Need to soon deploy the construction of Hiep Hoa sewer memorial stele
(Baonghean.vn) - The Provincial People's Committee has directed the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; and the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to study and respond to citizens' petitions on issues related to the Hiep Hoa culvert accident in 1978. In Thanh Chuong, voters are looking forward to the day the memorial stele is built...
18/05/2023
PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE DIRECTION
On May 22, speaking with Nghe An Newspaper reporters about the construction of the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long said that the Provincial People's Committee had received a petition from Mr. Nguyen Ba Binh on issues related to the Hiep Hoa culvert accident in 1978, and had issued a document assigning relevant departments to study and respond.
Specifically, on May 22, 2023, the Provincial People's Committee issued Document No. 3941/UBND-VX on "resolving Mr. Nguyen Ba Binh's petition" to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.
 |
Document No. 3941/UBND-VX dated May 22, 2023 of the Provincial People's Committee. Photo: NL |
Document No. 3941/UBND-VX states: “Nghe An Provincial People's Committee has received a petition from Mr. Nguyen Ba Binh (Address: 544 Ngo Gia Tu, Ward 9, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City) regarding the construction of a memorial stele at Hiep Hoa culvert, Hoa Son commune, Do Luong district and related policies for the victims (with the petition attached). Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long has the following comments:
1. Assign the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to study and respond to the following recommendations:
- Propose that the State recognize those who sacrificed as martyrs because they participated in this project according to the province's policy and plan and they sacrificed their lives for the cause of a rich people and strong country.
- The competent authorities should consider the regime and support some victims who are in special difficulty. Because of this accident, they are in poverty, single and vulnerable.
2. Assign the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to study and respond to the proposal: The province needs to build a memorial stele at the construction site to commemorate those who sacrificed, in order to educate the next generation about history and good traditions to continue to contribute, making society more and more progressive and civilized.
Assign the departments to research and respond directly to citizens, and report to the Provincial People's Committee before May 30, 2023.
 |
| Hiep Hoa culvert, where 45 years ago a work accident occurred, killing 98 people. Photo: NL |
Mr. Phan Duc Son - Deputy Chief of Office of the Provincial People's Committee said that, implementing the regulations on handling petitions, the Provincial People's Committee issued Document No. 3941/UBND-VX directing the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs to study, respond to the contents of citizens' petitions and report to the Provincial People's Committee. Regarding the issue of how to build the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele, we need to wait for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to report back.
The Provincial People's Committee has assigned the departments to respond to citizens and report to the Provincial People's Committee before May 30. Upon receiving the report from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Provincial People's Committee Office will submit it to the Provincial People's Committee leaders for a comprehensive review of this issue...".
“VOTERS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO…”
According to Mr. Bui Gia Hao - Party Secretary, Chairman of the People's Council of Cat Van commune, because in Cat Van commune many people died in the Hiep Hoa culvert accident in 1978, therefore, for many years now, voters have made recommendations on two contents. Firstly, request the State to recognize martyrs for those who died at Hiep Hoa culvert; secondly, build a memorial stele of Hiep Hoa culvert to record the names of those who died.
 |
A small shrine by the roadside, built by the pumping station caretaker to burn incense for those who died at Hiep Hoa culvert. Photo: NL |
Regarding the first content, the Provincial People's Committee replied that according to State regulations, the province cannot implement it. Regarding the second content, since 2018, the Provincial Party Committee has issued a document agreeing to the policy; the Provincial People's Committee has also issued documents assigning the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to take the lead in implementing it, however, it has not been implemented yet. Up to now, voters of Cat Van commune in particular and voters of communes in Thanh Chuong district where people died still hope to have these two wishes resolved.
Regarding the recognition of martyrs for those who died, it is understandable that it is difficult to realize due to State regulations. However, the province has assigned the task of building memorial stele to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for a long time. Until now, it has not been implemented, the progress is too slow, making voters upset..."
Asked Mr. Bui Gia Hao: As the Party Secretary and Chairman of the People's Council of Cat Van Commune, what is your opinion on this issue? Party Secretary and Chairman of the People's Council of Cat Van Commune, Bui Gia Hao replied: "I and the cadres of Cat Van Commune all hope that the province's direction on the construction of the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele will be implemented.
We hope that the departments and branches, especially the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, will have a plan to speed up the completion process so that the relatives of those who died at Hiep Hoa culvert can feel less remorseful and somewhat reassured. Because in Cat Van commune, not every family has the conditions to bring the graves of the deceased back and build them properly. Building a memorial stele is both to record the names of the deceased and to give their relatives a place to burn incense. This is our only wish at this time…”.
 |
Cover of the article "Hiep Hoa, the unfulfilled promise". |
NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED SOON
On May 23, the Thanh Chuong District People's Council contacted and requested to inquire about voters' recommendations on the issue of building the Hiep Hoa Cement Memorial Monument. According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Nga - Vice Chairwoman of the District People's Council, the Provincial People's Council has responded to this content. Specifically, on November 7, 2022, the Provincial People's Council issued Document No. 319/HDND-TT on responding to voters' opinions and recommendations before and after the 7th Session of the 18th Provincial People's Council, including responding to the recommendations of Cat Van commune voters on the construction of the Hiep Hoa Cement Memorial Monument.
See Document No. 319/HĐND-TT, the Provincial People's Council responded to the petition of Cat Van commune voters on the issue of building the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele as follows: "On June 5, 2018, Nghe An Provincial Party Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 3258-CV/TU agreeing in principle to build the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele in 1978. On December 21, 2021, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 9957/UBND-NN on organizing the construction of the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele and assigned the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to preside over and coordinate with relevant departments, branches and organizations to advise on implementation. Currently, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is presiding over this issue and advising the Provincial People's Committee on implementation".
 |
Document No. 319/HĐND-TT dated November 7, 2022 of the Provincial People's Council. Photo: NL |
Recently, from the citizens' petition, the construction of the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele has been reported by Nghe An Newspaper through the articles "Hiep Hoa, unfulfilled promise"; "Department of Agriculture and Rural Development explains why the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele has not been built yet". In these two articles, the policies of the Provincial Party Committee, the instructions of the Provincial People's Committee have been fully informed, as well as the reasons for not being able to build the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele. Now, with the content of the Provincial People's Council's response to the petition of Cat Van commune voters in Official Dispatch No. 319/HDND-TT dated November 7, 2022 and the current situation, it shows that the implementation of the construction of the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele is still being left open.
Thinking that building the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele is a good policy of the Provincial Party Committee, this policy meets the wishes of relatives of those who died for the cause of socio-economic development of the province and the majority of voters. Therefore, it needs to be implemented.