VietNamNet Bridge – Congressmen today begin questioning seven cabinet members and the Prime Minister. Some National Assembly (NA) deputies are particularly interested in environmental issues.

I sent my questions to the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, asking him to define the responsibility of organisations and individuals for environmental pollution caused by enterprises, for example Vedan. Another question is, while waiting for the amended Land Law, what measures will the government take to solve the current problems?

My question for the Minister of Justice is: Is it legal for officials of the Ministry of Justice to issue dispatches intervening in the delivery of verdicts?

My general question for the cabinet is related to the implementation of National Assembly Resolution 15 on the merging of Ha Tay and some other areas into Hanoi.

Voters told me that before Ha Tay was merged into Hanoi, this province spent nearly almost all its budget and it recruited several hundred government employees and promoted some officials who didn’t meet standards.

I want to ask the government whether it is true or not. If it is true, how will the government handle it and who will take responsibility? I’ve not received an answer yet.

I sent my questions to the Head of the People’s Supreme Procuracy and the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. Some of the questions have been answered, but not so satisfactorily.

I asked about suspended investigation cases and they admitted the poor quality of investigations, but those who were investigated suffered because of the prolonged investigation process.

If there is compensation for victims of injustice, I worry that the current judicial system’s incapability will put an unbearable burden on the government, and cause many other consequences.

As for the environment, I have asked something that I asked three years ago. That is about the destruction of rivers, forests, and stone mountains. I only want to know whether the government has appropriate plans or not.

We often pursue immediate interests and neglect long-term consequences. Today’s environmental injuries are what we might call the “achievements” of 5-10 years ago.

My question is: Why is it that 70% of industrial zones and 90% of production establishments don’t have waste treatment systems but have licences? I will pose questions regarding Vedan’s case to the end.

I think to have a qualified Q&A session, questions and answers must be prepared carefully and scientifically. Ministers should go directly to the questions, not release general answers.

I received some answers but they were not satisfactory so I will continue to inquire further at the meeting hall.

Binh Duong province Deputy Huynh Ngoc Dang:

Industrial zones in HCM City and Binh Duong province recently suffered serious power cuts. Recently many South Korean and Taiwanese companies have also had questions about this situation.

I sent questions to the Minister of Industry and Trade, asking him why this situation continues and what will he do about it? Will there be any changes made in the policy for the power sector? It should not be that the one who produces electricity is also the one who sells it.

I often directly question government officials. When I was the State Bank Governor, I was questioned a lot so I don’t ask them things at the meeting hall. I understand the situation of those who are questioned.

Ministries and sectors’ issues are very specific. To go deeply into each issue we need the whole day. The best way is directly meeting with them to question them.

(Source: VietNamNet, Tien Phong)