Global Witness, a London-based non-governmental organisation, has maintained its accusation against Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) Group’s land grab, deforestation in Laos and Cambodia.
Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group Chairman Doan Nguyen Duc
According to the organisation’s most recent report, HAGL Group and state-owned Vietnam Rubber Group had acquired more than 200,000 hectares of land through a series of deals with the Lao and Cambodian governments that lacked transparency. The report also said that the deal was backed by several international financiers, resulting in widespread devastation to the environment and livelihoods of locals.
Land was often sold without residents' consent or even their knowledge and without compensation. Families were forced off their land or expected to work for the rubber plantation, although jobs were few and far between, the report alleged.
However, instead of seeking ways to improve the situation for the affected communities, HAGL seems to have focused on protecting their image, said Megan MacInnes, head of Global Witness’ land campaign.
HAGL's chairman, Doan Nguyen Duc, denied the accusations, saying that he had never met with Global Witness. He added that no member of their staff had any contact with the NGO.
Meanwhile, Global Witness said that they had met Hoang Anh Gia Lai representatives on August 22, 2012 in Pleiku. At the meeting, the organisation provided their evidence and called on the company to deal with the problems they had caused in Laos and Cambodia.
“However, now, Mr. Duc has tried to deny that this meeting took place, which is totally wrong,” said a representative from Global Witness.
The meeting took place after the two sides exchanges with each other through mails for several weeks. In March Global Witness continued urging Hoang Anh Gia Lai to address its investment activities in Laos and Cambodia which had been ongoing since August 22, 2012, however, the group refused to do this.
Global Witness disclosed that they were negotiating to arrange another meeting with Duc, scheduled to take place in Pleiku in June. The NGO added that they were in possession of documents which prove that HAGL's land holdings for rubber plantations are illegal.
Accoring to Duc, HAGL will invite Bureau Veritas organistion to act as their consultants for the projects in Laos and Cambodia. They hope to receive a sustainable forest management certificate.
Lawyer Nguyen Thanh Ha, of S&B Law Firm, said if Global Witness’s accusations are wrongheaded and affect HAGL’s prestige, and that the company has the right to sue Global Witness in London, where Global Witness is headquartered.