The Ho Chi Minh City Farmer Association recently affirmed its determination to sue polluting company Vedan if they continue to postpone compensating farmers in Can Gio District.
The city Party Standing Committee worked with the association and related departments August 2, to support farmers in their quest to make Vedan pay damages.
The company said it would give affected farmers in the district VND30 million (US$1.5 million) instead of the VND16 billion ($800,000) it offered earlier. However, the association agreed that the payment was inadequate compensation for economic damages incurred by farmers. The association is determined to make the company pay VND45.7 billion ($2.4 million).
Vedan asked to meet with the association once more, presumably to haggle over the compensation rate again.
The city Party Standing Committee also asked the association and related departments to continue to support farmers in their quest to make Vedan pay damages for the environmental damage they caused.
On the same day, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province People’s Committee sent an official letter to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to propose advancing VND2.6 billion ($130,000) to farmers to cover legal fees necessary for them to sue Vedan.
To date, Tan Thanh District People’s Court has received 700 of 1,255 petitions of affected famers requesting Vedan provide satisfactory compensation.
Lawsuit applications against Vedan are expected to be filed with the district People’s Court on August 12.
