150 nông dân biểu tình tại Hà Nội đòi đền bù đất

It's happening again. Farmers in Vietnam are fed up with the local leaders seizing their farms land and making it into train stations and business offices. According to this article, hundreds of farmers lost their lands in Hà Đông and only received a very small compensation. For the sake of these people, I hope that the government will give them proper compensation for their loss. But this incident speaks of a larger issue - that of oppression on the local level. Nhà nước is pro at turning a blind eye, which only widens the local officials' influence over the people, usually for the negative. I'm sure there are tỉnh where the officials have a genuine interest in the people, just like in this country, but it's difficult for them keep their integrity in a system where hối lộ is the vehicle on the political road map. Anyway, enough of that. No theorizing will help the people in that picture right now. Only praying. Hopefully they win. Last year, several protesters actually won back their property (I'm still looking for the article), so there is hope.