The Central Inspection Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam has disciplined many officials found to be responsible for a severe marine pollution incident caused in April 2016 by Formosa on the central coast.

A notice was issued last week over the disciplinary measures following the 13th session of the commission.

The Party committee of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in the 2011-2016 term is found to irresponsible in their leadership, which led to the ministry and some individuals violating regulations on environmental protection related to the Formosa Ha Tinh steel project.

Nguyen Minh Quang, former member of the Party Central Committee, former secretary of the ministry’s Party committee, and former Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, is responsible for violations and shortcomings during the 2011-2016 tenure of the Party committee.

Bui Cach Tuyen, former member of the ministry’s Party committee, former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, and former director general of the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA), is responsible for infringements at the ministry’s Party committee. 

He committed a lack of responsibility when approving Formosa’s environmental impact assessment report, ignoring warnings against possible environmental violations, loosening the leadership and direction of inspection into and supervision of the implementation of the environmental protection components at Formosa.

Nguyen Thai Lai, former member of the ministry’s Party committee and former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, is also held accountable for having appraised and signed a wastewater discharge permit for Formosa.

Luong Duy Hanh, director general of the ministry’s environmental protection and control department, was irresponsible in his capacity as head of an inspection team that visited the Formosa project site. 

He did not strictly look into the execution of environmental protection components in the construction and testing stages.

Mai Thanh Dung, during his office term as director of the department of environmental impact appraisal and assessment at the ministry, did not fulfill his duties while giving the VEA advice in the revision of the environmental impact assessment report.

The Inspection Commission decided to dismiss Luong Duy Hanh from all his posts in the Party. 

The Party committee of the environment ministry is told to take disciplinary measures against Nguyen Minh Quang, Bui Cach Tuyen and Nguyen Thai Lai.

As for Mai Thanh Dung, the ministry’s Party committee has expelled him from the standing board of VEA’s Party committee. 

The environment ministry has demoted him from the post of VEA deputy general director.

Ha Tinh Province’s former leaders are also held responsible.

Vo Kim Cu, former secretary of the Party Committee of Ha Tinh Province, former Party secretary of the Ha Tinh People’s Committee, former chairman of the Ha Tinh People’s Committee, is responsible for violations at the Party Committee of the provincial government and at the provincial government in 2008-2016.

He is also to blame for violations and shortcomings of the Management Board of Ha Tinh Economic Zone from 2008 to 2010. 

He signed a lot of documents without adhering to the rules, including an investment certificate, a permit for use of sea surface outside the Vung Anh economic zone, and a permit for Formosa to clear land for construction of a wastewater conduit. 

He is also found to have lacked responsibility for directing inspection into and supervision of the project implementation process.

Ho Anh Tuan, former member of the Ha Tinh Party Committee, former Party secretary of the Ha Tinh Economic Zone Authority, and former head of the Ha Tinh Economic Zone Authority, is responsible for violations at the authority in 2010-2016. 

He signed a number of documents in violation of the rules and allowed Formosa to start construction on some components before paperwork was done.

The Inspection Commission dismissed Ho Anh Tuan from the post of secretary of the Party committee of the Ha Tinh Economic Zone Authority for 2005-2010 and 2010-2015. 

The Party Committee of the Ha Tinh People’s Committee is asked to consider disciplining Vo Kim Cu.

SGT