April 22 (UPI) — A contingent of villagers in Vietnam released 19 government officials they had been holding captive, ending a week-long standoff over land rights.
The dispute centered on ownership a 145-acre plot of land in Dong Tam, a village 25 miles south of the capital Hanoi. Vietnam’s communist government technically claims ownership of all land, though it permits individuals to enter into quasi-ownership agreements with the government.
The questions surrounding the plot of farm land in question are even murkier. The government originally set aside the area to build a military airport. When those plans were shelved, the area was transferred to a military communications company for another unspecified defense-related building project.
In the meantime, the government allowed 14 families from Dong Tam to build homes and farms on the land. When government officials attempted to take back the land, villagers refused, saying they had been given assurances the land was theirs to inhabit once the airport plans faltered.
Initially, 39 government officials were taken captive by hundreds of villagers. All but 19 were released or escaped, but the standoff continued until Saturday, when the government promised to review land ownership deals.
Local media reported the villagers who led the group would not be prosecuted for having taken the officials captive. The government promised to review residents’ claims and report back within 45 days.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.