(Baonghean.vn) - Although the conservation project was approved more than 10 years ago, in which most of the households in Co Phat and Bung villages will be moved to new places, there are still more than 230 households living in a situation of "not being able to leave, not being able to stay".
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| The Dan Lai ethnic group is a small group of about 3,000 people living in Con Cuong district, mainly in Co Phat and Bung villages. These are two villages in the core zone of Pu Mat National Park, isolated from other villages. Faced with the situation of isolation and the risk of ethnic degradation, in December 2006, the Prime Minister approved the Project "Conservation and sustainable development of the Dan Lai ethnic minority currently living in the core zone of Pu Mat National Park, Con Cuong district, Nghe An province". In the photo: A corner of Bung village, Mon Son commune. Photo: Tien Hung. |
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| At the time the project was approved, there were only 176 households living in these two villages. According to the project, 146 households will be relocated to new residences in Thach Ngan commune, the remaining 30 households will continue to live in Co Phat village with the purpose of developing eco-tourism, exploiting cultural characteristics... The project has a total investment of nearly 100 billion VND, of which the Central Government supports 64 billion VND. The project progress is implemented in 3 years, from 2007 to 2009. In 2007, 42 households were relocated to Thach Son and Thach Ngan resettlement villages. The remaining households happily waited for the day to move to new residences, but since then, this project seems to be "suspended", not a single household has been relocated. Photo: Tien Hung |
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| Staying in the forest, the number of households has now reached more than 230 with nearly 1,000 people. These people are now living in a situation of "not being able to leave, not being able to stay", because this area belongs to the core zone of the national park. Newlywed couples who want to build houses cannot do so because they do not know where to get wood and land. "They have lived here for many generations, the national park was just established but when measuring, they took the people's land and put it on the map. Now, people's living and farming are very difficult. There are few fields, and the forest rangers do not allow them to pick bamboo shoots," said Mr. Luong Viet Tung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Mon Son commune. Photo: Tien Hung |
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| According to Mr. Tung, people in these villages currently live mainly on subsidies and from charity groups that occasionally visit. The commune government is hoping to petition Pu Mat National Park to return this area to the commune for management so that it can be handed over to the people. In the photo: Dan Lai people go into the forest to cut bananas for food but have to do it secretly because they are afraid of the forest rangers. Photo: Tien Hung |
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| While the relocation was stalled, nearly two years ago, a power line of more than 20 km was drawn from the center of Mon Son commune to these two villages. The power line was drawn to each household, each household was given a light bulb and socket. However, although it was completed a long time ago, the electricity has not been turned on yet. Photo: Tien Hung |
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| Many families saw that electricity had been brought to their homes and happily went downstream to buy TVs, but now the TVs are broken and there is still no electricity. Photo: Tien Hung |
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| Dan Lai people still have to "block the stream to welcome civilization" with home generators. However, during the rainy season or dry season, these "machines" cannot operate. Photo: Tien Hung |
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| Early marriage and incestuous marriage are problems in these villages. Ms. Le Thi Xuan in Bung village is only 29 years old this year but already has 5 children. Xuan got married when she was not yet 15 years old. Xuan believes that women here who are not married at the age of 18 are considered unmarried. After getting married, Xuan still has to live crowded in her husband's family. "Here, wood is not allowed to be exploited for house construction, and buying cement from the lowlands is also expensive. Because the road cannot carry it, we have to rent a canoe and it takes 5 hours to get there. Carrying 3 bags costs 1.5 million VND" - Xuan said. Photo: Tien Hung |
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| According to the village elders, the Dan Lai people originated from the lowlands, now Thanh Chuong district. About 3,000 years ago, they lived together in a hamlet. During a village meeting, the village chief assigned this hamlet to go into the forest to cut down 100 yellow bamboo trees and a dugout canoe with oars. Not knowing where to find them, afraid of being massacred, they ran into the forest together at midnight. They ran all the way to the upper reaches of the Giang River. "In the past, we lived a nomadic life, building huts from leaves, and when the leaves turned yellow, we moved to another place. Living in the forest with many wild animals, and afraid of being chased by the army, our ancestors had to sleep sitting up. Every night, the whole tribe gathered around the fire and used a piece of wood with a protruding chin to sleep" - said Mr. Le Van Khai (59 years old). Currently, the threats are gone, the Dan Lai people have given up the habit of sleeping sitting up. Photo: Tien Hung |
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| While people in Co Phat and Bung villages are struggling to live, waiting for the day to move to a new place, more than 50 km away, the Ke Tat resettlement area has been severely damaged for many years. This area with 35 houses and many auxiliary works for the Dan Lai people, was started in 2012. However, when it was about 70% completed, it stopped, leaving the entire area desolate. Mr. Tran Anh Tuan, Head of the Project Management Board of Con Cuong district, said that the unit is waiting for the budget to carry out the relocation. This amount is estimated at about 6 billion VND to support people within a year. Photo: Tien Hung |
Tien Hung
