State officials face disciplinary action over Formosa scandal

February 25, 2017 | 14:00

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Numerous leaders of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) and Ha Tinh province have been identified as responsible for Formosa’s violations.

Vo Kim Cu

According to the Central Inspection Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Ha Tinh Party Personnel Committee in the period of 2004-2011 and 2011-2016 proved irresponsible, had lax management and administration, and neglected its tasks in inspecting and monitoring of the Formosa Ha Tinh project. These led to violations in the appraisal, approval, licensing, and the management of the project.

The main responsibilities for these violations belong to Vo Kim Cu and Ho Anh Tuan. Le Dinh Son, Dang Quoc Khanh, Duong Tat Thang, and Nguyen Nhat were also named for a smaller portion the blame.

The Central Inspection Committee said that the violations of the Party Personnel Committee of the Ha Tinh People’s Committee , as well as Vo Kim Cu and Ho Anh Tuan, were especially grave, calling for disciplinary measures.

The Central Inspection Committee requested the Standing Committee of Ha Tinh province and Le Dinh Son, Dang Quoc Khanh, Duong Tat Thang, and Nguyen Nhat to hold a meeting of self-criticism and learn from these mistakes. At the same time, they will also have to assess and consider the relevant disciplinary measures for staff involved in the incident, according to the final conclusion of the Central Inspection Committee.

The Central Inspection Committee has also reviewed and concluded the examination of the signs of violation of MoNRE and related individuals.

In particular, the Party Personnel Committee of the MoNRE in the stage of 2008-2016 has been irresponsible in leadership, directions; had lax management and administration; lacked inspections and monitoring. These led to the violations in appraisal and approval of the changing assessment on environmental effects and the adjustment in waste discharge locations of Formosa Ha Tinh project.

The main responsibilities are associated with Nguyen Minh Quang, Bui Cach Tuyen, and Nguyen Thai Lai. They are held directly responsible for violations in their assigned areas, as well as the violations of MoNRE’s Party Personnel Committee.

Mai Thanh Dung, and Luong Duy Hanh were found negligent in their assigned tasks. They will all be facing disciplinary action.

The mass fish deaths started in Vung Ang, then spread to Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien-Hue provinces. By the end of June 2016, Formosa Ha Tinh assumed responsibility and admitted its violations.