Exposing the profiteering tricks of "land fraudsters" in Phu Quoc

Revealing many tricks

The petition of a group of households in Ham Ninh commune, Phu Quoc city, now Phu Quoc special zone, An Giang province, represented by Mr. D.V.C, accused that the Phu Quoc National Forest boundary markers had been relocated since 2004, affecting their land rights. As soon as the information was received, a group of reporters from Lao Dong Newspaper went to Phu Quoc to meet, verify the field and compare information with local authorities.

Mr. D.V.C took us to the homes of two households to listen to the difficulties, but the story was told in a unified scenario: People admitted to lacking legal knowledge and paperwork due to archiving records, but affirmed that their land rights were damaged. This made us initially identify and be vigilant, suspecting that Mr. D.V.C was not only a "torturer" but also a "conductor" instructing people to interact with the press.

After seeing us spend time visiting and suggesting (in accordance with our mission as journalists), Mr. D.V.C saw this as an opportunity to make a private connection. In a phone call the next morning, Mr. D.V.C suggested: "If I receive 1 billion (1 billion VND - PV), my brothers will receive 500, my brothers will receive the same. This is something I am also trusted and authorized by the people...".

This blatant proposal to divide the marriage has clearly revealed the nature of the profiteering act hidden after the lawsuits. We flatly refuse to accept any benefits.

During the next field trip, Mr. C took us to the house of a household and pointed out the old tombs as evidence of long-standing residents. However, through observation, the oldest grave was only built in 2002. Finally, Mr. C invited us to go deep into the forest to find out the location of the National Park boundary markers. While digging up the dusty forest line, Mr. D.V.C explained: "This used to be a border marker of the National Park, but was arbitrarily pulled down and relocated by the force".

The purpose was to prove that this land had been used by the people for a long time, but the National Park had distorted the boundary. However, when we asked for specific information to find the truth (such as the number of the new marker and relocation location), Mr. D.V.C and the representative of the household could not provide it.

Feeling that the group of reporters were not interested in the issue that he wanted, Mr. D.V.C suggested working separately. He recounted the entire story to convince the people and said he would divide the parts if the reporter agreed to write the article according to the content of the lawsuit. "First, when I went to mobilize, I asked them (people - PV) to sign, they didn't sign yet... When they went to the phone (phone - PV), I also said, the households said that if (can do it - PV) then agreed. That is, I have already voted" - Mr. C said. We resolutely refuse again, and at the same time propose to end the meeting with Mr. C.

The painful problem

Taking advantage of the contents directly related to the complaint when assigned by the leaders, Mr. Dang Minh Lieu - Director of the Center for Eco-tourism and Rescue, Phu Quoc National Park - discussed many issues with us. Accordingly, comparing with the records, determining the land area of 30 households (in the same complaint collection), all are within the scope of being recognized as special-use forests. "The land has been allocated by the Provincial People's Committee and granted a land use right certificate to the Special Protection Forest Management Board since 1998 (according to Decision 2163 of the Provincial People's Committee)" - Mr. Hy Lap affirmed.

Before Lao Dong Newspaper came to work, Phu Quoc National Park also received instructions from the Provincial People's Committee and invited representatives of households to complain, including Mr. D.V.C, to work. However, when the Phu Quoc National Assembly invited him to discuss, Mr. D.V.C was not present in the locality. Even when the person responsible contacted them, they did not receive information.

Previously, there were some subjects who took advantage of the use of land of households to persuade them to file complaints and collective denunciations. The purpose was to profit from land and buy and sell illegally. "The authorities have detected and received over 30 cases with signs of forged acts as well as inspection records, adjustment of garden boundaries... there has been a case of forged confirmation from the authorities for land trading, has been prosecuted, and is in the process of investigation and handling" - Mr. Hy Lap said.

Mr. Ngo Minh Tri - Vice Chairman of Phu Quoc Special Zone People's Committee - confirmed to us that land recovery in case of national park is the authority of the Central Government. The locality and the National Park are the implementing units. The land allocation and issuance of land use right certificates to Phu Quoc National Park is carried out in accordance with the provisions of law, on the basis of the approved planning, submitted by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (now the Department of Agriculture and Environment) to the Provincial People's Committee for approval. There is absolutely no way that Phu Quoc National Park arbitrarily relocates the landmark or grants land to any individual/collective as in the dispute.