Around the article “The painful story of Agent Orange in Nghi Loc”: Part 1: The province directs one way, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and Nghi Loc district do another

(Baonghean) -The implementation of the policy to support victims of Agent Orange in Nghi Loc was reported by Nghe An newspaper. The provincial People's Committee directed the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and Nghi Loc district to inspect, handle and request a response before March 30, 2012, but it was not until August 13, 2012 that the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and Nghi Loc district had a written response. 5 months late but this is a document of a coping nature...

Nghe An Newspaper on February 24, 2012 published an article "The painful story of Agent Orange in Nghi Loc" reflecting on the implementation of the support policy for victims of Agent Orange in Nghi Loc district, which is a matter of public concern. On March 1, 2012, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 1093/UBND-VX assigning the Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to preside over and coordinate with the Chairman of the Nghi Loc District People's Committee to inspect and clarify the content of the article and strictly handle it according to the provisions of law and report to the Provincial People's Committee the handling results before March 30, 2012.

The conclusion of Nghi Loc District People's Committee that the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs based on
reply letter

However, it was not until August 13, 2012 that the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs issued Official Dispatch No. 1431/LDTBXH-NCC to respond to the handling of the information reported by the newspaper with the following content: “Accepting the reflection of Nghe An Newspaper, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has issued a document directing the Nghi Loc District People's Committee to conduct an inspection and verification of the content reported by the Newspaper; On July 4, the Nghi Loc District People's Committee issued Inspection Conclusion No. 49/KL-UBND, dated July 4, 2012. According to the content of the conclusion document: The Nghe An Newspaper No. 5956, published on February 24, 2012, reflecting on a number of cases of making fake documents to receive toxic chemicals in Nghi Quang commune, Nghi Loc district, is baseless and inaccurate”.

Inspection conclusion No. 49/KL-UBND of Nghi Loc District People's Committee on the issues raised in the newspaper affirmed: "- Based on the results of verifying the records of chemical toxic substance benefits of Mr. Nguyen Hong Nho, Mr. Nguyen Duc Nha and Mr. Vo Sy Niem and related documents, it shows that:

1. Mr. Nguyen Hong Nho, born in 1952, enlisted in May 1972, residing in Thanh Vinh 2 hamlet, Nghi Quang commune; Nghi Loc district, working period: From July 1972 to November 1973, Mr. Nguyen Hong Nho worked at unit C767-E97, operating in Quang Tri, which is in the area affected by Agent Orange. From November 1973 to October 30, 1975, unit C 11-D703, General Staff of the I Corps, participated in the Ho Chi Minh campaign, which is in the area affected by Agent Orange.

2. Mr. Nguyen Duc Nha, born in 1953, enlisted in December 1972, residing in Thanh Vinh 2 hamlet, Nghi Quang commune, Nghi Loc district, working time: From December 1972, enlisted in unit C11-D3-E22, in March 1973, worked in information at unit D3-E249 under the Engineering Command, the area of ​​operation in Quang Tri is the area affected by Agent Orange, which is correct.

3. Mr. Vo Sy Niem, born in 1935, enlisted in the army in October 1963, residing in Thanh Vinh 2 hamlet, Nghi Quang commune, Nghi Loc district, with working time: Participated in the resistance war in Can Duoc Long An from April 1967 to October 1969 and was awarded the Liberation Soldier Medal, is a subject who meets the conditions to be recognized as a person who has worked in areas affected by Agent Orange. Thus, the dossiers for receiving chemical poison benefits of Mr. Nguyen Hong Nho, Mr. Nguyen Duc Nha and Mr. Vo Sy Niem were prepared and reviewed in accordance with current regulations. The accusations of Mr. Nguyen Minh Duc and Mr. Vo Trung Tao, providing information to the press about Mr. Nguyen Hong Nho, Mr. Nguyen Duc Nha and Mr. Vo Sy Niem forging dossiers to receive benefits for people infected with chemical poisons are false accusations.

Regarding the handling measures, the conclusion stated: “1. Assign to the People's Committee of Nghi Quang commune: Continue to pay the Agent Orange benefit to Mr. Nguyen Hong Nho, Mr. Nguyen Duc Nha and Mr. Vo Sy Niem according to the current regulations of the State. Direct Thanh Vinh 2 hamlet, Nghi Quang commune to organize a review meeting for Mr. Nguyen Minh Duc and Mr. Vo Trung Tao - citizens of Thanh Vinh 2 hamlet, Nghi Quang commune who made false accusations.

2. Assign Mr. Nguyen Minh Duc and Mr. Vo Trung Tao - citizens of Thanh Vinh 2 hamlet, Nghi Quang commune, who have denounced and provided false information to the press to apologize and publicly correct the organizations and individuals affected by the false denunciation.

3. Propose the leaders of Nghe An Newspaper: Continue to pay attention to directing reporters and collaborators to actively follow the grassroots to promptly reflect the emulation movements of the district, at the same time fight and criticize negative aspects in all fields to create trust of the masses in the Party Committee and government, and build an increasingly prosperous and beautiful homeland.

In addition, Nghi Loc District People's Committee also issued Official Dispatch No. 243 requesting Mr. Nguyen Minh Duc and Mr. Vo Trung Tao "to apologize and publicly correct the organizations and individuals affected by the false accusations".

The problem is: In addition to the slow response compared to the request of the Provincial People's Committee, the related contents have not been thoroughly and fully verified and clarified, but only based on the inspection and copying of the records of 3 cases in Nghi Quang commune, while other cases and other incidents were ignored! Not to mention that in the process of checking the records of these 3 cases, the Nghi Loc District People's Committee inspection team still missed many details and relied on extremely unreasonable verification documents to conclude the case (in the next issue, we will devote an entire article to clarify this issue).

During the content inspection process, Nghe An newspaper stated that "The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, in coordination with the People's Committee of Nghi Loc district, omitted many details that the article "The painful story of Agent Orange in Nghi Loc" reported, such as 7 cases in Nghi Quang commune and 4 cases in Nghi Thiet commune, were accused of falsifying documents to receive Agent Orange support. In addition, the article also mentioned the issue of "brokers" who accept to make fake documents to receive Agent Orange benefits, still operating in Nghi Loc; some subjects have complete medical records, extremely pitiful circumstances but have not yet been approved for benefits. To ensure the provisions on witness protection, in some cases we state the full real name, in some cases we state the last name, middle name and initials. Then, on March 16, 2012, Mr. Vu Hong Dinh, 63 years old, with permanent residence in Nghi Thiet commune (Nghi Loc) continued to submit a petition to the Standing Committee of the People's Council, People's Committee, and relevant departments and agencies. Nghi Loc District People's Committee, in this petition, Mr. Dinh clearly stated the full names and addresses of 7 cases in Nghi Thiet Commune (Nghi Loc) who did not deserve to receive Agent Orange support but are still receiving it and requested an inspection to review these subjects. Yet in the conclusion of Nghi Loc District People's Committee, it was affirmed that "there is no basis for investigation"?

The purpose of the article and of the whistleblowers, as well as the Official Dispatch of the Provincial People's Committee, is to request relevant levels, sectors and localities to re-examine and re-evaluate the records of those receiving Agent Orange benefits in the two communes of Nghi Quang and Nghi Thiet (Nghi Loc) and more broadly in other areas, to avoid bad people taking advantage of the good policies of the Party and State to benefit, while those who deserve to benefit are not, causing discontent among the people. However, it seems that this has not been as expected.

Disagreeing with the conclusion of Nghi Loc District People's Committee, on September 5, 2012, Mr. Nguyen Minh Duc and Mr. Vo Trung Tao submitted a petition to Nghe An Newspaper "asking the leaders of competent agencies higher than the district level to review the conclusion of Nghi Loc District People's Committee" with the hope of "returning justice to society". Here, the two men also said that in the last working session with the Nghi Loc District People's Committee inspection team, they objected and did not sign the conclusion of the inspection team. On September 6, 2012, speaking with a reporter of Nghe An Newspaper, Mr. Vu Hong Dinh said that, with the honor of a party member, he was determined to clarify those who forged documents and made false declarations to enjoy the Agent Orange regime!

Is it true that Conclusion No. 49/KL-UBND dated July 4, 2012 of Nghi Loc District People's Committee and Official Dispatch No. 1431/LĐTBXH-NCC of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs are just coping and getting things over with, without paying attention to resolving the people's frustration and dissatisfaction as well as the direction of the Provincial People's Committee?!

(To understand the truth about Conclusion No. 49/KL-UBND dated July 4, 2012 of Nghi Loc District People's Committee, please continue reading part 2:Fake on fake).

PV Group