Vedan offers Dong Nai VND120 billion compensation
By Ngoc Hung - The Saigon Times Daily
HCMC – Vedan Vietnam Co. on Wednesday sent a document to Dong Nai Province’s government to offer nearly VND120 billion compensation for farmers in Long Thanh and Nhon Trach districts. The offer came two days earlier than expected.
The Taiwanese MSG maker proposed giving half the sum to local farmers within seven days after submitting the document and transfer the other half early next year. Vedan said that banks would guarantee the payment but didn’t yet disclose which banks would be responsible.
Vedan Vietnam general director Yang Kun Hsiang said the payment would compensate the farmers for damages the enterprise caused in the southern province by polluting Thi Vai River. The document also stated that a condition of the payment was that local farmers would not pursue the matter further in court.
Dong Nai as of Wednesday afternoon had received over 1,300 petitions against the monosodium glutamate producer, lawyer Nguyen Duc, chairman of Dong Nai Province’s Bar Association, told the Daily via telephone on Wednesday.
“We support the farmers in the lawsuit as requested by local government although Vedan has suggested the compensation rate in line with the figure in the assessment by the HCMC Institute for Natural Resources and Environment,” Duc said.
“Our lawyers will continue to help the farmers complete proceedings against the polluter and will not stop until the government asks us to.”
Lawyer Nguyen Van Hau, legal representative of farmers in HCMC’s Can Gio District, said that after Dong Nai Province received the document, the Vietnam Environment Administration and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment told HCMC and Dong Nai and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces to finish compensation minutes with Vedan. The enterprise plans to sign the minutes this Friday.
Dong Nai is the last locality to take legal proceedings against Vedan although the company caused the biggest damages there. The ministry in an earlier meeting criticized the environment department of Dong Nai Province over its failure to give swift and timely support to the local farmers to sue the polluter.
Vedan several times proposed inadequate compensation for affected families in the three localities bringing strong objections from residents, local authorities, business community and managing agencies.
Under legal pressure, the enterprise on Monday finally agreed to compensate farmers in HCMC’s Can Gio District and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province at VND45.7 billion and VND53.6 billion respectively. The amounts equal those calculated by the HCMC environment institute.