Dancing to HRW’s tunes, several western online newspapers even invented stories saying that local police used force to disperse the petitioners, injuring many of them. These media agencies considered it a proof of the Vietnamese Government’s violations of its people’s fundamental human rights, including the right to freedom of speech.

The fact is that there were no demonstrations against the State and Government in Ho Chi Minh City and other localities as reported by the HRW and other western media agencies. Only in HCM City, people from several localities gathered in front of the National Assembly Office, southern branch, in mid July petitioning for the settlement of land-related issues. They returned to their homes after being persuaded by hundreds of women and young volunteers from HCM City and other localities.

The underlying cause of the gathering is that local administrations did not pay due attention to settling people’s concern regarding land use and compensation. In addition, several elements made use of the situation to incite the people into making illegal petitions.

The Government ordered relevant ministries and localities to take measures to resolve the issue. Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong asked Party committees, administrations and mass organisations to pay special attention to meeting with people and tackling their petitions in a timely, democratic and orderly manner.

Mr Trong stressed that people’s requirements should be met if their claims are correct. If individuals and organisations err, they should be strictly dealt with to regain the people’s trust.

The Deputy PM assigned relevant ministries and sectors to perfect mechanisms, policies and legal documents in conformity to society’s practical development and requirements and step by step remedy shortcomings between the legal system and practicality. This is a major cause leading to prolonged petitions, not poor human rights records as claimed by HRW.

By frankly identifying shortcomings in its land policy, as well as pointing out causes and taking bold measures to settle people’s petitions, the Government shows its resolve to respect and protect its citizens’ legal property, including housing and land. It has never deprived them of fundamental human rights. 

After returning to their homes, local administrations continued to hold dialogues and deal with petitioners’ concerns so as to establish more channels of information and forums for them to exercise their right to freedom of speech and ensure social discipline and order. The petitioners all understood that it is local authorities who will answer their queries and should live up to their expectations. There were no guns and fire hoses, and no one was injured in HCM City as HRW and several western media agencies invented in their stories over the past few days.