Two detained for protest over special economic zone draft law
>> 99-year land lease not regulated in draft law on special economic zones
Police in the southern province of Binh Duong on June 9 arrested two people who called for protests against the draft law which would lease land at special economic zones (SEZ) to foreign investors for 99 years.
They were detained while distributing the leaflets near Song Than Industrial Park in Di An Town.
At the police station, Hue admitted her violations which were instructed by an anti-state organisation abroad.
On June 10, crowds also gathered in HCM City, Khanh Hoa Province and Binh Thuan Province to demonstrate against the bill, causing damage to some local government offices, injuries to police and traffic jams.
The Vietnamese National Assembly began discussions on the SEZs last November. The zones are planned in Van Don in Quang Ninh Province, Bac Van Phong in Khanh Hoa Province and Phu Quoc Island in Kien Giang Province.
The bill, however, raised public concerns over the potential undermining of national security and violation of sovereignty if foreign investors, especially Chinese, are allowed to rent land for up to 99 years in these areas.
Following the public concerns, the government and National Assembly Standing Committee have agreed to ask the legislature to delay the vote on the law and further research its applicability.
The two people are Tran Minh Hue, 37, and Nguyen Dinh Thanh, 27, who are now both living in Binh Duong. They delivered leaflets and then called on people to demonstrate against the SEZ draft law.
People rushed to Lang Cha Ca area in Tan Binh District, HCM City, for the demonstration (Photo by HCM City Law Newspaper)
They were detained while distributing the leaflets near Song Than Industrial Park in Di An Town.
At the police station, Hue admitted her violations which were instructed by an anti-state organisation abroad.
On June 10, crowds also gathered in HCM City, Khanh Hoa Province and Binh Thuan Province to demonstrate against the bill, causing damage to some local government offices, injuries to police and traffic jams.
At around 9 am on June 10, people rushed to Lang Cha Ca area in Tan Binh District, HCM City, for the demonstration, leading to the serious traffic congestion. Some people missed flights from Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Meanwhile, until 10 pm on June 10, crowds gathered at head offices of provincial management agencies for the protests against the SEZ draft law. Hundreds of traffic police were mobilised and disorder occurred in some instances.The Vietnamese National Assembly began discussions on the SEZs last November. The zones are planned in Van Don in Quang Ninh Province, Bac Van Phong in Khanh Hoa Province and Phu Quoc Island in Kien Giang Province.
The bill, however, raised public concerns over the potential undermining of national security and violation of sovereignty if foreign investors, especially Chinese, are allowed to rent land for up to 99 years in these areas.
Following the public concerns, the government and National Assembly Standing Committee have agreed to ask the legislature to delay the vote on the law and further research its applicability.
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