Military plants land-marking stones to steal more rubber farmers’ lands

January 9, 2015

The Burmese Tatmadaw’s Military Advanced Training School No. 4 has planted landmarks on previously confiscated lands this past December, in a continued expansion of land seizure in Wae Kalee Village, Thanbyuzayat Township.

The military has seized two more acre of 45 year-old landowner Nai Ba Thin’s land by marking his land with land-marking stones, without informing him prior to the confiscation.

“I was not informed about this,” said Nai Ba Thin, “I found a military landmark stone, which is labeled with H, F, E, and G the morning after the military had planted them. They [Military Advanced Training School No. 4] expanded it [the confiscation of my land] two more acres from the previously seized land. My land has not been seized before, but those lands which were planted with military landmarks now will all be seized. I am not sure what their other purpose is to put this landmark, but to seize these lands,” explained Nai Ba Thin.

Despite recent land legislation passed in 2012, farmers continue to face unjust land acquisition. Burma’s land laws still fail to offer sufficient protection for farmers, while continuing to limit their land rights.

“Now we [farmers] are gathering to discuss and report this case to our Mon representatives in parliament. After we have discussed, we will ask for advice from them [Mon representatives] as to what to do next. We have taken photos and have asked all thirty landowners whose lands have been confiscated to join together. There might be more than thirty lands which have been seized because some [farmers] do not speak out,” said Nai Ba Thin.

Government departments and local authorities often lack commitment in advancing Mon farmers’ rights. Farmers are in need of all persons in positions of influence to effectively advocate for farmers’ rights, as they do not have the capacity to fully pursue their rights on their own.

“I haven’t heard anything about this case yet, but they [the military] can no longer keep doing this. Some landowners have not yet received the return of previously confiscated lands. If they [the military] continue committing this land abuse, landowners have to write appeal letters to the government of Mon State,” said Mon Member of Parliament Nai Htaw Ong.

Although letters of appeal concerning unfair land confiscation have been submitted to the relevant authorizes, sometimes multiple times, farmers’ pleas have been ignored.

In an interview conducted by HUROM on December 19, 2014, Military Advanced Training School No. 4’s Sergeant Naing Lin maintained that the head of the training school is considering the difficulties of local residents due to this year’s heavy rain and the falling price of rubber. The Sergeant stated that the military has already agreed to share 50% of the profits incurred from rubber tapped from confiscated rubber plants with the landowners.

Without committed action from relevant authorities to protect the rights of farmers against unjust land acquisition, the future of Burma’s farmers remains uncertain and under threat.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News