Talking with reporter from the Communist Party of Vietnam Online Newspaper, NA Deputy Truong Trong Nghia, vice president of Vietnam Bar Federation and vice president of Ho Chi minh City Bar Federation, said that using pavements and roadways for business is a problem not only in Ho Chi Minh City, but also in all provinces and cities nationwide.
Using pavements and roadways is actually stealing public property or stealing space to serve illegal interest.
Because the pavement is public property, using pavement for false purpose is to harm public interest and interest of other people – the interest of pedestrians and road users.
People should have the right to walk on the pavement to ensure safety. Because of the occupation of pavements, they have to walk on the road, which is unsafe. It must be affirmed that illegal actions cause harm to others and society.
NA deputy Tran Trong Nghia talked with reporter
from the Communist Party of Vietnam Online Newspaper
In fact, the occupation of pavements for personal business purposes is wrong. However, encroachers themselves think that they have the right to use the occupied space. They are even willing to storm out and drive away people who stand in front of their illegal shops, effecting their trade.
Talking about the fact that authorities in district 1, Ho Chi Minh city have launched a campaign to reclaim pavements for pedestrians, Mr. Nghia said that it is necessary to do that work. Starting from district 1, the campaign will spread to other districts in Ho Chi Minh city, and also provinces and cities across the country.
It is essential to distinguish the situations of people who encroach the pavements. Are they street vendors or fixed business encroachers? Street vendors are people whose sales are mobile; they move around, not sitting in a fixed place. They have a low income; most of them are are poor. Many come from the countryside and are selling things to earn their living. Many do not know the law clearly, and even do not know which areas are prohibited for trade and which areas are allowed.
Street vendors must be provided information so that they can obey the law. In addition, each precinct will arrange suitable space for their trade. The common principle is not to affect pedestrians. Meanwhile, fixed business encroachers who use pavements for their business must obey the law.
Mr. Nghia said that we are building a city which has good quality of life, is civilized and modern, and building an image of green, clean and beautiful urban area. Therefore, we must do well to maintain urban order and not infringe the benefits of other people. The city is determined to continue the campaign because habits may take years to change./.