The reporter writes: Behind the "hot" issue!
When reporting on complex social issues, journalists often encounter ironic truths, creating considerable difficulties when sitting down to write.
Nhat Lan• January 27, 2025
When reporting on complex social issues, journalists often encounter ironic truths, creating considerable difficulties when sitting down to write.
The news of the loss of jobs for fisheries inspectors reached us in early April 2024. It was completely unexpected, because at that time, the Government was aggressively directing efforts to combat illegal fishing in order to lift the EU's yellow card. The person who relayed the information, a former fisheries inspector now a reporter for Nghe An Newspaper, reported the news out of concern for his former colleagues, who were skilled captains, mechanics, and sailors with many years of service; and because of the heartlessness of the fact that "without them, fisheries inspection vessels are grounded, and fisheries inspection work at sea is completely paralyzed…".
Meeting the fisheries inspectors, one might think that these men, hardened by the sun and wind of the open sea, would be unaffected by emotions. However, through conversation, one senses their intense love for their profession. Even after their employer announced a suspension of work and no pay, they remain by the banks of the Lam River, clinging to the hope of having their contracts renewed so they can continue their work at sea. And in them, one sees the belief that "people need work, but work needs people."
The belief of these fisheries inspectors is well-founded. Those in charge of the managing unit have repeatedly affirmed that strengthening fisheries inspections at sea is necessary to combat illegal fishing. However, to carry out these inspection duties at sea, these workers are needed not only to operate boats and canoes but also to assist in inspecting fishing vessels. Because in illegal fishing activities at sea, many perpetrators are very aggressive and reckless, ready to resist inspection. In short, fisheries inspectors are indispensable. Even a leader in the fisheries sector, when asked, exclaimed, "This issue has caused me sleepless nights and loss of appetite."
Regarding the reason, the response given was that due to new regulations, the managing unit could not renew the contract. This raises several questions: Why not petition higher authorities for consideration? Why not temporarily advance salaries to allow fisheries inspectors to continue working while waiting for higher authorities to find a solution?... Ironically, when "reports from offshore indicate that illegal fishing activities at sea are still recurring," the responsible person stated, while also affirming that temporary solutions had been implemented as requested, but to no avail!
Upon investigation, it was confirmed that regulations have prevented relevant agencies from finding a way to reassign jobs for fisheries inspectors. Therefore, since it's a regulation... it must be implemented! This information reflects the reality of "fishery inspectors losing their jobs, inspection vessels docked, and fisheries inspection work paralyzed."This was reported by Nghe An Newspaper.Many media outlets subsequently showed interest and continued to investigate and report on the issue. Authorities at all levels also got involved, focusing on finding solutions to allow fisheries inspectors to return to their vessels and for fisheries inspection activities to resume.
On May 13, 2024, immediately after the fisheries inspection workers had their contracts renewed, a reporter from Nghe An Newspaper participated in the first fisheries inspection trip after several days of "temporary suspension" of operations. This was the vessel KN-668-NA, departing from Cua Lo port to carry the inter-agency task force to inspect the Mat Island sea area. In just a few hours of patrolling, they discovered several fishing vessels illegally catching seafood. And what resonated with us was the sparkling joy on the sun-tanned faces of the fisheries inspection workers…
In mid-October 2024, Nghe An Newspaper received a complaint from a citizen regarding Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company – a business implementing a project to cultivate medicinal herbs under the forest canopy in Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son border district. The complaint included several issues: disputes over personal interests within the company, the deprivation of legitimate rights of workers, etc. However, the most noteworthy aspect was the accusation.The act of destroying protected forests to cultivate Ngoc Linh ginseng..
Nghe An province has many border forest areas inhabited by a large number of ethnic minority people whose economic lives are still very difficult. Therefore, in recent years, the province has researched the multifaceted uses of natural forests, and based on this research, has decided to experiment with models for cultivating medicinal plants under the forest canopy. It is hoped that this will be a direction for economic development, contributing to a positive change in the lives of people in mountainous areas.
The collaboration between Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company and the Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board in cultivating Ngoc Linh ginseng in Na Ngoi commune, within the Puxailaileng protective forest area, is understood to be a pilot model for growing medicinal plants under the forest canopy. At the time the Nghe An Newspaper received the complaint, the cultivation of Ngoc Linh ginseng had been underway for over a year. Due to the experimental nature of this new economic model for the highlands, several delegations have visited the Puxailaileng mountain area to inspect the ginseng cultivation site. Therefore, considering and resolving the complaint is a matter that the Editorial Board of the Nghe An Newspaper must carefully consider.
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Based on the information and documents gathered, the content related to the Puxailaileng protective forest is truly noteworthy. Considering that the Puxailaileng protective forest is rich in biodiversity and has been considered by the Government for inclusion in the planning to become a "nature reserve" for preservation and protection; and that legal regulations strictly prohibit actions that alter the state of the protective forest; furthermore, considering that without timely warnings, cooperative cultivation of Ngoc Linh ginseng will continue to have negative impacts, becoming a "model" for spreading similar consequences to other biodiverse forest areas in the high mountains of the province, Nghe An Newspaper has decided to investigate.
From October 29-31, 2024, Nghe An Newspaper published a series of articles titled "Clarifying the Negative Impact of Ngoc Linh Ginseng Cultivation on the Puxailaileng Protective Forest." Following the information reported by the newspaper, the Forest Protection Department and the People's Committee of Ky Son District directed relevant units to investigate and clarify the matter. It was determined that the Ngoc Linh ginseng cultivation did not conform to the approved design and had a negative impact on the protective forest. On November 18, 2024, Nghe An Newspaper further clarified this issue with an article titled "Following an inspection of Ngoc Linh ginseng cultivation in the Puxailaileng protected forest, violations need to be promptly and seriously rectified.!”.
It should be noted that when the issue of cultivating Ngoc Linh ginseng in the Puxailaileng protected forest was reported, Nghe An Newspaper received some conflicting opinions.
However, the inspection results, along with the request to temporarily suspend the cultivation of Ngoc Linh ginseng pending the opinion of higher authorities, provide a valid answer. Furthermore, on December 13, 2024, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Official Letter No. 5581/SNN-KHTC requesting Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company to strictly implement Decision No. 512/QD-SNN-QLKTKHCN dated August 10, 2023, approving the cooperation and linkage plan for planting medicinal plants under the forest canopy at the Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board; requiring strict adherence to legal regulations to ensure the protective forest is managed, protected, and developed. It also directed relevant units to continue clarifying and addressing the issues reflected in the Nghe An Newspaper.
Notably, in Official Letter No. 5581/SNN-KHTC, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requested the People's Committee of Ky Son district: "It is necessary to consider organizing a workshop to evaluate the models of medicinal plant cultivation under forest canopy currently being implemented in the area, especially valuable medicinal plants, in order to clarify the scientific basis, practical basis, and legal regulations so that the locality can organize unified and synchronized implementation"...
Information regarding irregularities in land acquisition and resettlement in Cua Lo town, which Nghe An Newspaper has reported on, spans two years, 2023-2024. However, the feedback from the grassroots level and the collection of related documents were essentially gathered by Nghe An Newspaper reporters starting in 2022.
Going back in time to mid-2022, the Nghe An Newspaper hotline received information from several voters complaining about the lack of transparency and signs of legal violations in land acquisition and resettlement in Nghi Huong and Nghi Hoa wards (Cua Lo town). The complaints included specific addresses and individuals involved, so verification was carried out. After a long period of investigation, the Nghe An Newspaper reporter concluded that the citizens' complaints were accurate. Furthermore, there was evidence showing that the irregularities in land acquisition and resettlement in Cua Lo town were serious, systemic, and prolonged, with indications that some key officials of the Cua Lo Town People's Committee were involved in corruption.
Despite the highly complex nature of the case, the leadership of Nghe An Newspaper determined that they had a responsibility to get involved, directing their staff and reporters to choose the appropriate method of conveying information based on the files, documents, and practical evidence obtained through verification and investigation.
That is why, in many land acquisition and resettlement cases in Cua Lo town, the reporters of Nghe An Newspaper chose the case with the clearest signs of violations to create articles. The articles "Signs of violations within the planning area of Road 21, Cua Lo Town" and "The 'trickiness' in land acquisition within the planning area of Road 21, Cua Lo Town?" were published by Nghe An Newspaper on October 26th and November 2nd, 2023. The content publicly revealed cases of land acquisition and resettlement in Nghi Hoa ward with signs of violations by the People's Committee of Cua Lo town and some related units.
Because the information from the newspaper is highly reliable, the Standing Committee of the Cua Lo Town Party Committee has determined that some officials and Party members holding state management positions have abused their power and authority to commit illegal acts for personal gain, causing losses of public assets and eroding public trust in the Party committee and government. Therefore, they urgently directed the establishment of a working group to inspect and review land acquisition and resettlement work throughout the town from 2020 to June 2023.
By December 20, 2023, inspections and reviews had revealed numerous irregularities in land acquisition and resettlement, involving key officials and Party members. However, due to the incomplete clarification of all violations and the failure to identify the responsible organizations and individuals, the Standing Committee of the Cua Lo Town Party Committee had to establish a new task force to conduct further inspections and reviews. Because of its complexity, the inspection extended for more than three months, concluding in April 2024. The inspection identified irregularities in the acquisition of 55 land plots and the resettlement of 85 land plots; initial recovery of 8.7 billion VND and 4 resettlement land plots for the State budget was achieved. Simultaneously, conclusions were reached regarding violations by several Party organizations and officials, including the Chairman of the Cua Lo Town People's Committee.
Following this, the Cua Lo Town Party Committee submitted a detailed report to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee. In response to serious land-related violations in Cua Lo town, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee directed provincial-level agencies to investigate. By June 2024, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee made a decision.Party disciplinary actionThe Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Lo town and several other Party members were expelled from the Party for seriously violating Party regulations and laws, causing very serious consequences that outraged public opinion and affected the prestige of the Party organization and the government. The Provincial Police Investigation Agency also initiated criminal proceedings against 9 related individuals...
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As mentioned at the beginning of the article, when dealing with complex social issues, it is not uncommon for journalists to face ironic truths and struggle to convey information. The three incidents mentioned above are just a small part of the many complex issues that arose in the province that Nghe An Newspaper helped resolve in 2024…
