Old Vietnamese Dies at Govt Building While Demanding for Land Compensation

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According to the authorities in Hoa Dong Xuan commune, Mr. Chim fell unconscious during a working with Tran Van Liem, a communal official on charge of land issues.
 Due to the expansion of the national road No. 1, part of Mr. Chim’s land was revoked. The local authorities had informed to pay VND32 million ($1,474) for his family, however, his family received no money while other neighbors already got compensations for their land.

By Vu Quoc Ngu | May 12, 2015

An old farmer in Vietnam’s central province of Phu Yen reportedly died due to unknown reasons at a local government building where he demanded compensation for his land taken by the local authorities for road expansion.

Mr. Nguyen Chim, 74, from Hoa Dong Xuan commune in Dong Hoa district, was transferred to a local district hospital; however, the medical staff confirmed that he passed away before being admitted to the hospital.

Dr. Truong Trong Lanh, head of the hospital, affirmed that Chim died from a heart stroke.

According to the authorities in Hoa Dong Xuan commune, Mr. Chim fell unconscious during a working with Tran Van Liem, a communal official on charge of land issues.

Due to the expansion of the national road No. 1, part of Mr. Chim’s land was revoked. The local authorities had informed to pay VND32 million ($1,474) for his family, however, his family received no money while other neighbors already got compensations for their land.

Earlier, Mr. Chim went to meet communal officers to complain, however, they said his family will receive no compensation for the land. Chim went to the district’s People’s Committee to ask but they refused to settle his issue, demanding him to return to the commune to ask the local authorities.

In recent years, many Vietnamese have died in police stations. According to the Ministry of Public Security, 226 detainees died in police detention facilities between October 2011 and September 2014.

Four people have been found dead in police stations so far this year.

The police argued that most of the deaths were caused by illness and suicides, however, families of the victims said they died from police torture.

Land seizure without reasonable compensation is a thorny issue in the communist-ruled Vietnam where the state owns all land while residents have only right to use it.

Authorities are empowered to seize land from local residents for socio-economic development projects or just take at very low prices and sell to industrial zone and property developers at very high prices.

Many people nationwide who have not agreed to the low compensation set by local authorities have been harassed and imprisoned and being accused of conducting activities against on-duty officials.

In a number of cases, authorities have sent armed policemen to deal with peaceful farmers.

A number of farmers were reported to conduct self-immolation to protest illegal seizure of their land.