The family of a forest ranger who died while at work are complaining about their son not being recognised as ‘martyr’ by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.
Dung standing next to his son's altar
Tran Van Quy, born in 1987, was in the Quang Nam Mobile Forest Ranger Unit and Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Team 2. On May 15, 2011, Quy was swept away by a strong current when he was recovering submerged logs from the Vu Gia River as evidence of an illegal logging case.
The local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs asked the the ministry to recognise Quy as a ‘martyr’. However, the ministry replied that Quy did not meet the criteria in September 2011.
Then in October 2013, Quang Nam People's Committee continued to ask the ministry to recognise Quy but received the same reply.
The note signed by Deputy Minister Doan Mau Diep stated that, "While recovering the logs, Quy did not wear a life-jacket while working, he was able to swim for five metres but got caught by strong currents and drowned. Death by accident is an unexpected factor that cannot be foreseen in this line of work. We recognise his courage and selfless to save people and protect the public assets. But it's not a heroic action as in doing emergency and dangerous works to protect the country's security or national defence."
However Quy's father, Tran Duc Dung, said the ministry's statement was not in accordance with Government Resolution 31 issued in April, 2013 about requirements to be a ‘martyr’. The resolution includes acts of bravely rescuing people and saving public assets.
"My son was young and healthy so what he did should be considered as bravely attempting to save public assets. It's a fact that diving into the river was dangerous because the current was fast and strong. If the logs were swept away, the government's interest would have been affected," he said.
Dung and his lawyer have paid visits to every individual and agency related to the case to gather opinions.
On March 18, Dung said he had sent another request letter to various agencies including local authorities, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Quang Nam Forest Ranger Unit recognise his son as ‘martyr’.
He also expressed desire to have NA deputies of Quang Nam Province question the Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs about this problem in the coming NA meeting sessions.
Quang Nam People's Committee asked the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to re-examine the case and respond.
