The case in Tien Lang - A lesson for everyone

(Baonghean) - In early April 2013, the People's Court of Hai Phong City opened two consecutive public trials to try two cases related to the forced eviction of a 19.3-hectare lagoon area of ​​Mr. Doan Van Vuon in Vinh Quang Commune, Tien Lang District. This is a complicated case and has received special attention from the public.

The results of the two trials showed that the main defendants in both cases admitted that their actions violated the law. At the trial for the crime of "Resisting people on official duty", the two defendants Doan Van Vuon and Doan Van Quy admitted that they organized and used shotguns, homemade mines, gas cylinders, and gasoline against the enforcement team, which was an act of "murder". At the trial for the case of "property destruction" and "lack of responsibility causing serious consequences", the defendants, who were former leaders of Tien Lang district and Vinh Quang commune, such as Le Van Hien, Nguyen Van Khanh, Le Thanh Liem, and Pham Dang Hoan, also admitted that they had violated the law.

First of all, I would like to talk about the following trial, the trial of the violations of the former leaders of Tien Lang district and Vinh Quang commune. Through the evidence collected by the authorities, as well as what the defendants admitted in court, it is clear that they did not properly apply the Party's policies and the State's laws on land management and use in the case of Mr. Doan Van Vuon. From there, on behalf of the government, they issued policies and decisions that were not in line with reality. Not to mention that they organized the enforcement near the Lunar New Year, a very sensitive time for the Vietnamese people.

Those former leaders did not fulfill their duty as “cadres are servants of the people” as Uncle Ho taught. The disease of “bureaucracy and command” has led them to the tragic situation they are in today. Even though they are isolated cases, they have contributed to affecting the people’s trust in the Party and the regime. The wrongdoings of the former leaders of Tien Lang can be considered one of the main reasons that pushed a good, hard-working farming family into opposition to the local government.

Of course, the court's assertion that the former leaders of Tien Lang district and Vinh Quang commune violated the law and must receive appropriate sentences does not mean that Mr. Doan Van Vuon and his brothers are right or that they violated the law to a less serious extent.

There is an old saying that “anger makes one lose one’s mind.” During his days in detention and before the bar, Doan Van Vuon must have realized that in our society, the “self-punishment” he and his family members did at Cong Roc on January 5, 2012 was not only against the law but also against morality. And, if anyone who felt they were wronged by government officials acted like Doan Van Vuon, what would society be like? Is it true that in a society that places importance on law enforcement and upholds democratic rights, he and others in similar situations have no other way to react?

Is there any country in the world that allows people to use force when they have conflicts with the government? Certainly not! In any case, Mr. Vuon's attitude of admitting guilt as a defendant as well as as a victim in the following trial showed that he rejected the beautiful words such as "hero" and "indomitable" that some bad elements intentionally exaggerated, praising him with their dark intentions. That is a necessary attitude and a correct behavior.

I dare to believe that there would not have been two trials in one case, nor would the above people have become defendants, if before that, the civil servants in the relevant agencies had upheld their responsibility to listen to the people's opinions, promptly handled Mr. Doan Van Vuon's petition, and properly implemented the Party's policies and the State's laws.

Anyway, now farmers like Doan Van Vuon, Doan Van Quy, former district and commune leaders like Le Van Hien, Nguyen Van Khanh have gone to court and received appropriate sentences.

It is too late, but that lesson is not only for the defendants above.

Viet Long