Deprived of their tents and canvass, victims of unjust land grabs resigned themselves to using of sleeping mats to shield the chill December winds in front of a “citizen-receiving office” in Hanoi. A group of young students, refusing to reveal their school’s name, reached out to the people, bringing them some rice soup for dinner. Photo and caption by Ha Hoang Facebook.
Tran Quang Thanh * Translated by Phuong Thao (Danlambao) - Land seizure victims from the southern cities and provinces such as Tien Giang, Ben Tre, An Giang, Long An poured into Hanoi on 18th December, 2015, gathered in front of Vice Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s private residence and sued for their damages.
The demonstrators carried large banners accusing local officials of collaborating with investors to rob their lands, skimming money in compensation and suppressing the whistle-blowers.
Hanoi’s law enforcement agents were mobilized, however. They came and dispersed the demonstrators, who were overpowered and pushed onto buses and taken to the “citizen-receiving office” at No1 Ngo Thi Nham street, Ha Dong district. On the bus, the protesters chanted slogans strongly condemning the corrupted officials and the state of no human rights once a “police-dominated” regime is still sponsored by the Communist party.
On the 19th and 20th, 2015 Ha Dong district police and the security guards at the “citizen-receiving office” removed the tents and canvass brought to Hanoi by the protesters in the chill, drizzly December air. This cold-hearted act of Ha Dong police was intensely protested by the land grab victims.
Below is a video clip by Ms. Truong Thanh Quang, a land grab victim from Tien Giang province.
21/12/2015
