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Department of Natural Resource and
Environment is aiming to? Or do they
want to batter down the construction
to grow trees?”
Thieu is also dissatisfied with the
fact that forest is being destroyed every
hour while people judge Thanh Chuong
who contributed his own money to pre-
serve traditional culture. “The photo of
this wide land a decade ago will make
people think this is a dream to have
such a wonderful palace on it. But with
the enthusiasm and endless endeavor
of Thanh Chuong, a dream has come
true. It is not a primitive forest for us to
closely preserve every tree.”
29 year old Nguuyen Hong Vinh
from Hanoi also believes that the palace
must be defended: “It will be irrespon-
sible to destroy this work – it must be
kept for the next generation and con-
tinue to act as a cultural bridge.”
Dao Xuan Hung, a forestry engi-
neer in Thanh Hoa province, agrees
with Nguyen Quang Thieu. He said: “It
is true in Vietnam that we closely pre-
serve core forest areas and buffer areas
are protected. The rest of the so called
forest land is mostly wild and bald. I
think we should encourage Chuong in-
stead of questioning the license.”
Dr. Dang Hung Vo, former Deputy
Minister of Natural Resources and the
Environment, said that while construc-
tion is not allowed on this area, the
Thanh Chuong Viet Palace is rather spe-
cial because of its cultural meaning and
support from the people; he believes
that this negates the land rights issues.
After Thieu spoke publicly, deputy
director of Hanoi Department of Natu-
ral Resources and Environment, Nguyen
Huu Nghia, surprised the public when
he announced that the department has
not inspected the palace at all and that
destroying it had never been a consid-
eration.
According to him, settling cases
does not mean knocking down build-
ings, or punishing owners; rather, it
means inspecting the type and the level
of violation. He says that official permis-
sion may even be granted for the palace
to continue.
From a legal perspective, lawyer
Nguyen Thi Minh Chau pointed out that
there is no legal foundation to fine Thanh
Chuong in this case. Individual houses
built in remote areas, outside urban ar-
eas or areas of crowded population or
in unplanned rural areas are allowed
by law. In terms of building on forested
land without permission, the time frame
in which Thanh Cuong could have been
prosecuted has been exceeded.
Painter Thanh Chuong whose
whole life’s work is at the heart of the
storm said: “Because of my desire for
Vietnamese culture, regardless of many
difficulties, I spent a huge amount of
money and effort on Thanh Chuong
Viet Palace. Sometimes I feel pained
to think about of the sacrifice of my
wife and kids for my job. But the fact
that the cultural architectural heritages
have been destroyed by wars and poor
awareness of people, I think I have
done the right thing.”
BOILING POINT