A/HRC/16/45/Add.2 concedes that loss of land and disputes over land-use rights were regrettably the result of evacuation and return following the war. 33. Information received suggests discontent among ethnic minorities in the central highlands over confiscation of their ancestral agricultural lands on which their livelihoods depend. Large areas of fertile lands have been turned over to industrial crops, including coffee and rubber, while massive in-migration of ethnic Kinh has put additional pressure on scarce available land. Some ethnic minority sources report alleged “land-grabs” and criticize resettlement programmes aimed at turning minority agricultural practices towards sedentary agriculture and removing them to make land available to migrant Kinh. They report that peaceful demonstrations over these issues have been met with excessive force, violence and arrests by the authorities. 34. Since the 1960s, there have been cases of internal migration and relocation of many ethnic Kinh populations, resulting in significant demographic change in some regions. The creation of “new economic zones” in minority areas led to an influx of mainly ethnic Kinh supported by the Government. The Government has recently undertaken to restrict such migrations. Some analysts predict, however, that climate change could make sea levels rise, potentially affecting millions living in low-lying coastal plains and delta regions, requiring mass relocations to regions now occupied by minorities. 35. Some minorities have been resettled from traditional villages to new permanent settlements to make way for economic development projects. The experiences witnessed following the development of the Son La hydropower project demonstrate the need for careful management of such projects and consultation with minorities to ensure that projects do not have a negative impact on communities. The hydropower project required the largest involuntary resettlement of people, many of them minorities, in the country’s history. By 2010, 91,000 people or 18,968 households in the provinces of Son La, Lai Chau and Dien Bien were to be resettled.13 In studies, the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations recognized serious attempts to implement resettlement in a positive manner, but concluded that significant improvement was required in a number of respects. 36. According to a more recent report by the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, relocation is breaking down existing social structures and community relationships and creating trauma for minority groups. Administrative hurdles and delays have resulted in people being moved before necessary infrastructure is in place. The availability of sufficient arable land has been a major problem, making the provision of “land for land” compensation difficult. Most are left without any agricultural land. The land that will eventually be provided will be taken from host communities, which could lead to intercommunity conflicts. Resettled communities are not given adequate assistance in their transition to alternative forms of upland agriculture production suitable to their new localities, leading to greater food insecurity and signs of increased poverty.14 37. Concerns have also been raised regarding the potential impact of planned bauxite mining in the central highlands on minorities.15 Concerns include the displacement of minority communities and pollution of soil and water sources by mining waste. Pilot projects will help to assess the impact, however assurances have been called for regarding 13 14 15 10 “A work in progress: study on the impacts of Vietnam's Son La hydropower project”, Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, Hanoi, 2006. Follow-up study on impacts of resettlement of Son La hydropower plant, Hanoi, 2008. See “Foreign donors caution Vietnam on bauxite mining”, 10 June 2009, available from www.monstersandcritics.com./news/asiapacific/news/article_1482523.php/Foreign_donors_caution_ Vietnam_on_bauxite_mining.