In a meeting with people of District 3, HCM City on December 1, President Nguyen Minh Triet answered questions about the case of labour hero Tran Ngoc Suong.

President Triet and the people of District 3, HCM City.

Responding to Ms. Vu Thi Minh Khai’s complaint that the Song Hau Farm case verdict is really unreasonable, Triet said: “Many people have told me that the President should give instructions regarding this case but I have said: No one in Vietnam can stand higher than our courts.”

“The people disagree because Mr. Nam Hoang is a hero, Miss Ba Suong is also a hero,” said Triet, “and they have greatly contributed to the Song Hau Farm and for this country. Now this case happens so how can it help breaking our hearts?”

However, the President continued, “we have to keep calm. Legal agencies will do their job. If a lower agency has done wrongly, the higher one will judge it. We can’t abuse power in this case.”

Triet revealed that he has talked with the Presiding Judge of the People’s Supreme Court and the Chief Prosecutor. “These agencies are awaiting the text of the decision of the Appeals Court to reconsider the case. I hope that all of you will calm down and respect the law.”

People at the meeting in HCM City’s district 3 also queried the President on the phenomenon of “buying positions” in state agencies, a matter that National Assembly deputies addressed when they questioned the Minister of Home Affairs in the National Assembly session just concluded.

Others expressed concern about corruption, education quality, the rampant expansion of hydropower projects and plans for the exploitation of coal in the Red River Delta.

The President said that he was taking note of the opinions expressed. “The people are right to be upset that we haven’t rooted out much corruption,” he said. “I’m also upset but it is not a problem we can solve it overnight. The problem here is deficiencies in our management of state institutions, not our officials. But I believe that ‘the bad’ will be eliminated wherever it is found, at any position or level. We have to be patient in this struggle, reinforce our anti-corruption institutions and improve our operations of management.”

Doan Quy