Land disputes are crowded with environmentalists, farmers and greedy developers who work hand in glove with local politicians. Clashes have persistently tested Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, and demand from the likes of palm oil plantations is as strong as the loggers’ ability to fell and clear.
In Cambodia, land and ownership is a perennial sore point as the country continues to piece itself back together after 30 years of war that included two decades of absurd communist dictates. Slums occupying vast tracts of prime real estate in the capital are capturing the eye of Korean developers who want the country’s poor to move along with little or no compensation.
Vietnam, where some in power still think communism and capitalism need not be an uncomfortable fit, has proven to be even more contentious. But one man, Doan Van Vuon, has defied the odds and emerged as a national hero after challenging his country’s bullying authorities.
The 49-year-old rural fish farmer from Haiphong was leased 40 hectares of worthless swamp land in 1993, but through his own initiative and hard work turned it into a thriving aqua-culture business. He set a trend; other farmers followed his lead and turned a profit.
Success surprised the people in power, a row erupted and officials sought to evict Vuon and in the process demolished his house.
Vuon retaliated, armed himself with guns and explosive booby traps, and attacked the police and soldiers sent in to seize his property, injuring six. His actions made headlines across the country and earned him the type of public affection usually reserved for war heroes.
In communist Vietnam, land is usually leased for 20 years, while the government retains control and legally can take it back at its discretion. However, farmers and their ilk have their own bond with the land and in Vietnam they would like to believe that they will be fairly compensated for any losses.
Too many like Vuon have received nothing for their efforts, and discontent over corruption and greedy officials has simmered, threatening to erupt into outright public anger. Editorial writers, from the official and unofficial press, bloggers and senior government figures have come out in favor of Vuon.
Then Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung added his clout and publicly rebuked the local authorities in Haiphong for their handling of the land dispute, saying they had made mistakes in the allocating, reclaiming and the use of force in attempting to get back the property.
“As the decision to reclaim the land is not in line with the land laws, it isn’t legal,” Dung said.
The prime minister has also launched an investigation into the demolition of Vuon’s home and urged the suspension of the officials involved. Vuon is likely to face legal action for his violent efforts, but Dung said the court should consider leniency in view of the way the authorities behaved.
Legally, and morally, he should receive a suspended sentence.
Perhaps more importantly is a nationwide review of land management and practices aimed at preventing this type of dispute from happening again. An honest review should make for enlightening reading – and provide for some scope for improved land management in Vietnam and beyond.
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wunstlach
Kudos. Hopefully we hear more stories like this from Vietnam and the rest of Asia as individuals empower themselves.
David E. Shellenberger
What makes developers “greedy”? This is an unfair term when used to characterize the self-interest of business people. Isn’t the government of Vietnam greedy to control the land?
Vietnam needs economic freedom, including private property rights. This would allow people to improve or develop their own land, without fear of the government depriving them of the benefit of their effort.
Garry
What makes the developers “greedy” is acting in concert with government officials to seize property at below market rates. Local and regional officials are so completely dedicated to controlling all land, housing, and property that there is literally no other way to do business or development in VN than to deal with government middlemen – for a price – at every turn. And they do indeed seize property at their own financial convenience in this perverse version of selective “capitalism” for the privileged few.
David E. Shellenberger
@Garry, please note that the author simply referred to developers as “greedy.” If the government controls the land, it is natural that business people will deal with the government to gain access to the land. This does not make them “greedy.” As I noted in my comment, the land should be privatized, allowing for a free market in property.
Major Lowen Gil Marquez, Phil Army
There is no land given in communist country, they only gave a piece of land by their government which we call a GRAVE Yard, Mr. Voun action is great move, it open the eyes of the poor people of Vietnam that they were not be afraid of the aristocratic communist regime as long the masses were cohesive in fighting for truth against corrupt communist government… and in the long run, communist will become obsolete idea..
Manhhai
Vuon’s brave action set light on corrupted government officials. More importantly, he awakes the whole society about the problem that this country faces: corruption, power abuse, injustice, collusion….Hope Vietnamese learned a big lesson and the government learned a big lesson too. The government need to adjust and address these problems to avoid revolution.
Tom Tran
Don’t be complacent too soon. The communist regime has survived almost 80 years, and thrived at the whatever price. The government in Vietnam is smart enough to please a small and powerless farmer, but it will silence all those ever think about changes or reform in this dictatorship regime. The lesson from the Arab world tells us something distasteful: the only way to get rid of a dictator is through blood and armed struggle. No dictator on Earth ever abdicated its power voluntarily, even with a pistol pointed to the head. Vietnam is very far away from what is going on in the Middle East now. Another 20-30 years is my safe bet.
Sivispace
Communism is a lie. It is dictatorship for the benefit of party despots. The Communists promised land reform. The people got leases. The Communists promised freedom. They delivered oppression. Croney Communism is the same as croney Capitalism and croney fascisim. The people are supreme. Those who seek to oppress them will meet their judgment at the hands of the people.
Hnguyen
Look back in history of Communism since its was born, all its leaders were land robbers, properties sized, power graspers etc.. from Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Ho and more and more around the world. Lenin robbed gold from King of Russia when the gold is sending to deposit to the bank. Lenin and his team used robbed gold to open the class in French to teach and recruit Ho Chi Minh and his comrades to go home and rob his people. Vietnam and China governments has been learning from each others to make quick bucks from its innocent citizens lands. One time the people were on their side, now the people turn away from them. Communism soon will be done.
James Bishop USMC 64-70
It’s about time the population in Vietnam stood up for themselves against the Communist Regime. They have been screwing over the citizens of the country since Uncle Ho came into power. There was an old saying back in the 60’s. It was “Power to the People”. Maybe it will catch on an stop all the Corruption in the Government. I hope so. The Vietnamese people are basically a good people, if their given a chance to be.
nirvana
The problem is that any dictatorial regime will make sure sudden regime change a chaotic, and possibly bloody, avenue. That’s by definition of dictatorship. Look at the Jasmin revolutions. Have any of them produced any credible alternative modern forms of governance yet in those countries?
I do not wish a Jasmin revolution for Vietnam. The case of Burma is interesting to watch. The ASEAN construction is for something in this positive evolution. Perhaps too slow; but often “haste produce waste”. Let’s not lose hope.