Going up to the semi-mountainous region of the province to inquire about the process of issuing land use right certificates to the people, the district leader, with a gloomy expression, replied as if in a monologue: "There are many kinds of luck. You have to know which are the real ones to avoid them. Those who take advantage of them will die..."
I asked him what was wrong. Still looking dejected, he replied, "In our district, a land management official has been involved in a scandal and has just been detained by the police for investigation..." Trying to comfort him, I reminded him that just as a hand has fingers of varying lengths, and each family only has two children, not all parents can manage them effectively. As a civil servant, if they commit a wrongdoing and are aware of the law, they must take responsibility themselves; who else can they blame?
He nodded, acknowledging the situation but still feeling disheartened. He then confided that land management in general, and issuing land use right certificates in particular, is a difficult, sensitive job with many temptations. Therefore, the District People's Committee has repeatedly reminded and warned about this in meetings and in writing; the District Party Committee has also issued a separate directive to rectify the professional ethics of officials working in this field. As a leader in charge of this area, I have often spoken frankly with my colleagues, explaining that land is the most valuable asset of the people. That asset is represented in the land use right certificate, so people desperately need it. As officials, we must act according to regulations and be enthusiastic so that people can own their land. If people express gratitude, it's considered a usable reward, and no one will criticize us. But if someone abuses their position and duties to create difficulties or extort money, then that money is a valuable gift. Getting involved will lead to death sooner or later; nobody can save you. I thought that by constantly reminding them and opening up, they would listen and avoid getting into trouble with the law. Who would have thought they'd still get involved…
Listening to his heavy heart, I recounted the assessment of Mr. Luu Binh Nhuong – Deputy Head of the National Assembly's Committee on Citizen Petitions, when participating in the revision of the Land Law. He stated that the 2013 Land Law has shortcomings, causing enormous consequences in politics, economics, and culture, and is one of the most favorable environments for corrupt and degenerate officials to engage in corruption and negative practices. Mr. Nhuong said: “Perhaps there is no corruption greater than land corruption, and no waste greater than land waste. Therefore, it is essential to quickly pass the (amended) Land Law because this is a very urgent issue.”
He acknowledged that the Land Law still contains provisions that are not in line with real-life situations, and that there are existing shortcomings and inadequacies leading to the points raised by the Deputy Head of the National Assembly's Committee on Citizen Petitions. For example, in his area, the issuance of land use right certificates is facing difficulties. These include cases where the origin of land use is unclear; land allocated illegally between July 1, 2004, and July 1, 2014, but where the land already had houses or residential land in the locality before allocation; and cases of land exchange for other public works. He also mentioned cases where land was allocated illegally and land use fees were paid, but the receipts were invalid, or valid receipts were lost, and the land-allocating agency no longer retains records or documents proving the payment. Therefore, he stated: "There are many practical obstacles that need to be resolved through amendments to the Land Law."
But he concluded: "Through the incidents involving land administration officials in our district and some neighboring districts getting into legal trouble, we see that the most important factor is still the people. We must continue to focus on rectifying public service ethics, and we must do something to make officials see the value of their positions so they don't dare to lose them. Because if we amend and improve the law without raising public service ethics, there will still be many officials who will get involved in... illicit activities."
