Burmese regime force farmers to feed army

January 11, 2008

The Burmese Army is forcing farmers in Mon state to give newly harvested rice to soldiers. The Army is also pressuring farmers to grow groundnut this summer, farmers said.

The farmers, who have been harvesting since the end of December, are being stopped as they take the unhusked rice, known as paddy, from farms to their homes.

In Mudon Township, soldiers have installed checkpoints on the main road so that they can confirm whether every farmer has given paddy. If the farmers refuse, they are not allowed to pass the checkpoints. Only when they agree to give the soldiers a share of their paddy can they return home, said Nai Zan, a farmer in the area.

Most farmers have invested and worked for over four months to make this winter’s harvest, and comply with the army’s demands because they want to carry the rest home.

“The junta does not invest anything for the farmers and they force farmers to feed their soldiers. They do not help farmers.”

The soldiers take one basket or 1500 kyat for each acre and 2000 kyat from farmers who are not willing to grow groundnut this summer.

“I am not going to grow groundnut and have already paid 2000 kyat. Most people will not grow it. It will not benefit farmers,” Nai Zan added.

This year, farmers who planted twenty acres harvested a maximum nine hundred baskets of paddy, and a minimum of about four hundred and fifty. The current price for a hundred baskets of paddy is 470,000 kyat.

Burmese farmers struggle to grow paddy in the rainy season every year, yet are still forced by the regime to hand over a portion of their harvest to the army. Farmers also do not want to plant in summer for the government project, as there is not rain or enough water and they will not benefit from the endeavor. (source by IMNA)

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News