Villagers hold army engineers in protest against solar power project
The residents in Binh Dinh Province's Phu My District have held a group of engineers captive to protest against a solar power project in the area due to fears that the nearby forest will be destroyed.
Chairman of Phu My District, Nguyen Van Dung, said no matter what they did and said, the villagers were determined to shut down the project. Dung asked for directives from provincial authorities to hold a meeting with the villagers of My Thang.
On November 10, a truck which went to My Thang Commune to survey the site and carry out mine clearance tasks was blocked by the villagers. The villagers prevent the group of engineers from leaving and said that they would only let them go if the communal authorities sign a commitment to not start the project.
They are afraid that the pine forest near the sea will be destroyed. On November 12, about 70 villagers took turns to guard the engineers.
Van Thanh Long, chairman of My Thang Commune, said they had worked with the police to persuade the villagers but the results are negative.
The Phu My Solar Power Project is set to be located on the border of My Thang and My An communes. It will cover 380 hectares with a capacity of 330 MW. The project has been approved by the Binh Dinh People's Committee and Ministry of Industry and Trade.
On June 28, the locals in Chau Truc Village opposed against Tra O Lake Solar Power Project as they claimed the area they often fish at would be used by the project. Phu My Chairman Nguyen Van Dung then said the project would only be continued if it could gain approval from the public.
Villagers protest against Phu My Solar Power Project
Chairman of Phu My District, Nguyen Van Dung, said no matter what they did and said, the villagers were determined to shut down the project. Dung asked for directives from provincial authorities to hold a meeting with the villagers of My Thang.
On November 10, a truck which went to My Thang Commune to survey the site and carry out mine clearance tasks was blocked by the villagers. The villagers prevent the group of engineers from leaving and said that they would only let them go if the communal authorities sign a commitment to not start the project.
They are afraid that the pine forest near the sea will be destroyed. On November 12, about 70 villagers took turns to guard the engineers.
Van Thanh Long, chairman of My Thang Commune, said they had worked with the police to persuade the villagers but the results are negative.
The Phu My Solar Power Project is set to be located on the border of My Thang and My An communes. It will cover 380 hectares with a capacity of 330 MW. The project has been approved by the Binh Dinh People's Committee and Ministry of Industry and Trade.
On June 28, the locals in Chau Truc Village opposed against Tra O Lake Solar Power Project as they claimed the area they often fish at would be used by the project. Phu My Chairman Nguyen Van Dung then said the project would only be continued if it could gain approval from the public.
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