Hanoi Demands Probing Massive Tree Chopping, Several Cadres Suspended

Chairman Nguyen The Thao of Hanoi People’s Committee has decided to set up a inter-sector team to inspect a project which aims to massively cut down thousands of aged trees in city’s streets, Vietnam’s state-run media reported. Along investigating responsibilities of the leadership of the city’s Department of Construction, Mr. Thao suspended duties some state officials involving in felling over 2,000 aged trees. Earlier this month, the Department of Construction started the project which targets to chop 6,700 aged trees, many of which are in the red list.  The city said that the project has sought to replace old and ill trees with younger trees from varieties suitable for modern city. However, public said most of the cut trees are healthy. Some of them were planted during the French colonial period. While many praised Thao’s decision, many other have questioned the responsibilities of the chairman himself and of Pham Quang Nghi, the communist secretary of the capital city. Only officials at department levels were disciplined while other senior officials will stay intake, observers said. Hanoi said it will replace aged valuable trees with Magnolia dandyi, however, the replaced trees are Magnolia conifer which are less valuable and are not suitable for planting in street, scientists said. The plan to massively fell trees in Hanoi’s streets has met strong protest from local residents and other Vietnamese across the nation. Thousands of them have taken to street in Hanoi with banners calling the authorities to suspend the plan. Some have accused the Hanoi’s leadership of taking profit from the project. The city allocated VND73 billion ($3.4 million) on chopping down the trees for the next three years, and the money from timber sale may hit VND600 billion. Due to strong public cry, Mr. Thao on Mar 20 asked to suspend felling tree for further examination. Many civil organizations say they will continue their protest until Hanoi stops the project. (Nhan Dan – The People Mar 23, Lao Dong - Labor Mar 23)