CounterVortex

Hanoi saw a rare public protest on May 1, as hundreds demonstrated against a Taiwanese firm they accuse of causing mass fish deaths along 120 miles of Vietnam's central coast. A steel plant run by a subsidiary of Taiwan's Formosa Plastics is believed to be the source of a massive toxic release into the ocean that has killed tons of fish and affected thousands of families in fishing villages along the coast. The company released a statement saying it was "deeply shocked and sorry" for the fish deaths, without accepting culpability. Suspicions were heightened in late April when two divers contracted for construction at the plant on Vung Ang Bay were mysteriously hospitalized, and a third died. The Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel plant, still under construction, is slated to be the biggest steel mill in Asia.

Activists, bloggers and lawyers have mobilized in response to the disaster. A public statement signed by over 100 rights advocates said the "poisoning of the sea" would have serious economic impacts beyond fishing, and charged that the "culprit" behind the apparent spill had received political protection from "powerful quarters" to "buy time and stall the investigation so they can destroy the evidence."

An initial government investigation found no links between the fish deaths and the steel plant, with official suggesting "red tide" algal blooms were likely responsible. But public skepticism was fueled when a Formosa Plastics representative said April 25 that Vietnam must choose between "catching fish and shrimp and building a modern steel industry." Chu was removed from his position the next day, and the company apologized for the statement. In response to the protests, Vietnam's environment ministry has invited some 100 international experts to investigate the disaster. (Thanh Nien News, May 5; The Diplomat, Eco-Business, May 4; Maritime Executive, May 3; The Diplomat, April 30)