Delegation of officials enters the forest, gold miners are absent
The investigative article "Gold miners rampant in the border area of Hue City, hills and mountains devastated" by Lao Dong Newspaper reflects the situation of groups of subjects from many localities bringing machinery and hiring local people into the forest area of A Luoi 1 commune (Hue City) to organize illegal gold mining. Hue City Police have directed the Police Department for Investigation of Corruption, Economic and Smuggling Crimes (PC03) to preside over and coordinate with A Luoi 1 Commune Police to urgently verify and clarify the information reported by the newspaper.
At the same time, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hue City also issued a document requesting the People's Committee of A Luoi 1 commune to implement measures to protect unexploited minerals in the area. Proposing to organize inspection, sweep, clear and terminate illegal mining activities.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Phu - Vice Chairman of A Luoi 1 Commune People's Committee - said that in recent days, the locality has organized many large-scale sweeps at hotspots such as Bun stream and Ly Leng stream.
Inter-sectoral forces participating in the sweep including military, police, forest rangers, and militia with about 40 people simultaneously approached the scene. When functional forces were detected, the subjects left all the machinery and fled into the forest.
At Khe Bung (also known as Khe Bun), functional forces discovered and destroyed many equipment serving gold mining such as winches, generators, water pumps, electric motors, wood saws, batteries and a large number of water pipes. Many shacks and household items such as tarpaulins, plastic cans, pots and pans, solar panels, and fans were also dismantled and burned on the spot.
The river water is clear again
Ms. Hanh (name changed), a resident of La Lay commune (Quang Tri province) said that in recent days the water of the Dakrong River is gradually becoming clear and blue again after a period of turbidity. According to Ms. Hanh, only when it rains heavily does the water become slightly cloudy, and when it doesn't rain, the water is already clear and blue, everyone is excited to witness this.
“We, the people, thank Lao Dong Newspaper for speaking out, since the newspaper reported, the river water has started to become clear again, there is no longer a scene of yellow mud flowing from above. Hopefully, the gold mining situation will not recur so that people can feel secure in using the water source, and their children will have less illness later” - Ms. Hanh said.
Mr. Ho Van Hien - Vice Chairman of La Lay Commune People's Committee (Quang Tri province) - said that the locality has organized to take water samples from the Dakrong River for testing after suspected subjects used cyanide to wash gold. "The locality regularly monitors the color of the Dakrong River water. Currently, observing with the naked eye, the river water is starting to become clear again" - Mr. Hien said.
Senior Lieutenant Colonel Ho Van Ha - Commander of Hong Van Border Gate Border Guard Station (Command of Hue City Border Guard Command) said that the unit has strengthened patrols, inspections, and coordinated continuous sweeps in recent days. "The camps have basically been dismantled, and illegal gold mining activities have stopped. We will continue to maintain inspections to prevent recurrence," Mr. Ha said.
A Luoi 1 Commune People's Committee believes that there are many difficulties in the work of pushing out gold miners, when the mining area is deep in the forest, the terrain is dangerous, moving is difficult, causing major obstacles for inspection and sweep work. According to the Commune People's Committee, the force is thin, the means are limited, while the subjects show signs of resistance and high vigilance.
To thoroughly handle the above situation, in the coming time, local authorities will set up checkpoints at the road leading to the forest area with minerals, strictly control people and vehicles entering and leaving. At the same time, resolutely handle and confiscate all illegal mining vehicles. Consider the responsibility of relevant organizations and individuals if this situation is prolonged.
