Vietnamese farmers file lawsuit against businesses after fish die in wastewater

Residents from 33 households in Long Son Commune, Vung Tau City, filed the complaint on Monday against the factories whose discharge caused the mass deaths of their fish last year, with the help of representatives from many local law associations.

Farm-raised fish from the Cha Va River repeatedly died en masse in September, resulting in many fish farmers going bankrupt, with the businesses responsible denying accountability and hesitating over compensation claims.

The case has therefore been presented to the municipal People’s Court so that victims can seek justice, with the assistance of the local authorities.

“We believe that we will win this case, based on all the collected evidence and legal grounds. Justice will definitely be served,” Nguyen Van An, one of the local fish farmers, asserted.

The fish started dying on September 6, after which the Ba Ria-Vung Tau People’s Committee ordered authorities to investigate the cause.

Under the direction of the committee, the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, in coordination with the Institute for Environment and Resources under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, carried out several surveys and inspections to gather evidence.

Analysis of the collected samples indicated that the fish were killed primarily by wastewater discharged into the river by local companies, while authorities in the agriculture sector calculated the financial impact on the affected fish farmers.

Local residents prepare paperwork before presenting the case to the provincial People’s Court on May 9, 2016. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Following the announcement of the results, a working session between Nguyen Thanh Tinh, vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, and representatives from the 14 businesses was held to work out a way to compensate local residents for the damage.

However, the participants could not agree on the result of the environmental examination, stating that their wastewater had been thoroughly treated before being released.

The businessmen also asserted that any potential money they would have to pay should be considered financial support and not compensation.

According to Vice Chairman Tinh, as the businesses would not cooperate, local authorities began assisting the victims in preparing the necessary documents to present the case to court.

In a brief interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Hoang Long Ha, vice president of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Bar Association, believed that the scientific evidence was sufficient to prove the 14 companies guilty.

Under Article 624 of the Civil Code, the businesses should pay for the loss brought about by the mass fish deaths they caused, according to Truong Thi Thanh Thuy, a member of the association.

Le Minh Thong, president of the farmer’s union in Long Son Commune, is also confident that justice would prevail on the side of the fish farmers.