Vietnamese war hero urges re-think of bauxite plans

By John Ruwitch HANOI, May 7 (Reuters) - General Vo Nguyen Giap, the architect of Vietnam's 1954 victory over France, urged the government on Thursday to reconsider plans to mine bauxite as pressure to end the controversial project grew. Giap made the plea directly to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and two deputies who visited the 97-year-old war hero at his home on Thursday to congratulate him on the 55th anniversary of the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu. "I really hope comrades take into consideration the exploitation of bauxite in the Central Highlands," the online news portal VietnamNet quoted Giap as saying. "This is a strategically important location for the country in terms of security and defence, not only for Vietnam but all of Indochina." The bauxite project in Vietnam's Central Highlands has attracted widespread criticism over the possibility of serious environmental damage and suspicion over Chinese involvement. Many Vietnamese are deeply suspicious of China after centuries of tense relations, wars and territorial skirmishes, despite the friendly rhetoric of the two countries' leaders. In late 2007, the government approved a two-project initiative to explore and exploit bauxite in the Central Highlands provinces of Lam Dong and Dak Nong through 2015. Late last month, the ruling Communist Party's Politburo, which sets policy, said Vietnam would proceed with a $460 million bauxite contract with a subsidiary of China's state-run aluminium firm Chinalco, but it would not sell stakes to foreigners. [ID:nHAN459948] But state media reported this week that the ministry of natural resources would review the mining plans. Dung had also asked the industry and trade ministry to review mining and aluminium processing projects. CHINA SUSPICIONS It is not the first time Giap voiced concern over the bauxite project. In January, he sent Dung an open letter in which he urged the government to halt the scheme and study its environmental impact. On Thursday, Giap also voiced concern about the use of "foreign labourers" in the projects now being conducted by the country's top coal miner Vinacomin. Bauxite tends to be strip-mined because it is close to the surface. Vast quantities of electricity and water are used during the production of aluminium, and the process potentially produces millions of tons of toxic waste each year. Scientists, academics and religious leaders have also raised concerns, increasing pressure on the Communist-run government. Nguyen Van Khai, a priest at Hanoi's Thai Ha Catholic church who has led prayer vigils against the projects, said China's involvement in a strategically important region was dangerous. "When the Chinese come to work there, send their wives and children there, set up residences there it becomes occupied territory, and the Chinese have a tradition of invading and occupying our land," he told Reuters. State media have criticised Khai and police have summoned him four times for raising the issue publicly, but he has refused to turn himself in. The Thai Ha priests and parishioners have also been involved in a months-long land dispute with the government. (Editing by Jeremy Laurence) © Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved