Though Vedan Vietnam agreed to pay $6.3 million in compensation as proposed by the Institute of Environment, Dong Nai province’s farmers have submitted around 3,000 complaints to the local court. Though Vedan Vietnam agreed to pay 120 billion dong ($6.3 million) in compensation as proposed by the Institute of Environment, Dong Nai province’s farmers have submitted around 3,000 complaints to the local court.

Pham Van Dung, Dong Nai People’s Committee Office chief, talked with the media after a 3-hour close meeting.

While HCM City and Ba Ria Vung Tau on August 13 signed agreements with the Taiwanese seasoning powder producer – Vedan Vietnam, Dong Nai farmers have yet to agree on 120 billion dong compensation and are sending petitions against Vedan to the local court. By August 16, around 3,000 petitions out of around 5,000 affected families were submitted.

Dong Nai authorities had to organize a closed meeting to discuss the case on August 16, which lasted for three hours.

“The Institute of Environment asked Vedan to pay 120 billion dong. Dong Nai also agreed. However, farmers are sending complaints against Vedan to court. So we have not signed any agreement with Vedan,” commented Pham Van Dung, Dong Nai People’s Committee Office chief.

Dung noted that the province would organize meetings with farmers to collect opinions about Vedan’s compensation.

“If the people wish to sue Vedan, we will support them. However, we will urge them to consider whether a lawsuit is necessary or not because the lawsuit will surely be prolonged. Moreover, it is difficult to prove their losses (caused by Vedan),” Dung observed.

If Dong Nai farmers agree to the compensation, then they must stop their lawsuits.

In related news, Vedan will pay 50 percent of compensation to Ba Ria Vung Tau’s 1255 households from September 13-21 and to HCM City on August 18.

PV