The Vietnam Farmers Association has asked Farmers Associations of HCM City, Dong Nai and Ba Ria – Vung Tau provinces to support farmers in completing legal procedures necessary to bring Vedan to court.
According to the Vietnam Farmers Association, the offer of VND130 billion (US$6.8 million) from Taiwanese MSG producer Vedan as compensation is far too low compared with the economic damage the company caused farmers in HCM City, Dong Nai and Ba Ria – Vung Tau provinces.
The Vietnam Farmers Association has asked the local farmer associations and relevant departments to cooperate closely with each other to protect ther rights of affected farmers and help them acquire funds requisite to file their lawsuit against Vedan.
According to Tran Van Cuong, deputy chairman of Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Tan Thanh District People’s Court has received 800 of 1,255 petitions of affected farmers requesting that Vedan pay damages.
On the same day, lawyers, acting on behalf of farmers, brought 57 petitions of farmers in Long Thanh and Nhon Trach districts of Dong Nai Province to local courts of respective districts.
To date, 58 legal petitions to bring Vedan to court have been filed in Dong Nai Province.