World Bank and
Vietnamese Church against forced expropriations: they halt development
AsiaNews - 12/20/2013
Social tensions arising from land disputes drive away foreign investors and
diminish growth. Expected development index lowest since 1999. In three years,
more than 700 thousand disputes put dozens of infrastructure projects at risk.
Bishops' Conference : Constitutional amendments are needed to protect ownership
of property. UN official in support of the Catholics of Con Dau.
Hanoi
( AsiaNews) - The age-old question of land ownership in Vietnam, due to repeated
abuse and forced evictions to the detriment of the individual and the community,
is not only a legal and constitutional issue, but represents an obstacle to the
economic development of the country. Social tensions arising from land disputes
- a battle that saw the Bishops' Conference fighting for the people - are likely
to ward off foreign investors and tarnish growth targets . The warning comes not
only from activists and organizations for the protection of human rights, but
from experts from the World Bank analysis institute based in Washington, who
speak of possible " social unrest " triggered by the forced requisition of land
for construction projects or industrial activities. Moreover it confirms the
fears of economists: in 2012 there was the growth rate lowest in the last 13
years.
Victoria Kwakwa , national director of the World Bank in Vietnam , said that "
the inability to resolve disputes on land issues," could worsen the " inequality
" because many are likely to " lose the use of land without adequate
compensation ." And this, in turn, "would lead to social unrest". The analyst
also speaks of "missed opportunities" in investments, which are necessary to
"create jobs and promote a rapid growth of Vietnam". None of these realities she
adds "are ideal " for the country .
The official government forecasts for the economy confirm the seriousness of the
problem. In 2013 growth was around 5.4%, but will drop to 5.25 % next year, this
is the lowest figure recorded since 1999. In just three years about 700 thousand
disputes over land have been registered , most of which concern compensation
claims. Data from the World Bank shows that from 2001 to 2010 about one million
hectares of agricultural land has been converted for other purposes , however ,
disputes on land ownership have blocked or delayed many of the 80 infrastructure
projects financed by the Bank Asian development ( ADB) for at least two years,
for a total of $ 9 billion .
Contractors, builders and investors still prefer to keep projects and
construction sites, because the risk of non-productivity is strong and the legal
disputes end up delaying projects, with an exponential growth in costs. In
addition, the Politburo of the Communist Party in November last admitted an
increase in "corruption," which combined the widespread practice of "backroom
negotiation " and illegal trafficking by executives and officials who "abuse of
position for bribes and illegal profits " .
Hanoi is trying to run for cover and, last November passed a law aimed at
limiting the land disputes, which transform into farmers angry into folk heroes
. The law will come into force in July 2014, and states that the government can
not seize land, as is happening now, under the guise of "economic development ."
Forced requisition can only be justified in the "general" socio-economic
interest.