He was speaking at a meeting with residents in An Khanh, Thu Thiem and An Loi Dong wards belonging to Thu Thiem new urban area plan in District 2. The meeting was attended by head of the Central Citizen Reception Committee Nguyen Hong Diep. It was Mr. Phong’s third meeting with Thu Thiem people in recent months.
At the meeting, Mr. Phong on behalf of HCMC government showed consideration for residents’ opinions, saying most of the meeting’s time was for them to raise their voice.
After chairman of District 2 People’s Committee Nguyen Phuoc Hung summarized ten supplementary policies to solve Thu Thiem land dispute; Mr. Hoang Thang Long, a resident in An Khanh ward, requested leave to speak.
Still he did not comment about the ten policies, saying that the Government Inspectorate’s Announcement 1483 was not inspection conclusion. It does not refer to many problems which Thu Thiem residents have complained. Therefore, Mr. Long suggested the Prime Minister to establish an inspection team to comprehensively inspect residents’ complaints.
Sharing the same view with Mr. Long, 77 years old Tran Thi My said that the Government’s announcement pointed out violations of the city’s authorities for the first time and the city has apologized residents.
Thu Thiem new urban area plan has 160 hectares for resettlement of 45,000 residents subject to site clearance and relocation. Still, the city has arranged most of the area for projects’ investors and relocate residents 15-20 kilometers away from that, Ms. My analyzed.
She questioned who will be held responsible for the disappearance of the resettlement land. Lot of other residents also required to return the 160 hectares of resettlement land to them.
Mr. Nguyen Bao Son from An Khanh ward introduced himself as a soldier so he can keep calm when talking about Thu Thiem problems. However Thu Thiem residents have suffered much damage for the last 20 years, hence city leaders must be transparent and fair while solving residents’ rights, he suggested.
“We are willing to implement Thu Thiem plan together with the Government and HCMC. In the past, we believed in a victory day. Nowadays we believe that Thu Thiem will become a civilized modern urban area,” said him.
City hopes residents’ cooperation
At the meeting, chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong hoped that Thu Thiem residents will cooperate with the city’s government to solve Thu Thiem problem according to the law, ensure their rights and the city’s development.
Currently, HCMC is repairing limitations and shortcomings in site clearance of 4.3 hectares outside Thu Thiem new urban area’s planned boundary, supplementing policies for residents and organizing meetings to listen to their opinions to improve policies. The city will continue listening to those who have disagreed with city polices to draw new suitable ones.
HCMC has fully recorded other residents’ opinions, for instance the city should establish an inter-agency inspection team to launch overall inspection over the new urban area project, and four quarters aside from Quarter 1 in Binh An ward locate outside the planned boundary of Thu Thiem new urban area. They all have been reported to the Government’s Inspectorate and the Prime Minister, Mr. Phong emphasized.
Talking about 160 hectares resettlement area, Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong informed that the Government Inspectorate has set up a mission team to work with central ministries and agencies and HCMC People’s Committee to specifically review and consider the problem. Any violation spotted must be remedied and relevant individuals must bear responsibility.
