Hopelessness among Land Loss Victims

July 24, 2008

By HURFOM:

The families in Thanbyuzayat Township who lost their lands from the confiscation by the a local military battalions expressed their hopelessness to get back their lands after 3 months of new land confiscation.

In March 2008 the Artillery Regiment (AR) No.315 based in the Waekalae village in Thanbyuzayat Township, confiscated the two house gardens from Wae-rat village and the families of Nai Tor – Mi Aye San and Nai Shaung – Mi Dae lost approximately 10 million Kyat.

Soon after the confiscation, they have to suddenly abandon their houses and home gardens, and relied on other villagers. Some of their family members also moved to Thailand.

Those home gardens are not far from the village but it is about 2 miles from the AR No. 315 base. In 2007, all the lands around the AR No. 315, confiscated all of the lands. Then the military commanders measured plots of lands and sold out 70 acres of land for the income of their battalion. These lands are situated in a hlly slope, which has a pagoda built by the villagers on the top of mountains.

Then, the AR No. 315 extent land confiscation and then reached the above mentioned two home garden and they confiscated again in this 2008.

Now the military regiment is try to put recognition signs of the lands by them by putting the pole around in the land with a notice of Army Land.

The two home gardens were registered by the local village authorities and land registration was also granted by the authorities 5 years ago. But these land registrations are not considered as official by the local army commanders.

Including about 70 acres the hilly slopes and the current home gardens, the AR No. 315 confiscated more then 500 arecas of lands comprised of rubber plantations belonged to the local farmers when it started deploying its base. The army commanders allowed the plantation owners to take the rubber sap for five years, but they have to give the taxes to the military base.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News