From administrative boundary problems…
From the center of Huoi Lech commune, we followed the working group of Muong Nhe district along the 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 Lec commune (Muong Nhe district) said: "This is the 6th time the local government has organized a face-to-face meeting and dialogue with the people of Nam Nga. Every time we meet and work between the government and the people, it is very difficult! Whenever it rains, the group determines to stay in the forest or wait for the weather to clear, then continue to cross the forest to Nam Nga and stay for a whole week to perform 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 was also present in the village. After having enough members to work between the authorities of 2 communes and 2 districts; especially the people of Nam Nga village, the representative of Muong Nhe district quickly introduced the composition and reason for organizing the meeting and working. Besides the clear analysis for the people to understand the contents of ensuring security and order; Forest management and protection are the rights and obligations of people, first of all, Muong Nhe wishes to understand the thoughts and aspirations of the people of Nam Nga. From there, there is a solution to the problem.
As he opened his mouth, Mr. Mua A Phong, a reputable person in Nam Nga village, slowly stood up and said: “The people of Nam Nga village have already agreed with each other. We propose the government to adjust the administrative boundaries, cut the area of Nam Nga village under cultivation and production to Muong Te district. If the administrative boundary cannot be adjusted, it is proposed to consider arranging a new accommodation for Nam Nga village to live in Ta Lo San village, Sen Thuong commune. In case the above contents cannot be fulfilled, 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 bordering area between the two communes, there were a number of households living in Nam Nga village, Ta Tong commune. However, after adjusting the administrative boundaries in 2, the above area belongs to Huoi Lech commune (Muong Nhe district) while the Nam Nga people have a household registration in Ta Tong commune. Currently, Nam Nga village has 2002 households with 81 people, mainly Mong and Ha Nhi ethnic groups. For a long time, the people of Nam Nga have come here to reclaim, develop their economy and live for generations. Therefore, when adjusting the administrative boundaries, the people of Nam Nga do not want to have to separate to Huoi Lech.
…to destroy the bordering forest
For many years, the issue of forest preservation and protection in the bordering areas of Nam Nga people has been assessed by local authorities to be well implemented, but only because of the conflict of administrative boundaries, the lack of understanding of regulations and policies. legal policy that some people incited leads to continuous deforestation. For example, on February 14, 2, Huoi Lech commune coordinated with Ta General commune to patrol and check in the Huoi Lec forest area (Nam Nga village area) to detect a number of locations where people spread and encroach. into the forest area covered by payment for forest environmental services (PFES). When the working group of Huoi Lech commune carried out measuring and checking the locations of distribution and encroachment on the forest area for PFES payment, the people of Nam Nga village did not agree to measure and check. Recently, in the bordering area, there have been 2023 violations in the forestry sector with a total damage of 10m87.400 of protection forest.2The Forest Protection Department of Muong Nhe district prosecuted the case and transferred it to the district's investigative police agency for settlement. Facing the above situation, Muong Nhe district asked the People's Committee of Muong Te district to direct relevant units to coordinate with Huoi Lech commune to organize propaganda and mobilize the people of Nam Nga village to comply with the provisions of the law on management. forest protection management; forest fire prevention and fighting. Especially, the acts of deforestation, forest exploitation and encroachment on forest resources are strictly prohibited in the two districts. At the same time, establish an interdisciplinary working group to investigate, verify and collect evidences on the illegal deforestation case in Huoi Lech commune. From there, fight to clarify who is the leader, mastermind and initiator (if any) to consider and handle strictly according to the provisions of law.
As the leader of the interdisciplinary working group to investigate, verify and collect evidences in the case of illegal deforestation in Huoi Lech commune, Mr. Lo Van Giap, Deputy Head of the Muong Nhe District Forest Protection Department said: interdisciplinary work has closely coordinated with the authorities of Muong Te district to investigate, verify and collect evidences on the case of illegal deforestation in Huoi Lech commune; ensure that the case is handled promptly and strictly in accordance with the provisions of law. The two sides worked with the villages of Nam Nga, Tia Ma Mu (Ta Tong commune) and Pa Tet, Cay Sat (Huoi Lech commune) to check and verify the protected forest area of the villages, and at the same time only clearly demarcate the forest area of about 1.000 ha of Huoi Lec commune, which is expected to contract to protect the forest for the village. Up to now, the functional force of Muong Nhe district has investigated and clarified 1 case, arrested 1 subject for administrative handling; The remaining 9 cases are currently being expanded to clarify related subjects.
Persevere in propaganda and advocacy
In order to ensure the legitimate rights and responsibilities of the people, the authorities of the two districts of Muong Nhe and Muong Te agreed on a plan to pay PFES to Nam Nga village for the forest area that has not been allocated or leased to Huoi commune. Lech has been assigned the responsibility of forest management by the People's Committee of Muong Nhe district to enjoy the PFES policy. However, many times of propaganda and mobilization, the people of Nam Nga village did not agree to receive the contract to protect the forest in order to enjoy the PFES policy.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Chairman of Muong Nhe District People's Committee shared: Muong Nhe district also wants the people of Nam Nga to agree to merge into Huoi Lech commune for convenient management of administrative boundaries and forest protection, and PFES payments. But in reality, the goal is not easy to achieve overnight, but it must be very persistent and consistent in propaganda and advocacy. With the view that the people are the government to manage everywhere, Muong Nhe district always listens to the people, ensures the people's legitimate rights and works closely with the authorities of Muong Te district in removing difficulties and obstacles. .
In order to perform well the State management of forestry in the bordering area between the two districts, Muong Nhe district proposed Muong Te district to direct relevant units to coordinate in implementing and contracting forest protection for the village. Nam Nga (for the forest area of Huoi Lech commune). At the same time, he directed Ta Tong commune to coordinate with Huoi Lec commune to continue organizing propaganda and mobilizing Nam Nga villagers to receive contracts to protect forests from Huoi Lech commune to enjoy the PFES policy. Consider and direct the People's Committee of Ta Tong commune not to cut the PFES amount (in Ta Tong commune) when the people of Nam Nga village have agreed to receive a contract to protect the forest and enjoy the PFES policy of Huoi Lech commune. In case the people of Nam Nga do not agree to receive the contract to protect the forest from Huoi Lech commune, it is suggested that Ta To commune consider and select an organization in the area of Ta Tong commune to receive the contract to protect the forest from Huoi Lech commune in order to improve the quality of life. spirit, responsibility and coordination in forest management and protection. In which, priority is given to the Commune Police, the Commune Military Command or the mass organizations of Ta Tong Commune; after receiving PFES money, they must commit to pay for Nam Nga village.
