Local authorities in Hanoi's Ung Hoa District have been criticised for not supporting a war veteran who returned home after being presumed dead for 28 years in Cambodia.
Le Xuan Hao cooking at home
In the Cambodian battle, the veteran Le Xuan Hao, and six of his other comrades were bombed in 1984. Luckily he was saved by an ethnic Cambodian family but he could not find his unit to come back home.
Even though, Hao returned to his hometown of Hanoi, Ung Hoa District, two years ago, the local authorities only visited him after the story was published in December. Authorities from the Department of Labours, Invalids and Social Affairs (DLISA) and the military department in Ung Hoa District then recognised Hao's household as being poor for preferential treatments.
Nguyen Van Tuyen, from the Ung Hoa District Military Headquarters said, "The DLISA did not report this case to us. We quickly sent out employees to verify information. But it's the DLISA's responsibility to deal with preferential policies for war veterans."
Nguyen Thi Hien, from the DLISA, said they made mistakes because they were unaware of procedures. "I was informed about this case two years ago. Because the communal authorities had not sent us official documentation, we didn't report it to Hanoi Department of Labours, Invalids and Social Affairs. I thought we could send him present first," she said.
When being questioned why the work was delayed for two years, Hien said she was not sure of the time and the communal authorities must visit and work with Hao.
In the meantime, the vice chairman of Ung Hoa District People's Committee refused to be interviewed, said that he would be busy for the rest of the year.
According to Hao, he had encountered various troubles while trying to regain his status as a living citizen. The vice chairman of Tram Long Commune People's Committee also said it's the DLISA's responsibility to support Hao.
