$11,000 grant for overseas work

The central province of Khanh Hoa People's Committee has provided VND2.3 billion (US$11,000) to support local labourers working abroad, said deputy director of the province's Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Department Mai Xuan Tri.

Labourers from poor households or ethnic groups in mountainous districts will be given about VND2 million ($100) each to pay for job training, foreign language learning, health checks, and passport applications.

HCMC to use cameras for firefighting, rescue

The camera control center at the HCMC Fire-Fighting Police Department. (Photo: Tuoi Tre)

Snap demonstrations, gatherings banned

The Ha Noi People's Committee has banned any spontaneous demonstrations and gatherings in the capital city.

A local government communique released yesterday, Aug 18, stated that spontaneous demonstrations, gatherings and parades by people in the city every Sunday since early June were initially a manifestation of their patriotism and protest against China's encroachment on Viet Nam's territorial waters and islands.

"However, more recently, anti-government forces inside and outside Viet Nam have taken advantages of the people's deep patriotism to appeal and instigate people to join demonstrations and parades with an ill intention to cause disorder in the capital city," the communique said.

It says such spontaneous activities have seriously undermined social security and the prestige of Ha Noi as "a City for Peace."

Political threats may be nurtured from such activities, the document says and could undermine the Party and Government's diplomatic policies and relationships.

The anti-government forces have nurtured a scheme to divide the great national unity and to instigate national hatred in Viet Nam-China relations.

In pursuance of the Party and Government's policies and guidelines to resolutely defend the country's territorial integrity while firmly defending the peaceful environment and friendships to build and develop the homeland, and to maintain stability, social law and order and security in the capital city, the Ha Noi People's Committee demanded the immediate end of such spontaneous activities.

The city authorities want all citizens to actively participate in the national patriotic movement with practical lawful deeds to contribute to protecting the homeland's sovereignty and territorial integrity and ensure national defence and security.

Website on Vietnamese martyrs makes debut

The Vietnam Martyr Families Support Association on August 18 launched a website aimed at honouring martyrs, martyrs’ families and heroic Vietnamese mothers. 

The website, http://www.trianlietsi.vn, with its domain names meaning deep gratitude to fallen combatants, will serve as a reference for martyrs’ families in their efforts to find remains and graves of their fallen relatives. 

In addition to updated information on the association’s activities, the website also contains literature works featuring heroic martyrs and outstanding activities in gratitude to martyrs along consultancy on the State policies and regulations towards fallen combatants.

Web site supports child nutrition

A web site to advise families on infant and child feeding practices was launched yesterday, Aug 18, by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and Alive and Thrive (A&T) at http://Mattroibetho.vn.

The site will provide counselling on the best feeding choices for children. It will also help women exchange experiences and support each other, including how to exclusively breast-feed children.

Lieu gets 14 years in jail for torching Hung

A woman was sentenced to 14 years in prison for burning her husband to death. Another woman was indicted for the same crime. In an eerie coincidence, the two couples share the names Lieu – Hung.

People’s Court in the southern province of Nghe An on Thursday morning pronounced a 14-year-sentence for Cao Thi Lieu who was charged with murdering her husband Nguyen The Hung.

According to Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper, on March 25 Lieu garroted her husband with a rope to death and then set him on fire. She then buried his body in a deep hole near the house. An autopsy showed Hung had been burnt to death while still alive.

She told police her husband was an alcoholic and had frequently beaten her and children so she killed him to vent her anger.

Tran Thuy Lieu, another woman in Long An southern province, has been prosecuted following her confession to torching her husband journalist Le Hoang Hung to death on January 19.

Initial investigations found her motive for the killing came from love affair with a local official and gambling debts.

The murder case has shocked the nation during the past time.

Recently, the dead victim's lawyer demanded a re-investigation into the case.

The request came after the provincial investigation agency had prosecuted Lieu for murder after concluding that she was driven to committing the crime alone because Hung had repeatedly beaten her 10 days before out of suspicion of her adultery against him.

Hanoi orders end to spontaneous demonstrations, parades

The municipal People’s Committee of Hanoi on August 18 issued an announcement, ordering an end to all spontaneous gatherings, demonstrations and parades in the city to maintain stability, security and order.

The announcement said that on Sundays since June 2011, spontaneous gatherings, demonstrations and parades have taken place to protest against China’s violations of Vietnam’s sea and island sovereignty.

During the first days, these events generated a patriotic and spirited response from the public. Recently, taking advantage of people’s patriotism, anti-State forces in the country and abroad have appealed, stimulated and guided people to demonstrate and parade, threatening security and order in the capital city.

Those spontaneous gatherings, demonstrations and parades affected the order and safety of society and the image of the capital city of Hanoi, a city of peace.

They contained implicit elements, causing political instability and negative impacts on the implementation of foreign policies and relations of the Party and State.

A part of the masses participated in the spontaneous gatherings, demonstrations and parades because they were lacking information and took their participation in these demonstrations as showing their patriotism. Meanwhile, hostile forces in the country and overseas hectically are taking advantage of these issues to carry out activities against the Party and State. Their plots and intentions are to separate the people’s great unity, stimulate national hostility to split the Vietnam-China relations, excite and gather forces to threaten the security, order and political stability of the country.

In implementing the Party and State’s policy to resolutely protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity and ensure a peaceful and friendship environment for national construction and development, the Hanoi People’s Committee assigned the municipal police force to coordinate with authorities at all levels, departments, sectors, the Fatherland Front, social-political and mass organisations to disseminate information and mobilise people to self-consciously abide by, support and actively join relevant forces to maintain security and order.

The city encourages every citizen to actively participate in patriotic movements with practical operations in line with law to ensure national defence and security and contribute to protecting sovereignty and border of the nation.

VN, Laos boost cooperation in social sciences

A delegation from the Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences, headed by President Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, is on a visit to Laos from August 17-19.

On August 18, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to Lao Vice State President Bounnhang Volachit, briefing the host on the results of their working session with the Laos National Institute of Social Sciences.

Dr. Thang informed Vice President Bounnhang Volachit that the two institutes will strengthen comprehensive cooperation to improve the capacity of scientists to research and review realities to contribute to national construction.

Vice President Bounnhang Volachit stressed that Laos and Vietnam are in the process of renewal and needs an appraisal of their current situations to assist in the continued development of the countries. 

He proposed that  the two institutes engage in projects with a strong practical focus on developing the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Earlier, Dr. Thang had a working session with Dr. Khampheuy Panmalaythong, Director of the Laos National Institute of Social Sciences.

The two sides expressed their appreciation at the effective results of cooperation in projects on national renewal, the impact of globalisation and compilation of a Vietnamese-Lao dictionary.

The two institutes planned to continue research, cooperation and exchange of information and experience and hold annual social sciences conferences among Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, to contribute to developing the Mekong sub-region strongly.

Second hearing held for anti-State saboteurs

The Ho Chi Minh City-based Supreme People’s Court on August 18 opened its second instance trial of Tran Thi Thuy and her accomplices on charges of “working to overthrow the people’s administration” pursuant to Clause 2, Article 79 of Vietnam’s Penal Code. 

The hearing was held at the People’s Court of the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre after Tran Thi Thuy, Pham Van Thong, Duong Kim Khai and Cao Van Tinh lodged appeals. 

According to the verdict of the first hearing held by the Ben Tre provincial People’s Court on May 30, these people, under the arrangement of the reactionary Vietnam Reform Party (Viet Nam Canh Tan Cach Mang Dang or Viet Tan for short), went to Thailand and Cambodia to study and receive training in guidelines and goals as well as action plans to overthrow the people’s administration through a method of “non-violence”. 

After being admitted to this organisation, they were assigned tasks and given money to forward slogans, leaflets and documents to Vietnam and recruit people to be sent to Thailand and Cambodia for training. 

Through the instruction of the Viet Tan organisation, the defendants set up an organisation called “Hiep hoi than huu nguoi Viet Nam tuong tro” (Vietnamese Association of Friendship and Mutual Assistance) and gathered forces to conduct rebellions nationwide. 

With those guilty acts, the first trial handed down sentences of eight years of imprisonment to Tran Thi Thuy, seven years to Pham Van Thong, six years to Duong Kim Khai and five years to Cao Van Tinh. They were also sentenced to a five-year probation after serving their prison terms. 

At the second hearing, the jury determined that the initial verdict was appropriate with the nature and dangerousness of the defendants’ violations. 

However, based on the repentance of Khai and Tinh, the jury accepted their appeals to reduce imprisonment terms and handed down five years of imprisonment to Khai and four and a half years to Tinh, respective decreases of one year and six months compared with the first verdict.

PM requests closer eye on hand-foot-mouth disease

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has requested all ministries and related agencies speed up efforts in preventing and controlling the spread of hand-foot-mouth disease.

The Government has asked local authorities at all levels to provide accurate and timely information to residents about the disease and how to implement preventive measures, such as cleaning the home and school environments.

According to government statistics, Viet Nam recorded about 32,500 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease since the beginning of 2011. The disease has killed at least 81 people in 17 provinces and cities nationwide, with a concentration in southern provinces. It's particularly hazardous to children under five.

According to the Health Ministry, this year's casualties from hand-foot-mouth disease have been considerably high, and there are no designated medicines or vaccines specifically used to cure it.

However, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said the situation has not been serious enough to declare an "epidemic" in the country. She said it's critical for local and provincial officials, in co-operating with health officials, to allocate enough resources to prevent its spread. All medical establishments must prepare a sufficient supply of medicines and other equipment for treatment.

Bomb clearing aids nations' friendship

The Viet Nam People's Army and the Royal Cambodian Army have strengthened their friendship and co-operation in clearing bombs, mines and explosives in the past years.

Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Thanh Cung, Deputy Minister of National Defence, made the statement while receiving Prak Sokhonn, Minister to Prime Minister Hun Sen and Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, in Ha Noi yesterday.

According to the Deputy Minister, the US dropped more than 15 million tonnes of bombs and mines in Viet Nam during the war, of which about 800,000 tonnes are still unexploded.

Viet Nam needed US$10 billion to clear all the unexploded bombs and mines, he said.

Cung said that the country is conducting a survey and mapping project on bomb and mine-infested areas nationwide. It is expected to be completed in 2014, as well as various building strategies, policies and programmes to attract international support for surmounting the consequences of unexploded bombs and mines.

On the occasion, he thanked the Cambodian Government and people for their assistance in searching for and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese soldiers and experts who laid down their lives during the war in Cambodia.

For his part, Minister Prak Sokhonn highlighted Cambodia's bomb and mine clearance efforts and international co-operation on this issue.

He affirmed that the Cambodian government and people will continue helping Viet Nam search for and repatriate the remains of Vietnamese soldiers.

Earlier that same day, the Cambodian minister was welcomed by Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, who affirmed that Viet Nam, as a country suffering serious consequences of bombs and mines left from war, always supports and takes action in line with the humanitarian spirit of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. Viet Nam is making efforts to address bomb and mine consequences and seeking more support from the international community for these efforts.

Minister Prak Sokhonn shared information about Cambodian's efforts in clearing bombs and mines and supporting victims of anti-personnel mines. He invited Viet Nam to attend the 11th Meeting of the Member States of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, to be held in Cambodia from November 28 to December 2.

Copyright problems hinder development of e-books

As more and more Vietnamese buy smart phones, tablets, and electronic book (e-books) readers, the market for digital content is becoming bigger, but copyright remains an issue.
One of the first publishers to get involved in the e-book market was First News who signing a US$23,000 contract with Samsung Vina.
The publisher sold copyrights to 50 out of 170 books in its series called Hat Giong Tam Hon (Seeds of soul) featuring inspirational and motivational stories. Their contents will become downloadable from the Samsung apps store and will show up on Samsung devices such as smart phones and televisions.
Previously, Lac Viet, an IT company known for making computer dictionaries, developed a software called Lac Viet reader which can be downloaded for free from the Samsung apps store.

Lac Viet is cooperating with the Vietnam Writers Association to digitize more than 5,000 copyrighted books for its Lac Viet online bookstore.

Ha Than, the company’s manager, said e-books are a new investment and a right step in this digital age. He was hopeful of the business model since phone makers like Samsung and LG have signed agreements for e-books with Lac Viet.
Besides, some local publishers also preparing to create e-books of their best-selling titles.
Than said during a time of economic difficulty, the introduction of e-books makes great economic sense since businesses do not need to worry about the increasing cost of paper, ink, and printing, and reduce the loss. They can also save the cost incurred on printing unsold books, he said.
But copyright is the most ticklish issue in developing the e-book industry, he said, explaining that besides dealing with pirated books, businesses also have to worry about agreements with authors, publishers, and others.
Since revenues accrue for a long time from online books, copyright disputes often crop up after a period of time, one of the many reasons why many publishers hesitate to get into the business.
Luu Duy Hoai, marketing head at maydocsach.com, a site which sells 200-300 e-book readers a month, said e-books are a promising market but involve many difficulties, especially with regard to getting copyrights.
“International businesses like Amazon have access to many copyrighted e-books. So their revenues come mostly from e-book stores rather than reading devices. Profit from digital publications is huge but most Vietnamese businesses are yet to exploit its potentials.”

ChildFund Australian builds a kindergarten for Bac Kan

The ChildFund Australian organization on August 18 handed over a kindergarten worth VND3 billion to Duong Son commune, Na Ri district, Bac Kan province.

Nung ethnic minority people account for 90 percent of Duong Son’s population with a large number of households remaining very poor.

Nong Van Ky, Chairman of the Na Ri district People’s Committee said his district has seen many changes thanks to great support and assistance from the Party and State and international organizations. A number of projects in the field of safe water, environmental sanitation, reproductive healthcare and education are paying off to help improve the local people’s living conditions.

Beborah Leaver, Director of the ChildFund Organisation in Vietnam, said ChildFund will continue to carry out other programmes to help ethnic minority people develop economy and improve their spiritual and materials life.

In 2008, CHildFund focused on 7 remote communes in Na Ri districts.

VN foreign ministry honours math student

The foreign ministry's National Committee for Overseas Vietnamese yesterday, Aug 18, handed a certificate of merit to student Le Anh Dung for outstanding academic achievements in the Czech Republic.

Dung gained a silver medal at the 52nd International Mathematics Olympiad last July in the Netherlands. Three of his five team-mates in the Czech team received bronze medals.

Dung previously won a first prize in a National Mathematics Competition in the Czech Republic, where he has been living with his family for five years.

Dung said he wished to become a professional mathematician.

Power checked for Revolution Day

Ha Noi Electricity is checking all its power stations and electricity grid to minimise any problems on August Revolution Day (August 19) and National Day (September 2).

The company guaranteed power supplies in the city during the two occasions, especially at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square.