A group of Vietnamese reporters were attacked when they came to a company in the northern province of Phu Tho where 145 tonnes of Formosa’s hazardous waste is being treated.

At around 9.30 am on July 22, when some reporters from Lao Dong Newspaper and VTC14 channel visited the Phu Ha Company in Phu Ninh District to ask for a meeting with the firm’s owners to get more detailed information about the treatment of Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Co. Ltd’s waste, five people who said they were security guards of the company tried to prevent them.

A security guard of Phu Ha Company

The guards abused the journalists, snatched the mobile phones and cameras of Lao Dong Newspaper reporters, while beating those from VTC14.

The reporters attempted to run away, but were chased by these guards with threats. After that, they had to call for Phu Ninh District police for help. The police said they will investigate the case.

Duong Dinh Dac, vice chairman of the district people’s committee said that he has not yet received any report about the attack.

Meanwhile, Deputy General Director of Phu Ha Company Hoang Chi Thuc, said that he was still in Ha Tinh Province, so he claimed he had no knowledge of the incident.

A security guard trying to prevent reporters (Photo taken from a clip by Lao Dong Newpsper reporters)

Earlier, Director of Ha Tinh Province’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Ta Dinh, confirmed that the Phu Ha Company had transported 145 tonnes of Formosa’s toxic waste to its landfill in Phu Tho Province for treatment.

Phu Ha Company claimed that all the waste had been transported by specialised vehicles and treated in line with regulations at the factory in Tram Than Commune. However, many local residents complained the firm’s sewage had recently shown yellow discharges that seemed to kill weeds and bushes.

Phu Ha Company security staff had prevented anyone visited the company, including leaders of Tram Than Commune People’s Committee.