Locals Face Hardships as Military Conducts Training

September 16, 2013

HURFOM: Karen and Mon citizens reported an increased risk of danger for locals and farmers after reports surfaced that the Burmese Military would open training in close proximity to local plantations and farmland. Residents have complained that the military training will directly affect their daily income and their livelihood. According to information gathered about the military training, the Burmese Military is planning to use heavy artillery during their exercises.

LIB 207, under the control of Burmese Military No. 4, released a statement on August 31 confirming their planned use of heavy artillery in these areas from September 7 to 9. The statement warned locals whose farms and plantations are situated near Border Guard Forces (BGF) areas to aware of safety concerns arising from its training. LIB 207 defined these affected areas to be Yetakhon, Zeenapin, Atwin Sakhan Gyi and Kalaing Padaw Villages in Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State and also Payaw Hae and Zeenapin Villages near BGF No. 1023.

Saw Poe Zaw, a 31-year old plantation worker from Sakhan Gyi Village, told HURFOM earlier this month that locals don’t dare go to their plantations after word spread that the military would be using heavy artillery. “Many of our plantations are situated in those areas affected by the military training and we’ve seen the military arrive and measure how much land they need,” Saw Poe Zaw said.

“The military’s arrival has been difficult of us at this time because we’ve been working. Our family members were working on the rubber plantations. If we are unable to work every day, we will lose an opportunity to make money. We know that even if we don’t work for a single day, we will lose our investment in fertilizer and workers. But at the same time, our lives are more important – we worry about their use of heavy artillery. In the last two years we have witnessed the military launching small missiles around here, but we were never warned that they would be using big missiles.”

Ko Aung Tin Myint, 45, owner of 8-acre rubber plantation, worries that his plantation could be destroyed by the military training. “They will conduct their training between the local hills and plantations, right where my plantation is, and I fear that destruction of my land is unavoidable,” the 45-year old farmer said.

“I worry for my plantation because the rubber trees are just three years old. If something destructive were to happen, I think no one would dare ask for compensation from the military. They were entrenched around here to monitor local Mon groups before the New Mon State Party reached a ceasefire agreement three years ago, and then they had to move back. It is not a good sign that the government has opened military training in our community because they could obstruct our plantations at any moment. Many locals worry that they will confiscate our land in the name of national affairs. My mother-in-law saw this happen ten years ago, and we fear it could happen again.”

“There has definitely been an impact on the local community since the military released their statement regarding the training,” said Nai Ah Dot, a resident of Kyaik Pon Village, Thanbyuzayat Township. “This military group includes soldiers from Wae Ka Lee who in the past have been uncontrollable. Evidently these soldiers earned a lower salary and needed additional money, so they resorted to stealing rubber and other crops from local farmers. If we must leave our farms during the training, we risk losing chickens, ducks and the other goods we will be forced to leave behind. We’ve dealt with this situation before, and now I assume the same thing will happen again.”

Locals have faced difficulty in visiting their plantations due to LIB No. 207 and 442’s guarding of areas near the Skan Kyi Bridge of the Mudon – Thanbyuzayat highway. The opening of a new military training could bring even more danger to the region, especially for women.

“After hearing the military’s statement, I asked my son and daughter to return home because the situation appears dangerous and there is no guarantee for us if something terrible happens,” said Mi Kyin Aye, a 65-year old plantation owner. “There is nobody waiting and remaining on our 12-acre plantation. We’ve lost so much money because we haven’t been able to work on our rubber plantation. But really, this situation could not be helped.”

On September 10, a NMSP member from the party’s liaison office in Thanbyuzayat told HURFOM that the military used between 700 and 800 pieces of heavy artillery, including missiles, during their training, but no injuries were reported. The military credits their statement for ensuring the safety of locals, noting that their awareness of the training and the cautious measures taken as a result guaranteed their safety. As predicted, the military finished their training in three days.

However, another prediction has also been proven true – many locals have reported damages to their plantations as a result of the training’s use of heavy artillery.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News