The government has agreed to develop an area of 25 hectares on Don Chan Island in That Khao village, Sisattanak district, Vientiane, under a development project that will include a five-star hotel, supermarket and rental properties.
The development will also include green areas for tourism purposes and 50 houses to accommodate heads of state and government officials attending the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) to be held in Vientiane in November next year.
More than 160 households, mostly farmers, will have to leave the area to make way for the project. Authorities have said affected villagers will be relocated to the Dongbanxay area in Xaythany district, some 18km from the city centre.
Residents in the project area met with Vientiane Mayor Sombat Yialiher this week to put forward some proposals after the mayor informed them the project had been approved by politburo members and a meeting attended by the prime minister and his deputy.
One proposal put forward by the villagers was for the government to set aside five hectares of the project site for them to live in, as they have a longstanding association with the area.
The villagers also expressed concerns regarding the compensation process, fearing that compensation payments will not reflect the true value of their land and properties. The affected villagers also said that they rely on farming to make a living and fear the resettlement area will not be suitable for agriculture.
Director of the Vientiane Public Works and Transport Department Mr Keophilavanh Aphaylath told Vientiane Times yesterday that authorities are currently studying how best to compensate villagers affected by the project. He said that all affected residents will be better off after their relocation.
When asked how the lives of the villagers would be improved after the loss of their land and traditional livelihoods, Mr Keophilavanh said the authorities would make a historical study of Don Chan Island.
“If the current residents are indeed the original inhabitants of the island we will consider special compensation,” he said.
Each household will receive about 800 square metres of land in the Dongbanxay area, Mr Keophilavanh said. He was asked if the villagers would get any additional land for farming, but said this land could only be used for residential purposes.
“However, if villagers are found to have purchased land on the island in more recent times then it will be a different story.”
“What I know is that ownership rights for some land plots on the island have been sold several times.”
Mr Keophilavanh was unable to provide specific details of the project, saying the authorities are currently trying to solve land issues with residents. He said he is aware that Chinese and Lao companies would undertake the development project. According to the Wednesday edition of Vientiane Mai, a Lao language daily newspaper, authorities want the relocation of villagers to begin soon so that they are all off the island by April. This would allow the start of construction work so the project is ready in time for the ASEM next year.
The ASEM will be the largest such event ever held in Laos, with heads of state and government leaders from more than 50 nations expected to attend.
By Somsack Pongkhao (Latest Update Febuary 25, 2011)
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Anonymous
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RE: ທ່ານມີຄວາມເຫັນແນວໃດກ່ຽວກັບຂ່າວນີ້ (Don Chan slated for development )
Why not turn the area into a park with connecting green corridor to the new Chao Anou Park. Vientiane city desperate needs more green space for its residents and this type of environment benefit everyone. There are other area of Vientiane Prefecture that private investor can develop and generate tax revenue for the government.
