Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has demanded an inspection into the removal of 100 tombs by a company in Khanh Hoa Province to build a resort project.

Under the deputy prime minister's instruction, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs will work together on the investigation.

Dozens of households in Phuoc Dong Commune, Nha Trang City, have accused the Thanh Truc Company of removing 100 tombs from Thanh Chuc Hill without their permission.

According to local residents, the company's workers excavated the tombs; even those built with concrete, and then took the remains to a cemetery in the north of the city.

More than 100 tombs in Khanh Hoa Province removed without permission from local residents

Pham Thi Lun, a local resident, said that the displaced tombs also included the remains who died in the country’s liberation struggle. The incident was detected on July 27, Vietnam’s memorial day for the war dead when people came to the hill to burn incense to commemorate their relatives.

Lun added that local people had agreed with the city's resort project plan for Thanh Chuc Hill, but it was unacceptable for the investor to displace the tombs without their permission.

On August 2, the Thanh Chuc Ltd. Co. had a meeting with the people who are relatives of the removed remains. The families expressed their obvious concerns that there might be mix-ups with the remains, despite company assurances the tombs had been numbered.

Nguyen Van Thanh in Viinh Truong Ward, Nha Trang City, said that the tombs had been numbered before being brought to the cemetery, but he saw some with difference between the number on the tombstone and small earthenware coffins, including ones of his grandfather and son. Thanh requested the company to conduct DNA test to accurately define the remains of his relatives. This call was also supported by many other local people.

Nguyen Van Huong, Chairman of Phuoc Dong Commune, said that the investor had to rebuild the tombs with a surrounding wall. A big memorial should also be built to list the names of the remains.

Huynh Thi Kim Trung, Director of Thanh Chuc Company, apologised to the local residents about the tomb removal, but refused to conduct a DNA test.

Trung said that the company had earlier informed the public about removing the tombs on Phuoc Dong Commune's Radio and the provincial television three times.

In response the residents said hey had not received any report from the company and local authorities about the imminent removal.