Ethnic tribal farmers from Dak Nong province protest in Hanoi

Ethnic tribal farmers from Dak Nong province hold banners while they sit in front of the National Assembly’s Office during a rally in Hanoi February 21, 2012. Hundreds of farmers from different rural areas including Dak Nong province, Van Giang district of Hung Yen province and Duong Noi village in Hanoi gathered in Hanoi to call for help as they claimed their land were grabbed by local authorities for industrial and properties projects. Land grabs by officials have given rise to rare criticism of the authorities’ strong-arm approach, a cause of simmering discontent in the countryside. As land prices have risen, officials have in some cases moved farmers off their land to make way for lucrative industrial and real estates projects. REUTERS/Stringer

Farmers hold banners while they walk along Hoan Kiem lake during a rally to protest over their lands in Hanoi February 21, 2012. Hundreds of farmers from different rural areas including Dak Nong province, Van Giang district of Hung Yen province and Duong Noi village in Hanoi gathered in Hanoi to call for help as they claimed their land were grabbed by local authorities for industrial and properties projects. Land grabs by officials have given rise to rare criticism of the authorities’ strong-arm approach, a cause of simmering discontent in the countryside. As land prices have risen, officials have in some cases moved farmers off their land to make way for lucrative industrial and real estates projects. REUTERS/Stringer