VietNamNet:  You are one of our ‘full time deputies,’ but unlike most, you live in your home province, rather than in Hanoi. What are the pros and cons of this?

Deputy Tran Hong Viet: The biggest advantage is that I live near the people so I can closely monitor their aspirations. We deputies who live in our constituencies may be a bit disadvantaged in understanding the ‘big picture,’ but we’re able to see more clearly how policies can best be put into practice at the local level.

VietNamNet:  Are there any distinctive aspects to being the deputy leader of a Mekong Delta province delegation in the National Assembly?

Viet: I don’t have opportunity to meet voters in other regions, but I doubt that their aspirations differ a lot from those of my own constituents. All aspirations originate from the people’s legitimate interests.

The people require the authorities to be transparent and open in managing tasks. They don’t like corruption and complicated administrative mechanisms.  They don’t care about national GDP but instead care whether their lives are better this year or whether their savings are higher than last year’s.

In the Delta, over 70 percent of the population are farmers so we deputies must speak up about agricultural and rural development policies. If the government applies unsuitable policies, that harms our constituents’ interests, and they will protest.

For example, at a time when rice prices were very high in the international market, Vietnam temporarily halted exports of rice. That caused  the local rice price to fall, and my constituents were upset.  As their deputy, I had to criticize that policy forcefully, representing their interests and aspirations.

VietNamNet: The media often describes your opinions with words like ‘scorching’ and ‘strident.’ Are they so because that’s your style or because the matters that you mentioned are so urgent?

Viet: The matters I address are in fact,  really pressing.  I just cannot let bad things impact the vital interests of farmers. I’ve met many farmers who have very difficult lives.

VietNamNet: When you utter such severe criticism, are you ever “reminded” [admonished] by a minister?

Viet: I’ve never been in that situation. Nobody has told me to moderate my criticism.

VietNamNet: Do your constituents in Hau Giang complain about land-related matters?

Viet: That’s not a very serious issue in Hau Giang. There are some problems arising from land compensation related to industrial zone and infrastructure development projects.

In remote places the residents are satisfied with the level of compensation, but those living on the edge of towns complain that when land is expropriated, the price paid is 30-40 percent lower than its market price.

VietNamNet: Why is that?

I think the compensation is generally low when we build public infrastructure, because that compensation comes from the state budget, which has only limited funds. What’s essential, I think, is if we expropriate land to help investors, people who aim to earn a profit, then they ought to be required to pay the going ‘market price.’ It’s a real problem, and if we fail to see that the people are properly compensated, they’ll complain that “the state takes from the poor to give to the rich.”

VietNamNet: You were the chairman of the Hau Giang Labor Federation.  Does that experience help you to network with the government agencies?

Viet:  Yes, a lot.  When I chaired the provincial labor federation, I met a lot of workers and labourers, and came to understand their aspirations.  You could say I accumulated the experience and understanding I need for my current job as a deputy.

I also had opportunity then to establish good relationships with officials. This also helps me better fulfil my responsibility as an NA deputy. We have legal procedures and policies, but informal negotiation is very important.

Actually, NA deputies are representatives of the people but so is the Government. It’s established  “of the people, for the people and by the people.”  The Government also wants to serve the people better, but inevitably there’s conflict between the governors and the governed. The government’s oriented toward controlling things effectively while the people want more and more autonomy. We need to bring these into harmony.

VietNamNet: As a National Assembly deputy, which side do you support?

Viet: I’m always on the side of the weak.

VietNamNet:  Do you want to be reelected for another term?

Viet:  I’ve reached retirement age.  It’s time to live on my pension and do things like taking my grandchildren to school.  I’ve been busy for dozens of years – it’s time for a rest.

Khanh Linh