May 17 explosions continue to harsh Pegu residents' lives

 

IMNA

June 26, 2005

 

Farmers in Pegu are discordant to rebuild their huts in the farm because local military stated martial law and announced all the huts to be destroyed after Rangoon May 17 bomb explosions, according to resident farmer.

 

During the raining season, farmers need huts to stay and rest while they are working in the farms quite far from the town or village. Even the just small huts were ordered to destroy and all the people who are staying in the farms were checked.

 

“Should we rebuild them or not? We cannot make decision. Some rebuild them,” a resident farmer, Daw Myit, said.

 

“But majorities of them do not dare to rebuild and stay confusing,” she added.

 

Currently many farmers are still busying with farming works. Now they have go to their farms in the morning and they have to come back home in the evening.

 

“It took a lot of time for going and coming back. That’s while my son and daughters decided living in the farm although we are afraid of being fined. But, the authorities did not say anything yet with the attitude of farmer,” Mi Htay, a Mon farmer in Pegu, said.

 

After May 17 bomb explosions, the authorities put tight security in town, checked all family units every house and people living in farms. The authorities also interrogated guests of some families, according to a town resident. They are ordered to register their guests.

 

Pegu Division is one of the biggest farming lands in all the States and Divisions of Burma and most of the Pegu residents are farmers.