, there are the hands of ringleaders who have used the trick of collecting forest land and manipulating Bac Son commune residents to carry out deforestation. Thereby, it is recommended that the People's Committee of Quy Hop district and functional units in the area need to investigate, clarify, and strictly handle according to the provisions of the law.

A road was opened on an area of ​​9.3 hectares of destroyed forest. Photo: Nhat Lan

Regarding Official Dispatch No. 752/UBND-NN dated June 25, 2021 of the People's Committee of Quy Hop district, which is a document requesting advice on handling the case of law violations in the forestry sector in Bac Son commune (2nd time) sent to the Forest Protection Department, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Department of Economy and Infrastructure and the People's Committee of Bac Son commune. The reason for issuing this document is that after many inspections, the People's Committee of Quy Hop district determined that the deforestation case in Bac Son commune was serious, but the consultation on the handling method was slow, leading to concerns and even complaints from officials and people in Bac Son commune.

In Document No. 752/UBND-NN, the People's Committee of Quy Hop district directed relevant departments and units to continue clarifying and handling the responsibilities of forest owners; handling the act of planting acacia on forest land; and the forest area that has decreased compared to the forest allocation decision of the District People's Committee.

A tree stump was cut down during deforestation in Bac Son commune. Photo: NPV

As for the Forest Protection Department, the People's Committee of Quy Hop district requested to carry out procedures to clarify and advise on handling the following contents: Forest owners let others illegally exploit forests; Continue to let others illegally plant trees on the assigned forest area after being administratively sanctioned; Clarify the area and quality of the forest that has decreased compared to the forest allocation records of the District People's Committee; Take the lead in advising on handling violations against individuals and organizations in accordance with the provisions of the law on forestry...

A leader of the People's Committee of Quy Hop district informed that although the decision was issued not to prosecute the criminal case, the Quy Hop Forest Protection Department reported the verification results, in which it proposed a handling direction of reclaiming the forest and forest land that the State had assigned to Ms. Mac Thi Hoan's family to manage and protect.