Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, May 31 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's National Assembly has passed amendments to some articles of the Land Law promulgated in 1993, following heated debates held at the Ba Dinh Conference Hall in Ha Noi on Wednesday, May 30.

Taking the floor, Land Administration Office Director Bui Xuan Son affirmed that most of the articles of the 1993 Land Law are accurate, but mistakes have been made in the enforcement of the Law, leading to violations of the Law as well as land disputes and complaints across the country.

"The loose control of land by both central and local governments has resulted in wrong transfer and misuse of land in many localities," the Director told the National Assembly.

"Wasteful use and encroachment of land as well as land compensation policy have not accurately been dealt with, resulting in the rise of complaints and petitions," he stressed.

Many deputies were of the view that Land Law revision has long been a pressing issue and asked for a comprehensive amendment and supplementation to the 1993 Land Law in the long run.

Yet, they said that for the time being, a number of its articles should be revised in order to remove impediments to the implementation of socio-economic plans and administrative reforms as well as to hold every organisation and individual responsible for land use and management.

Speaking at the debate, National Assembly Chairman Nong Duc Manh said the Government should review and summarise the enforcement of the Land Law to lay the ground for a comprehensive revision of the Law on the principle that land is owned by the people and placed under the State.

"Those articles that can be revised should be done so at this session, pending a comprehensive revision which will take more time," the Chairman told National Assembly deputies.

Also taking the floor, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai pointed to the efficiency of the 1993 Land Law by saying "Enforced over the past seven years, the Law has helped expand Viet Nam's cultivated land by more than two million hectares, thus contributing to increasing its food output and rice export."

He also acknowledged mistakes made by the Government and local authorities while managing land use and transfer according to the Land Law, and said "The government is considering a basic and comprehensive revision of the Land Law, although a difference of views remains."

Among those articles passed by the National Assembly yesterday are Article 12 on the determination of land prices, Article 24 on the determination of the authority in land transfer and lease for other purposes than agricultural production, forestry, and salt production; and Article 27 on compensation for land recovery.--VNA