Hanoi University Lecturers May Be Fined for Opining about Tree Felling

By Vu Quoc Ngu | Mar 27, 2015

A number of lecturers of the Vietnam Forest University (VFU) may be disciplined for their opinions on the massive felling of street trees in the capital city of Hanoi, according to the university’s website.

In his order posted on the VFU’s website, Rector Tran Van Chu has demanded all the university’s staff not to publicly give their opinions about the recent massive chopping of aged trees in Hanoi’s major streets.

Only the university’s spokesman is empowered to provide scientific information to press, the rector said.

The move came after the university received warning from the Hanoi city’s Department of Public Security which informed that a number of forestry scientists of the university provided scientific information and criticized the Hanoi’s plan to cut 6,700 aged trees in a number of main streets.

The university will investigate and take adequate measures against these scientists, Mr. Chu pledged.

Earlier this month, Hanoi has a plan to remove 6,700 aged trees and replace them with young ones. Thousands of scientists, intellectuals and ordinary people have protested the campaign, saying the move will turn the capital city into desert.

After chopping down 2,000 trees, most of them are healthy and valuable, Hanoi authorities had to suspend its plan to wait for the decision of the government and the prime minister.

Some scientists said that Hanoi has tried to chop down many trees planted by the French and replaced with young plants which are not suitable for street conditions.

A number of intellectuals have called for prosecuting leaders of the city who approved the plan.

So far, only some officials at the department-level were suspended their posts for investigation.

In the one-party Vietnam, all government critics face persecution.