Big push for Mekong Delta region

Leaders of HCM City yesterday, Dec 12, signed a deal with their counterparts in six southeastern and 13 southwestern provinces for deeper co-operation in the trade and service sectors.

Under the agreement, the provinces will create the most favourable conditions for enterprises from other localities, exchanging experiences in administration reform.

The eight-lane Dong Tay Boulevard in HCM City connects with economic zones, helping to improve development in the south. (Photo: VNS)

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh, as well as the chairman of the Southwestern Steering Committee, who attended the signing ceremony, praised HCM City for its co-operative programmes which had helped economic development in other localities.

“Regional co-operation is important for socio-economic development. Each locality has strengths and weaknesses. Mutual support will help the region develop well, and producers will get more benefits from the co-operation,” Ninh said.

urging them to complete policies for the localities to fully exploit their potential and strength.

Deputy Prime Minister Ninh promised yesterday to mobilise all resources to develop social security in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta Region at a press briefing held to introduce next April’s trade fair, which would exhibit the achievements of the region over the past 10 years.

Ninh stressed the significance of the exhibition. He said it would create social security, economic opportunity and tourism potential for local people, particularly those in ethnic minority-inhabited areas.

He suggested that both domestic and foreign investors should prepare for and attend the event, in order to become familiar with progress and potential in the fields of agriculture, commerce and tourism, among others.

He urged businesses to continue working with local authorities to implement social security goals, poverty reduction and environmental protection.

The Steering Committee on the Southwestern Region announced that the event has generated VND720 billion (US$34.5 million) to carry out these goals.

Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Viet Nam Tran Minh Tuan said commercial banks would actively join the implementation of social programmes in the region.

Attending this trade fair, commercial banks would focus on developing credit market and bank services as well as actively support businesses and local citizens to promote the distribution of their products, Tuan said.

It will run from April 27 to May 1.

Man on Porsche ignores cops, humiliates reporter

After being stopped by police in Hanoi, a man on a luxury Porsche threw a cigarette lighter at a reporter, after which his friends arrived on classy cars and surrounded the police station, demanding his release.

A group of traffic policemen at 1:20 am Sunday stopped a white Porsche with registered license plate BKS 37A - 033.33 at the Trang Tien – Hang Bai Junction for a routine inspection.

But the four men on the luxury car were not cooperative. They called on their mobile phones and allegedly talked with ‘someone’, asking them to deal with the police.

When a female reporter from Doi Song va Phap Luat (life and law) Newspaper arrived to take pictures, Chu Dang Khoa (29), one of the four, shouted and threw a cigarette lighter and a cigarette packet directly at her.

The packet and lighter hit her face and her camera fell to the ground.

Angry over his action, a number of on-lookers jumped in, intending to teach Khoa a lesson but police intervened, causing quite a commotion.

Khoa was taken to the local police station where he explained that the reason he threw the lighter was “due to my long time staying overseas, I’ve just returned home so I am not accustomed”.

Mr. Khoa has his permanent residence registered in the central province of Nghe An.

As Khoa was being questioned and the Porsche being temporarily impounded, several other expensive cars arrived in front of the police station.

Young men in fashionable clothes walked out and called on their mobile phones. Others walked to and fro. They were said to be Khoa’s friends and wanted his release.

An Audi Q5 driven by one such friend was later found to lack a registration license.

The men on this car were questioned. They repeatedly lit and smoked cigarettes in front of investigators, showing little respect.

Firework displays on for Lunar New Year

The capital’s People's Committee has decided to stage 4 large firework displays alongside 25 smaller ones across the city on Lunar New Year's Eve (January 22).

Areas earmarked for festivities include Hoan Kiem Lake, Thong Nhat Park, Nguyen Hoang Ton Garden in Tay Ho District and Van Quan Lake in the outlying district of Ha Dong.

All the shows will be 15 minutes in length.

Fire burns down plastic company in Bac Ninh

A big fire broke out at a plastic company in the northern province of Bac Ninh on Sunday afternoon when thousands of workers were working inside.

The fire spread rapidly, causing a widespread panic among the workers who rushed to the main door to escape.

It took the firefighters a few hours to put down the fire.

The fire completely destroyed the factory and its main office.

The police are still searching for the bodies of those who might have been trapped in the fire.

Police TV channel to explore order issues

The Public Security Ministry officially launched the An Ninh (Security) Television Channel (ANTV) last Sunday.

Public Security Minister and Senior-Lieutenant-General Tran Dai Quang pressed the button to officially open the channel.

Speaking at the event, Quang underlined that the foundation of the People’s Police Television Channel had marked new developments of the police, ushering in new requirements for information, education and force building.

The channel will be broadcast nationally and abroad 24 hours a day via cablevision, digital and satellite on Viet Nam Cable Television (VCTV), HCM City Cable Television (HTVC) and the Sai Gon Tourist Cable Television (SCTV).

ANTV is a channel dedicated to security forces that will explore news and other issues related to public order. It will provide viewers with a reliable and timely overview of public security information and encourage people to take responsibility for themselves, their families and communities.

Also on the occasion, a ceremony was held to celebrate the 65th anniversary of foundation of the People’s Police Newspaper.

Strong tide threatens dozens of households

Strong tides have threatened dozens of households in Ro Village of central Phu Yen Province for three days.

About 5 metres of land has been eroded. A 24-sq.metre house in the village also collapsed on Sunday. Local residents said flooding due to strong tides was most common in the evening.

Thousands of sand bags were placed around houses to prevent erosion.

Forest ranger arrested for smuggling wood

Dao Cong Thang, head of the Quy Hop Forest Management Center in the central province of Nghe An, was arrested on Sunday, Dec 11, for his participation in smuggling wood on a truck that was overturned last Wednesday, the local police said.

Earlier, his subordinate Nguyen Kim Hung has also been held for his involvement in the smuggling.

According to investigators, on December 6, Thang asked Hung to “examine” the truck for him.

On December 7, Thang fortunately survived the accident and crept out of the truck before getting on a black Ford car which headed towards the Nga Mi Forest Management Center in Tuong Duong Commune where he later hid.

Two days later, however, Thang showed up at the police station and wrote a report about the case.

When he finished the report, he said he suffered a headache and asked the police to allow him to go out and buy some medicine. However, he fled to his sister’s house in Quan Hanh Town.

He then went to Cua Dong Hospital in Vinh City to treat his head injury but was later arrested.

Thang confessed to the police that he was ordered to carry the wood by Trinh Thanh Long, deputy director of the management board of the Pu Huong Natural Conservation Center as well as head of the Pu Huong Forest Management Center.

Thang and Hung are being held at Nghi Xuan Prison in Nghe An.

According to an investigation by Tuoi Tre, at the time of the accident, the truck was carrying 12 columns of a house (each was 5m long) and 6 plank beds.

All of the products were made of the Tembusu (Fagraea fragrans) wood, a rare and protected type of wood.

Early on the morning of December 7, the truck was halfway down Pu Uot Mountain in Binh Chuan Commune in Con Cuong District when it was overturned.

10 workers sitting on top of the truck were killed and 4 others were injured. The workers had earlier loaded the wood products at Pieng O Village in Xieng Mi Commune, the police said.

More international efforts needed to fight social evils

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc yesterday, Dec 12, asked that international organisations and donors continue supporting Viet Nam in the fight against HIV/AIDS, drugs and prostitution.

Phuc expressed thanks to all who have provided the country with financial aid and technical assistance in addressing these issues, at a meeting with ambassadors and representatives of international organisations and donors.

He said the country would mobilise its entire political system at all levels, working with social organisations to win the fight against these social evils.

Australian Ambassador to Viet Nam Allaster Cox affirmed that international organisations were committed to helping the Vietnamese Government finalise and implement related policies and programmes.

Gambling on petanque in plain sight

“At about 4PM every day, we ride to Le Thi Rieng Park to play and join in with other gamblers. Many famous players also gather here. Each bet costs up to several million dong”, Tuong, a well-known player from the Ben Ba Dinh area, said.

In the afternoon of November 25, no sooner had Tuoi Tre arrived at the petanque pitch in Le Thi Rieng Park than a player approached and asked if we wanted to make a bet.

There is an unspoken rule that no one talks about money when the game is taking place. Instead, the players use slang words on settling their bets. For example, VND 5,000 is called one “lon”(tin). One “bao” (package) is equal to VND100,000 (US$4.7), and one “cay” (tree) equates to VND1,000,000.

“We use slang to avoid the authorities’ attention”, Huy in district 10 explained. When they see the players gathering and playing, many people may think that they are just practicing. In reality, after each game, the loser will pay the pitch rental and then give money to the winner at another place.

Every afternoon, dozens of players gather in groups, dividing themselves into teams and competing fiercely. On a one or two member team, each player has three iron-made boules to throw. On a three member team, each has only two boules. The team whose player throws the boule closest to the jack scores a point. The first team to reach 11 or 13 points will win the game.

On November 26, Thanh in Tan Binh District challenged Tinh to compete for 4 “bao” or VND400,000. After just after 30 minutes, Tinh won the game and laughed as he received the money from his opponent.

According to Tuong, this pitch is always crowded with players who come here to compete for money. The bets range from hundreds to millions of dong, and sometimes even tens of million of dong. Experienced player will be chosen to compete in important games, on which many people play for high stakes.

“Many rich people and players from other parts of the city come to play and bet millions of dong on one game. One afternoon, a man lost over ten million dong, but he still came back another day”, Tuong, a player, said.

The Patenque Club in the HCMC Labor Culture Palace has also become a favorite meeting place for many gamblers. The players spend compete against each other until 8PM, and after each game, each of which lasts 20 to 30 minutes, the losers regretfully pay for the matches they have lost.

On November 11, more than 10 players gathered at the palace and divided themselves into teams and then watched a competition between Dong, Dung and Tam. The bet was VND2 million ($95). No sooner had the game begun than the gamblers stood around the pitch, shouting and settling bets. Gamblers of all ages eagerly placed their bets, which ranged from a few hundred dong to millions. After competing for 40 minutes, Dong lost the game and paid money to Dung and Tam. The gamblers around the pitch also noisily collected winnings or paid money to others.

“Today is such a lucky day. I have won VND1,600,000. I had lost on consecutive days before this”, Duong, a reputable player in district 5, laughed and said cheerfully.

“This game is not a big one. There are many games on which the players bet a lot of money,” Thanh said.

To avoid quarreling between the players, each game has a referee to measure the distance from the boules to the jack. After the game, the winner often pays the referee VND50,000. After big games, the referee will be tipped more.

“Following big games, the players usually quarrel, threaten, and swear at each other chaotically”, Sinh, a player, said.

Although signs which read “gambling of any form is forbidden” are hung on the pitch, the players simply ignore the rule.

“Visitors who are seen betting will be asked to leave. Any member who is caught gambling will be warned the first time, and expelled from the club for a second offense. However, it is difficult to control gambling activities because the players follow unspoken rules to avoid being caught red-handed”, Do Khac Dieu, Head of the Petanque Club at Labor Culture Palace HCMC, said.

According to Nguyen Van Hau, a local lawyer, players who gamble on petanque may be fined from VND1 to 2 million and those who organize or take part in petanque gambling activities may be prosecuted, according to Articles 248 and 249 of the criminal law.

VNN/VOV/VNS/Tuoi Tre