Thuyet told the VNExpress newswire that he was surprised. “The National Assembly’s decision reflected serious study of the government’s report and careful attention to the opinions of the people and experts as reported by the media,” Thuyet said.

Explaining why 57 percent of NA deputies expressed general support for the project in a straw poll on the express railway project but only 37 percent voted for the resolution, Thuyet said that the resolution did not reflect a consensus view. “Most of deputies didn’t agree with this project because it was not prepared carefully. The pre-feasibility study, especially with respect to means of mobilizing investment funds, prompted many questions. When deputies raised their questions, the government sent up two supplementary reports,” Thuyet said.

“The fact was, the Government tabled a half-baked proposal. It can prepare and submit a more detailed project to the legislature once again. “But I myself think that we don’t need express railway now or in the near future,” Thuyet added. “We only need to upgrade the current railway so trains can reach 150 or 180 kilometers per hour.”

Dr. Vuong Dinh Khanh, former deputy general director of the Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR), said that the NA’s rejection of this project is a “failure by the railway.”

In Khanh’s view, the project was rejected because project developers were very impatient, subjective and unable to persuade the deputies.

“I hope that VNR will learn lessons from this failure: before submitting big projects, it needs to listen to opinions from experts, to be able to persuade our country’s supreme body,” Khanh said.

Khanh said that in his over 30 years in the railway sector, he always dreamed that the railways would be modernized. “It would have been better if they had submitted another plan, for example upgrading the current railways to standard (1.435 meter) gauge and running trains at 200 kilometers per hour,” Khanh said.

“It is sad for the railway sector,” Khanh added, “but I’m happy because the National Assembly expressed the people’s will. It shows the growth of democracy.”

Dr. Pham Cong Ha, chairman of the Railway Transportation Association, felt regret that the railway sector had not submitted a more practical project.

The noted pundit, Dr. Nguyen Quang A, told VietNamNet that he “frankly, was very happy when the National Assembly rejected the express railway project. I applaud the National Assembly for espressing the people’s view; it shows a great change in the role of NA deputies.”

“The National Assembly made a breakthrough. It showed the people’s aspiration in this issue.  It’s a reminder to the Government to consider the opinion of the people and technical experts carefully before submitting big projects,” said Dr. Pham Sy Liem, a construction industry expert.

Deputy Duong Trung Quoc said the NA’s vote was not a definitive rejection of the project so much as a demand that the Government do more careful research.

Deputy Nguyen Dinh Xuan said he was not surprised. “The rejection showed that NA deputies expressed and defended their opinions,” Xuan said.

“The press played an important role in the vote because it brought the opinions of the people, experts and overseas Vietnamese to NA deputies,” added deputy Nguyen Minh Thuyet.

Hundreds of VietNamNet readers expressed their satisfaction with the NA’s decision.

“This is the first time the NA bravely disagreed with the Government,” wrote reader Nguyen Minh from Hanoi.

“The National Assembly didn’t approve the North-South express railway project and that decision conformed to the people’s wishes. If the NA had approved this project, future generations would suffer,” wrote a reader using the ‘nick’ pthy.

Reader Tran Trong La wrote: “We watched the voting at the NA, knowing it was an extremely important event for the country. I’m happy -- not because of the vote result, but because the NA has really been changing into a more democratic institution, as the people wish. With this foundation, every big issue will be considered in a democratic way, with results closer to the people’s wishes.”

Reader Duy Anh wrote: “I cried for happiness. I’m happy not because the express railway project was rejected but I cried for the country’s good fortune. We now have brave deputies who have listened to the opinions of the people and the experts!”

From Hai Phong City, reader Nguyen Van Duong wrote: “The result of the vote on the express railway is wonderful. It proves the viewpoint and high responsibility of most of NA deputies”.

Do Manh Hao from Japan wrote: “Thank you, National Assembly, for bravely voicing the people’s aspiration, for the national interest. This event is a convincing evidence that the NA is really the highest organ, deservingly the people’s representative”.

Many readers expressed their admiration for the media. “Thank you, journalists, for publishing honest and comprehensive information, which has had strong impact on the National Assembly. The media has transmitted the people’s will and the NA’s rejection of this mega project can be seen as the triumph of the people’s will,” wrote reader Hoang Hieu.

“Thank you, experts, for writing profound articles to raise the people’s awareness. Thank you VietNamNet for being one of newspapers reporting comprehensively about this project,” reader Dao Tien from Hanoi wrote.

“Finally, the NA proved its mettle when it rejected a Government project and won the respect of constituents. We need such precedents, compelling the government to listen to the people’s opinion and perfect its projects, not forcing the NA to approve. The people welcome the deputies’ responsible votes,” reader Tran Quoc Dung wrote.

Reader Ho Ba Tham judged that the express railway project revealed many lessons about social discussion. He called it “a lesson for the government to reform its thinking and the decision making process.”

Other readers said that though the express railway project was rejected, the debate on this project helped the people and the society clarify views on national resources and priorities.

Soure: Vietnamnet

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