On the afternoon of March 28, 2014, thousands of people in Ninh Thuan
province continued to protest in downtown Phan Rang city. The protesters
demand the release of 6 people who were arrested earlier for protesting
against a titanium mining plant which has caused too much pollution.
In response, Ninh Thuan authorities immediately mobilized police and
riot police to disperse the demonstration by force. The protesters
fought back by throwing stones and other objects at the police. A video
clip posted on YouTube shows hundreds of protesters simultaneously
repulse the crackdown carried out by uniformed police and riot police.
The protest had caused a massive traffic jam on Vietnam National Highway
1; traffic was tied up at Phu Ha intersection for tens of kilometers
around. By the evening, vehicles could cross this area when the protest
began to draw down.
Ninh Thuan authorities said two police were injured during a clash with protesters and were hospitalized.
Protest in Ninh Thuan on March 28, 2014.
Earlier, on Friday, March 20, 2014, four police of Phuoc Dinh commune,
Nam Thuan district, Ninh Thuan province, were injured during a clash
with protesters who have accused local authorities of allowing the MTV
Quang Thuan Company to mine titanium causing drinking-water
contamination and environmental damage.
Six people participated in a previous protest against a titanium mining
project were arrested, detained and charged of “resisting persons in the
performance of their official duties”. Among them, Mr. Do Van Duc and
Mr. Duong Van Phuoc, are detained with a 3-month detention order for
motivating local residents to stop titanium mining.
A long-time conflict between the residents and the authorities related
to titanium mining in Ninh Thuan resulted in the uprising of the people
in Thuan Nam district on March 20, 2014, when local officials announced
their decision to allow Quang Thuan Company to continue its titanium
mining operation.
Failing to achieve their goals after making numerous protests locally,
people had flocked to the headquarters of the People's Committee of Ninh
Thuan Province to make protest and to put pressure on the provincial
authorities. On March 27, 2014, Ninh Thuan authorities made a compromise
to suspend titanium mining permission; however, six mentioned people
were arrested for participating in that protest.
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