Fraudulent government workers leave Kaw Pa Naw farmers uncompensated for land

June 6, 2013

HURFOM: Earlier this year local farmers from Kaw Pa Naw village, Kyiakmayaw Township, Mon State had their farms taken by the Pacific Link Company. This Burmese company, linked to retired military captain Zaw Lwin Oo, had aspirations to build a cement factory on their land. However, to this date 7 farmers remain uncompensated due fraudulence from individuals working for various government departments.

In the second week of January 2013, ex-captain Zaw Lwin Oo and villager U Than Chaung (from Pauk Taw village) came to Kaw Pa Naw to explain to the landowners that their farms were located on land on which Pacific Link Company intended to build a cement factory. After this announcement, the process began of marking out and surveying the land. Pacific Link Company offered the farmers compensation of 480,000 Kyat per acre, which, despite the low price, was accepted by all parties. However, whilst most of the farmers received their payments without difficulties, 7 individuals were left uncompensated.

U Lwin Shwe, U Bar, U Alay, U Akyal and U Tun Maung were some of the Kaw Pa Naw farmers left out of pocket. On 10 April, 2013 they went to Pauk Taw Village to meet with ex-captain Zaw Lwain Oo and managers from Pacific Link Company, and request the payment for their land. However, company managers told them that the money had already been paid out.

According to Pacific Link Company, money had been taken in their names by various government workers. Individuals included U Min Lwan Aung (a member of Mon State Parliament), U Hla Myint (an officer from the Kyiakmayaw Land Service Department), U Ohm Phay (a long-serving village administration officer), and U San Hlaing (a clerk from Kwan Ngaing village, working for the General Administration Department of Home Affairs). Villagers U Lu Lay (from Kwang Ngaing) and U Apalai (from Kaw Doon) were also implicated.

Zaw Lwin Oo told the farmers, “If you want to get your money back you can submit to the [government] authorities.”

The Kaw Pa Naw farmers have expressed grievances against both the Pacific Link Company and the individuals who fraudulently took their money.

“We are honest people who have been working honestly on our farms. We pay land tax for our farms every year. When managers or employees of the Pacific Link Company pay out money, they should give it directly to the farm owners. As for the people who took the money, they should not take money if it is not their farm. By fraudulently taking our money this is abuse and corruption against local farmers. The staff from [government] departments don’t follow the law and take any chance to get more than what they have a right to. According to the law, this is fraudulence. So not only should there be action against them [the guilty government workers] by their departments, but also legal action.”

Following the meeting with Zaw Lwin Oo, the farmers submitted to the Prime Minister of Mon State and seven government departments. They asked for the payments for their land be returned to them, and for measures be brought in against people who fraudulently take or carelessly give out payments.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News