Mother and daughter strip naked, fail to save family land

June 07, 2012 - 01:37 PM

Despite Lai and her daughter stripping naked to retain their land, it has been decided that their compensation will remain unchanged.

Despite Lai and her daughter stripping naked in the public to retain their land, it has been decided that their compensation will remain unchanged at VND1.25 billion (USD59,421), one official said.

Tran Nhan Cu (first from left) admits that the women were treated roughly

Tran Nhan Cu, Director of No8 Construction and Investment JSC (CIC8) in Can Tho City, admitted, at a press conference on the issue on June 6, that it was wrong for the guards to treat them roughly, pushing and dragging the two nude women away.

Le Thanh Tam, Vice Chairman of Cai Rang District People’s Committee, said that on May 10, 2012 CIC8’s workers were compelled to halt construction after the family of Pham Thi Lai tried to hinder their work and threatened them.

The company resumed their work on May 12. However, on May 21 Lai and her daughter removed their clothing on the construction site to protect their land. They were pushed and dragged away by the guards.

According to Tam, in 2002 the former authorities of Can Tho granted CIC8 permission to build a new urban area in Hung Thanh Ward, Cai Rang District and approved of compensation rates for the affected households.

CIC8 agreed to compensate Lai's family VND1.25 billion (USD59,421), but they refused. Lai's family has asked to receive 100 square metres of resettlement land for each 1,000 square metres taken. But Can Tho municipal government and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment turned down their request.

The Ministry of Finance and Prime Minister have also recommended that the municipal government to carry out compensation in accordance with approved plans.

Lai said that their family members had to work very hard to buy their land, and thought it unfair that they were to be compensated only VND500,000 (USD23.77) per square metre.

“Half a year ago my husband drank pesticide in front of the security guards, but was saved. We felt we had no other choice but to do something as drastic as what we did, despite the sense of shame," Lai said.