st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
Vietnamese and Japanese officials discussed environmental laws and their enforcement at a workshop in HCM City last week.
"Viet Nam has established a legal framework on [environmental protection] since 1993 and has achieved significant results," Dr. Hoang Danh Son, deputy head of the Environment Protection Agencys Policy and Legal System Department, said while opening the meeting.
"But the laws are still inadequate, backward, not practical, and difficult to enforce," he admitted.
"For instance, the law lays down a certain technical standard for pollution but there are no laboratories use that standard.
"Personnel at the commune and district levels are tasked with environmental protection but they lack professional skill or knowledge required for it," he said.
Hoang Van Vy of the agencys Inspection Department said the quality of environmental assessment reporting was very poor.
"Besides, individual responsibilities related to the report have not been devolved," he said.
Furthermore, a small number of inspectors were required to resolve many serious environmental problems, but with their activities hampered by unclear and vague laws, it was hard to penalise violators or stop violations, he said.
"Poor equipment and technology also limits our effectiveness," he added.
Hideko Takemiya, examiner at the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Environmental Dispute Coordination Commission (EDCC), said: "Local governments should enact environmental regulations and local police forces have the responsibility to investigate environmental violations."
While settling environmental disputes, the law should consider that proving the cause and specifying the extent of environmental damage is very difficult and the fact that mostly victims are economically and socially backward.
"Monitoring the case after the settlement of dispute is desirable," she added.
Chief of the EDCCs Planning and Legal Unit, Tatsuro Utsugi, said to settle disputes properly, the legal system should focus on ensuring victims are provided sufficient compensation and other remedies.
"Taking prompt anti-pollution measures, monitoring and following up, and not restricting parties right to file lawsuits are essential," he said. The workshop was held by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
V.N.S