Mr. Nguyen Van Manh (left of photo), Party cell secretary, head of the mediation team of residential group 5, discussed mediation work in residential areas.
One morning in mid-November, the hall of Quang Trung Ward Public Administration Service Center was busier than usual. The training session on legal skills and expertise for the 2025 conciliation team attracted a large number of members of residential groups and conciliation teams to attend. They listened attentively to the lecturers analyzing everyday dispute situations - seemingly small matters but always requiring delicacy when handling.
Here, we met Mr. Trinh Van Kien, 68 years old, Party cell secretary, head of the front work committee, head of the reconciliation team of residential group 6. Although he has only been involved in reconciliation work for 2 years, he is highly appreciated by the government and the people for his dedication, dexterity, and closeness to the people. With 268 households and more than 1,080 people, Residential Group 6 is a densely populated area with many occupations, and conflicts in daily life arise more and more.
A recent incident was a dispute between Ms. PT Mai and Ms. VT Nga. Angry that rainwater from her neighbor's roof was flowing into her yard, Ms. Nga had someone cut off a part of Ms. Mai's cement sheet. After checking the current situation, the mediation team determined that the cut-off part of the roof belonged entirely to Ms. Mai's land and was confirmed by many households. After being analyzed regarding land use rights and community behavior, Ms. Nga apologized and paid compensation. Ms. Mai's family also installed a water channel to avoid affecting the surrounding area.
Mr. Kien said: "The most difficult thing in mediation is limited legal awareness. Many people always think they are right, so it is difficult to listen. Therefore, the mediation team always tries to clearly identify the cause of the conflict and propose solutions based on the law and neighborly feelings, so that the parties can easily reach an agreement. However, not all cases are resolved quickly; there are cases where the mediation team has to meet and persuade many times but the conflict is still not resolved."
The case of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Sa, 60 years old, who raises 15 cows right in a residential area is a typical example. The barn is built close to the road, causing environmental pollution, and the cows often walk on the road, potentially causing traffic safety risks. People have complained for many years but have not been able to completely handle the situation because this is Mrs. Sa's only source of income. The mediation team has repeatedly advised her to reduce the herd and move the barn. However, Mrs. Sa is in poor health and has almost no suitable land, so she cannot change her profession, so the case remains one of the most "difficult" cases for the mediation team.
Mediation at the grassroots level is even more difficult when the subject is a vulnerable person. Party cell secretary and head of the mediation team of residential group 5, Nguyen Van Manh, told the story of Ms. Nguyen Thi Tham, over 60 years old, suffering from a mild mental disorder, living with her biological mother over 80 years old. Both of them are on social protection and do not have a stable income. To make a living, Ms. Tham raises 7 pigs, 6 dogs, and 10 chickens in her yard. The stench, noise, and wastewater seriously affect the surrounding households. For 3 years, the people have continuously complained, and the mediation team has come down many times to persuade her, but Ms. Tham cannot stop raising livestock because it is the only source of income for her and her children.
At the end of last year, the neighborhood group met to find a solution. The households agreed to contribute money to compensate for the pigs that were not yet a month old, and to provide a small amount of support for her to change her livelihood. Thanks to the community's cooperation, Mrs. Tham has stopped raising polluting animals and is now working as a hired hand at a local pineapple farm. This is one of the difficult but successful reconciliation cases, clearly demonstrating the spirit of sharing of the community.
Quang Trung Ward currently has a population of more than 32,000. Rapid urbanization has complicated residential issues, requiring the judicial and mediation work at the grassroots level to be flexible and effective. The Ward People's Committee directed the judicial department to coordinate with the Ward Fatherland Front Committee to consolidate 30 mediation teams with hundreds of mediators who are Party cell secretaries, heads of the Front's working committees, heads of mass organizations and prestigious people. The dissemination and education of the law has been enhanced through the radio system, oral propaganda, specialized conferences... to help raise people's awareness of law observance.
Thanh Hoa province currently has more than 4,300 mediation teams with nearly 2,800 mediators. When the two-level local government model comes into operation, the mediation teams will continue to be improved according to the principle: the State supports the mechanism and funding, the community self-manages mediation activities, and there is no administrative procedure. In the coming time, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and its member organizations will strengthen their role in selecting, training, and managing mediators; promote rewards, and update laws to encourage this team to stay long-term.
Hundreds of cases are resolved at the grassroots level each year thanks to silent people like Mr. Kien and Mr. Manh. They have chosen to “serve a hundred families”, contributing to maintaining peace in the village.
Article and photos: Tang Thuy
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/vui-buon-chuyen-hoa-giai-co-so-269168.htm
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