Farmers in turmoil over Vedan
HCM CITY — The Dong Nai Province Farmers' Association has refused to help farmers file lawsuits against Taiwanese MSG producer Vedan, which discharged untreated wastewater in the Thi Vai River two years ago.The association has urged Dong Nai farmers to negotiate their compensation settlement out of court.
However, the farmers have not agreed but sought help from the HCM City Bar Association so they can reach the lawsuit filing deadline of September 12.
Farmers in HCM City and in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province are being helped by their respective farmers' associations to file lawsuits.
In HCM City, the pollution affected farms in Can Gio District only.
On Tuesday, the city's Justice Department's public notary office travelled to Can Gio District to process documents in which farmers agreed to allow the district's association to represent them in a lawsuit against Vedan.
Filing lawsuit
In Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, 1,094 out of 1,255 affected farmers have completed procedures to file a lawsuit against Vedan, and the others are being concluded.
"We're determined to send the Vedan case to court, and we must complete lawsuit procedures before the September deadline," Tran Van Cuong, deputy director of the province's department of agriculture and rural development, was quoted as saying by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.
Vu Ba Thanh, chairman of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province's Bar Association, said he expected to send lawsuit applications to the province's Tan Thanh District People's Court by July 26.
Nguyen Lam Son, a farmer in Dong Nai Province, said he would sue Vedan on his own. He has received free advice from a lawyer at the HCM City Bar Association.
Lawyer Nguyen Van Nam of the HCM City Bar Association called Dong Nai Farmers' Association's explanation to refuse to help farmers to sue "unconvincing".
He noted that the law did not require invoices or receipts of seafood purchases to prove financial losses, a contention made by the Dong Nai Farmers' Association.
"If the Dong Nai Association has no funds for court charges, the local authorities should lend farmers money, or the association should call for assistance from the community," Nam said.
At a meeting in Dong Nai Province on Tuesday, the Viet Nam Central Farmers' Association, the national association for farmers, disagreed with Dong Nai Association, saying that it had not performed its duty for farmers.
Dao Duy Luong, deputy chairman of the Central Farmers' Association, said: "We're going to visit the affected sites and ask the Dong Nai Province's Party Committee to urge related agencies to help farmers sue Vedan."
Vedan rejection
Also on Tuesday, the HCM City Farmers' Association and related agencies met with Vedan's general director at the Can Gio District People's Committee office.
No agreement
Vedan refused to agree to the total compensation amount of VND45.7 billion (US$2.4 million), a figure recommended by the Institute of Environment and Natural Resources, saying the compensation should be only VND12 billion ($0.6 million).
Doan Van Son, deputy chairman of the Can Gio District People's Committee, said there would be no agreement if the compensation was lower than VND32 billion ($1.7 million).
The parties planned to meet again today to arrive at a final decision on the compensation amount. — VNS