A Vao Commune in Dakrong District, Quang Tri Province, has been plagued by illegal gold miners for years despite the efforts of local authorities.

A Vao Commune plagued by illegal gold miners

The district vice chairman Pham Van Hung said the inspection team had faced various difficulties due to dangerous mountain terrain. The illegal miners hide their equipment and run away before the team arrives. They have asked for co-operation from border guards as well as the provincial people's committee and other agencies.

Major Bui Dinh Loi, vice head of Ba Linh Border Post, said A Vao had been a hot spot for illegal gold mining years ago and the situation was never completely dealt with because of lack of inter-agency co-operation. From February 2015 to August 2016, the border guards carried out 59 inspections, applied 17 administrative fines and asked 116 people to move out of the area.

From February 2015 to August 2016, the border guards carried out 59 inspections

Quang Tri environmental police also admitted that they lacked good co-operation. Even though the situation has improved, the equipment and the gold pits haven't been removed from the site which could act as an encouragement for the miners to return.

Ha Sy Dong, Quang Tri's vice chairman, blamed local authorities, saying that they hadn't carried out inspections regularly enough. Dong warned that he would punish both individuals and leader groups if they couldn't curb the situation.

He suggested establishing an interdisciplinary inspection team with clear regulations on co-ordination. Authorities of A Vao Commune must also create a plan to protect the natural resources in the area.