District chairman stopped dialogue with people when 'discovered' there was press

On the afternoon of October 19, the dialogue between the leaders of Phu Cu district, Hung Yen province and the people of Quang Hung commune was interrupted when the host, Mr. Tran Minh Hai, chairman of the district People's Committee, left the room upon "discovering" that the press was present.

The district enforces "local law"

On the afternoon of October 19, more than 50 people in Quang Hung commune had to temporarily put aside their work to go to the headquarters of the People's Committee of Phu Cu district, Hung Yen province to attend a public dialogue to resolve the request to temporarily stop the demolition of houses on land that has converted the crop structure.

At the beginning of the dialogue, the chief of office of Phu Cu District People's Committee read a series of working rules and regulations of the district, emphasizing the content that strictly prohibits people attending the dialogue from taking notes, recording audio, or filming without the consent of the person chairing the dialogue.

Immediately afterwards, Mr. Tran Minh Hai, Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Cu district, said that he "discovered" that there were a number of press reporters also present at this dialogue, so he suggested that before working, the reporters go outside, and the district organize another separate working session.

People of Quang Hung commune, Phu Cu district left in anger after the district chairman abandoned the dialogue. Photo: Tien Thang

However, when the newspaper representatives asked the Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Cu district to clarify the basis of regulations to prevent the press from working at a public dialogue with the people; and the fact that people are not allowed to take notes, record audio, or videotape the dialogue without the consent of the host is implemented under which law, Mr. Hai did not specify.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Chuyen, Vice Chairman of Phu Cu District People's Committee, said that the District People's Committee is implementing "local government laws", and reporters who want to work must have an appointment and ask questions in advance.

Mr. Chuyen also said that interviewees have the right to refuse to answer or refuse to work with the press agency.

VTC Television reporters raised the issue that this was a press participation in a public dialogue between the government and the people and only aimed to objectively record the progress of the meeting, without asking any questions to the leaders, so it absolutely did not affect the dialogue.

After nearly 40 minutes of debate, Mr. Hai suddenly left the room without further explanation, despite dozens of people continuously calling back, asking the district People's Committee Chairman to focus on the main content of dialogue with the people to resolve problems.

People worry after investing

It is known that this is the second dialogue after Quang Hung commune, Phu Cu district, Hung Yen province, a "paradoxical" situation appeared when dozens of households had to move down to cramped, damp pig and chicken pens to live, while chickens and pigs were moved up to live in tall, spacious houses.

Explaining this "paradox", Mr. Quach Van Tan (residing in Quang Hung commune, Phu Cu district) said the reason is that if people still live in their old houses, the district will consider them as residential houses and have to demolish them.

"If we had stayed in our old, spacious house, we would have been forced to demolish it. That's why we had to convert the human quarters into a place for pets, and the pets' quarters would be used as a place for the family to live and look after the invested property. Only then would the house not be demolished," Mr. Tan said sadly.

Mr. Quach Van Tan sadly looked at the airy, high room where he used to live, now used for chickens. Photo: Tien Thang

According to Mr. Tan, since 1997, his family has followed the policy of Hung Yen province to build a new economic model in low-lying areas where rice cultivation is ineffective. To implement this policy, his family decided to temporarily leave their house in the village, put in effort and invested billions of dong in the 7,000m2 of land that was assigned to them for conversion.

For convenience in production as well as property management, the whole family had to move here to live because one person could not take care of everything, thus arose the need to build a more spacious place for everyone to stay.

"We need a slightly larger place to live, but the district only allows houses no larger than 10 square meters," Mr. Tan raised the issue.

According to Mr. Tan, after many storms damaged the dilapidated, makeshift houses, a few years ago his family and more than 60 other households that were implementing the new economic model decided to build taller, more spacious level 4 houses to make it more convenient to live in and keep their property safe.

At first, when the construction was first implemented, some households were administratively fined by the local authorities, but the project was still allowed to exist, so other households followed suit.

Sharing the same frustration, Mr. Pham Dinh Bien (residing in Quang Hung commune, Phu Cu district), said that the government's call on people in Quang Hung commune to build a new economy is ultimately because they want their lives to be more convenient, stable and comfortable.

In order for the people who have pioneered in investing in inefficient land to feel secure in stabilizing production and developing the economy, the government needs to review and provide guidance to see what is impractical and not beneficial to the people, then we need to adjust and have a mechanism instead of rigidly following this or that regulation.

"None of our households, when building in this economic model conversion area, built any high-rise or massive buildings other than a level 4 house with the sole purpose of having a larger living space for 4-5 family members to come and go," Mr. Bien explained.

After the failed dialogue on October 19, the local people still do not know when they will have another dialogue to find a solution to the problems and during that time they still have to take temporary shelter in damp pig and chicken pens.

According to Tuoi Tre