Controversial resort project in central Vietnam called off

Photo: NLD

An investment certificate was issued last October by Chan May-Lang Co Economic Zone Authority for World Shine Hong Kong to build a five-star resort on Hai Van Pass linking Thua Thien-Hue and Danang City. The resort, according to Tuoi Tre, covers an area of 200 hectares at Cua Khem Cape, where Hai Van Mount intrudes the farthest into the sea. To date, the investor has built an office at the site to manage the project, and cleared ordnance remaining after the war.

All had moved smoothly until last month when Danang City government challenged the project licensing, saying the site is in an overlapping area between the two localities. Further investigations by local media later have revealed a startling fact that the project site overlooking the East Sea is crucial for national defense and security. Military officials, experts and the general public have strongly voiced their protests against the project.

Lieutenant General Le Chiem, commander of Military Zone 5 responsible for the central region, says in Nguoi Lao Dong that he squarely objected to the project because Hai Van Pass is a focal military area of Grade 1. “Those wanting to build structures in the zone must obtain agreement from the Ministry of National Defense, and must be approved by the Prime Minister,” says the senior official. In the same tone, Lieutenant General Nguyen Quoc Thuoc, former commander of Military Zone 4 nearby, stresses in the newspaper that any project infringing on national defense and security will cause huge damages in the long term, which in certain cases are incurable.

Lieutenant General Be Xuan Truong, vice chief of staff of the People’s Army of Vietnam, says projects in areas critical to national defense and security must be carefully appraised by the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security. “In case of any negative impacts on national defense, such projects must be absolutely rejected,” the high-ranking official is quoted in Nguoi Lao Dong.

Duong Thanh Thi, chairman of Danang City’s Lien Chieu District, says in Lao Dong that Hai Van Pass is of paramount importance to national defense. “During war times, when French and American military forces invaded Vietnam, they also chose an area at the foot of Hai Van Mount to land… Therefore, socio-economic projects should by no means licensed into the area,” he is quoted in the paper.

Following the outburst of objections, Thua Thien-Hue leaders have convened several meetings to protect their stance, saying all licensing steps are aligned to legal procedures.

At a meeting last Thursday, Thua Thien-Hue Province’s Military Command explained that the project site would not have adverse impacts on national defense. “So, we consulted the provincial government to approve the project... Now the final say rests with the central Government and the Ministry of National Defense,” Tuoi Tre quotes Colonel Tran Dinh Phong, head of the military command.

Back to the latest decision of the provincial government, chairman Nguyen Van Cao admits in VnExpress that “we’ve come to the decision to halt the project, instead of waiting for instructions from the Prime Minister.” He explains that “after taking a closer look at the project site, we have decided to stop it. There are military zoning schemes that the provincial leadership has not been fully aware of, and now we have comprehended such schemes.”

According to Tuoi Tre, Chan May-Lang Co Economic Zone Authority on Wednesday had a meeting with the project owner, who also agreed to shelve the project. However, it is most likely that the provincial government will have to compensate the investor, which is expected by Lawyer Nguyen Van Hau of the HCMC Bar Association to be huge.

And many questions have emerged regarding the responsibility of the province.

A primary question is whether the provincial government has abided by the law or not. Lao Dong refers to a decree of the Government, demanding local authorities to consult military agencies before seeking approvals from central authorities. A decision of the Prime Minister issued in 2012 provides that projects sensitive to national defense must be appraised by the Ministry of National Defense.

Vietnamnet raises a host of questions regarding the project licensing. It ponders where or when the licensing goes wrong. If the licensing process is in line with legal procedures, and now it is canceled, then either the procedures are not right, or the implementation of such procedures is not right, the news website reasons.

And last but not least, if the procedures are right, a big question remains to be answered: whether provincial leaders only care about procedures and play down other important issues such as national security, according to Vietnamnet.

SGT/VNN