Recently, the Prime Minister issued Decision 239/QD-TTg on the issuance of public poll plan for the draft amended Land Law, aiming to promote self-determination right, mobilise the intelligence and enthusiasm of the people, build up consensus and express the aspiration of the people. Besides, the plan aims to enhance the awareness of the people and the responsibility of the People's Council and the People's Committee at all levels, organisations and individuals to the amendment to the Land Law. The report on public polls will be sent to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment before April 5, 2013.
According to the Institute of Legislative Study and Oxfam, to effectively address many land issues in Vietnam, the revision of the Land Law (2003) should be informed by the experiences and aspirations of people. The public consultations undertaken by the Government, as assigned by the National Assembly Standing Committee, starting in February, are therefore critical to make people’s voices heard.
The Institute of Legislative Study and Oxfam have supported a number of mass organisations and local non-governmental organisations to conduct a series of grassroots consultations on the draft revised Land Law in four provinces of Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, Quang Binh and Long An. The consultations involved female and male farmers, representatives of the local authorities and enterprises.
“Land is a critical asset for poor and marginalised people and communities. Loss of land without due process, fair compensation and alternative livelihoods pushes people into poverty, even destitution. It is poor and marginalised people and communities who suffer most from deficiencies in land policies, corruption and abuse,” said Mr Bert Maerten, Associate Country Director of Oxfam in Vietnam.
The consultations highlighted experiences and solutions in relation to land planning, land use change, forest land for ethnic minorities, land pricing, land recovery, compensation and resettlement. “Female and male farmers spoke of their experiences and formulated concrete proposals to policy makers. The discussions highlighted people’s challenges and aspirations in all their diversity and complexities. They illustrated deficiencies in the policies, but also - very often - shortcomings in their implementation”, said Mr Nguyen Van Phan, Vice Chairman of Hoa Binh Province Farmers’ Association.
According to statistics, around 880 farmers in 22 communes were consulted about the draft amended Land Law. The results will be consolidated by a group of experts and presented to policy makers in March 2013. Around 200 additional farmers will be consulted in February.
“The opinions collected from the consultations with grassroots people are very useful. They reflect grassroots people’s voices, experiences and aspirations. They provide the National Assembly with more information when revising the Law on Land. This also gives the functional agencies a basis to continue working on the improvement of the Law”, said Mr Hoang Dang Quang, Vice Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and head of the National Assembly’s Delegation of Quang Binh Province.
The grassroots consultations were undertaken in Yen Bai, Hoa Binh, Quang Binh, Long An provinces and will be carried out in An Giang province in February 2013.
Vietnamese
