The accusations that the London-based environmental watchdog Global
Witness has made against Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) Group and Vietnam
Rubber Group (VRG) – heavy investors in Laos – are totally
groundless, a senior official of the Lao Foreign Ministry has said.
Sithong Chitnhothinh, head of the Press Department
under the Lao Foreign Ministry, made the affirmation while answering the
media on June 3.
On May 13, Global Witness published on its
website a report called “Rubber Barons: How Vietnamese companies and
international financiers are driving a land grabbing crisis in Cambodia
and Laos “. It stated that privately-owned HAGL Group and
state-owned VRG acquired more than 200,000 hectares of land through a
series of deals with the Lao and Cambodian Governments that lacked
transparency.
During the press briefing, Sithong
Chitnhothinh also expressed his strong belief that no force can ruin the
special friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between
Laos and Vietnam.
Earlier on May 21, Pathet
Lao newspaper posted an article praising the goodwill of Vietnamese
businesses and investors operating in the country. It said HAGL Group
has made contributions to socio-economic development in Laos by
creating jobs and gradually improving living conditions for local
people.-VNA