From administrative boundary problems...
From the center of Huoi Lech commune, we followed the working group of Muong Nhe district along a 20km long trail to Nam Nga village, Ta Tong commune (Muong Te district). Mr. Ngo Trung Kien, Chairman of the People's Committee of Huoi Lech commune (Muong Nhe district) said: "This is the 6th time the local government has organized a meeting and direct dialogue with the people of Nam Nga. Every time we meet and work with the government and the people, it is very difficult! Whenever it rains, the group decides to stay in the forest or wait for the weather to clear up, then continue through the forest to Nam Nga and stay there for a whole week to carry out the task".
This time we were lucky because the road was quite dry, so after 2 hours of crossing mountains and forests, the working group arrived at the village. After all the members of the authorities of the 2 communes and 2 districts; especially the people of Nam Nga village, the representative of Muong Nhe district quickly introduced the members and the reason for organizing the meeting and working session. In addition to clearly analyzing for the people to understand the contents of ensuring security and order; forest management and protection are the rights and obligations of the people, first of all, Muong Nhe wanted to understand the thoughts and aspirations of the people of Nam Nga. From there, there would be solutions to overcome the difficulties.
As if being opened, Mr. Mua A Phong, a prestigious person in Nam Nga village, slowly stood up and spoke: “The people of Nam Nga village have reached an agreement. We request the government to adjust the administrative boundaries, transferring the area of Nam Nga village that is being cultivated and produced to Muong Te district. If the administrative boundaries cannot be adjusted, we request that the new accommodation arrangements for Nam Nga village be considered and relocated to Ta Lo San village, Sen Thuong commune. In case the above contents cannot be implemented, the people of Nam Nga village will not accept the contract to protect the forest of Huoi Lech commune.”
It is known that around 1986, in the border area between the two communes, there were a number of households living in Nam Nga village, managed by Ta Tong commune. However, after the administrative boundary adjustment in 2002, the above area belonged to Huoi Lech commune (Muong Nhe district), while Nam Nga people had their household registration in Ta Tong commune. Currently, Nam Nga village has 81 households with 391 people, mainly Mong and Ha Nhi ethnic groups. For a long time, Nam Nga people have come here to reclaim land, develop the economy, and live for many generations. Therefore, when the administrative boundary was adjusted, Nam Nga people did not want to be separated to Huoi Lech.
...to destroy the border forest
For many years, the issue of forest preservation and protection in the border area of Nam Nga people has been assessed by local authorities as being well implemented, but due to conflicts over administrative boundaries and lack of understanding of regulations and legal policies, some people were incited to continuously destroy forests. Typically, on February 14, 2023, Huoi Lech commune coordinated with Ta Tong commune to patrol and inspect the Huoi Lech forest area (Nam Nga village area) and discovered a number of locations where people had cleared and encroached on the forest area that was paid for forest environmental services (FES). When the working group of Huoi Lech commune measured and inspected the locations where they cleared and encroached on the forest area that was paid for FES, the people of Nam Nga village did not agree to the measurement and inspection. Recently, in the border area, there have been 10 violations in the forestry sector with a total damaged protective forest area of 87,400m2 . Muong Nhe District Forest Protection Department has initiated a case and transferred it to the district's police investigation agency for settlement. In the face of the above situation, Muong Nhe District requested the People's Committee of Muong Te District to direct relevant units to coordinate with Huoi Lech Commune to organize propaganda and mobilize Nam Nga villagers to comply with the provisions of the law on forest management and protection; forest fire prevention and fighting. In particular, strictly prohibit acts of deforestation, forest exploitation and encroachment on forest resources of the two districts. At the same time, establish an interdisciplinary working group to investigate, verify and collect evidence of illegal deforestation cases in Huoi Lech Commune. From there, fight to clarify the ringleaders, masterminds, initiators (if any) to consider and strictly handle them according to the provisions of the law.
As the Head of the Inter-sectoral Working Group to investigate, verify, and collect evidence of the illegal deforestation case in Huoi Lech commune, Mr. Lo Van Giap, Deputy Head of the Forest Protection Department of Muong Nhe district, said: The Inter-sectoral Working Group has closely coordinated with the Muong Te district authorities to investigate, verify, and collect evidence of the illegal deforestation case in Huoi Lech commune; ensuring that the case is handled thoroughly and in compliance with the provisions of the law. The two sides have worked with the villages of Nam Nga, Tia Ma Mu (Ta Tong commune) and Pa Tet, Cay Sat (Huoi Lech commune) to inspect and verify the protected forest area of the villages, and at the same time clearly indicate the boundary of the forest area of about 1,000 hectares of Huoi Lech commune that is expected to be contracted for forest protection to the village. Up to now, the functional forces of Muong Nhe district have investigated and clarified 1 case, arrested 1 subject for administrative handling; The remaining 9 cases are currently being expanded to clarify the subjects involved.
Persistent propaganda and mobilization
In order to ensure legitimate rights and responsibilities of the people, the authorities of Muong Nhe and Muong Te districts agreed on a plan to pay for forest environmental services to Nam Nga village for the unallocated or unleased forest area of Huoi Lech commune, which has been assigned by the Muong Nhe district People's Committee to manage the forest to enjoy the forest environmental services policy. However, despite many times of propaganda and mobilization, the people of Nam Nga village did not agree to receive the forest protection contract to enjoy the forest environmental services policy.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Chairman of Muong Nhe District People's Committee, shared: Muong Nhe District also hopes that Nam Nga people agree to merge with Huoi Lech Commune to facilitate administrative boundary management and forest protection, and payment for forest environmental services. However, in reality, the goal is not easy to achieve overnight, but requires perseverance and consistency in propaganda and mobilization. With the view that wherever people are, the government manages, Muong Nhe District always listens to the people, ensures the legitimate rights of the people and closely coordinates with Muong Te District authorities in removing difficulties and obstacles.
In order to effectively implement the State management of forestry in the border area between the two districts, Muong Nhe district requested Muong Te district to direct relevant units to coordinate and implement the forest protection contract for Nam Nga village (for the forest area of Huoi Lech commune). At the same time, direct Ta Tong commune to coordinate with Huoi Lech commune to continue to organize propaganda and mobilize Nam Nga villagers to accept the forest protection contract of Huoi Lech commune to enjoy the forest environmental service policy. Consider and direct Ta Tong commune People's Committee not to cut the forest environmental service fee (in Ta Tong commune) when Nam Nga villagers have agreed to accept the forest protection contract and enjoy the forest environmental service policy of Huoi Lech commune. In case Nam Nga people do not agree to receive the forest protection contract of Huoi Lech commune, Ta Tong commune is requested to consider and select an organization in Ta Tong commune to receive the forest protection contract of Huoi Lech commune to enhance the spirit, responsibility, and coordination in forest protection management. In particular, priority is given to the Commune Police, Commune Military Command or mass organizations of Ta Tong commune; after receiving the DVMTR money, they must commit to paying to Nam Nga village.
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