The Burmese Army Forced to Offer Land with 100 Kyat per Acre

Nae Non, Independent Mon News Agency

July 4, 2005

In order to avoid the bad image of ‘land confiscation’, the Burmese Army’s battalions based in Mon State forced the local Mon farmers to accept 100 Kyat payment for one acre of land and let them sign in selling documents, accordingly to the civilians from Ye Township.

Burmese Army’s LIB No. 583 that bases in Kyaung-ywa village, eastern of Ye Town, confiscated about 100 acres of lands and forced the farmers to take money for 100 Kyat per acre, said Mr. Nai Blai, whose lands were also confiscated.

The commanders also forced the local farmers to go to Military Operational Command No. 19 (MOC No. 19) Headquarters at Ye Town and let them sign the selling contract and paid them 100 Kyat per acre.

Although the farmers do not want to take that small amount of money, as they feared the order, they have traveled to Ye Town and signed the document. Some farmers received 2000 Kyat (~ 2 US Dollar) while some received 1500 Kyat (~ 1. 5 US Dollar) depending on how width of their lands.

"It’s not even sufficient for transport cost to travel back and forth to Ye with the money they paid us", said disappointed Nai Blai to IMNA.

The price of the land in the area with orchid and rubber trees is about 1 to 1.5 Million Kyat (1000 – 1500 US Dollar) in the area, accordingly to the farmers.

The forced signing orchestrated by the Burmese Army is that they planned in prior to have evidence that they did not take the lands in free of charge, or not confiscate, one of Nai Blai’s friends gave his opinion while they were in Ye to sign the selling document.

At first many farmers refused to travel to Ye and take money from the army. But LIB No. 583 pressured them seriously and later they have to go and take the money including signing of selling documents.

"Now, after they confiscated the lands with orchid plantations, they are free to collect all types of fruits", added other farmers.

Although some farmers would like to sell the lands, nobody in the areas are brave enough to buy any lands as they worried the Burmese Army would continue to confiscate more lands.

Human Rights Foundation of Monland also reported in 2003 and 2004 that the Burmese Army confiscated about 10, 000 acres of lands from Mon farmers in various townships in Mon State, after the military regime in Rangoon agreed for ceasefire with the New Mon State Party in mid-1995.

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