Villagers in Mudon forced to provide security for gas pipeline and railway

September 10, 2008

HURFOM:

Villagers are being forced to provide security for the Kanbauk to Myinekalay gas pipeline in Mudon Township, report villagers from Doe Mar village. The order was issued on September 1^st, by Nai Amyint, head of the Village Peace and Development Council, and required villagers to patrol the 210 mile long gas pipeline.

“The village headmen said that each household must send at least one person per month. For those who fail to meet their obligation, he or she must pay 2,000 kyat per month. Most households choose to pay the fine or hire somebody else,” said a villager. The village secretary, Myo Win regularly collects gas pipeline and railways sentry fees from the village. Doe Mar village has about 160 households, and every household except government servants has to pay 2,000 kyat every month. “The order is not fair. All villagers have to pay but the order doesn’t apply to government servants such as teachers, members of USDA or their supporters. They all are civilians like us. We feel that we have to pay for them,” said a former teacher at a Mon National School who lives in Doe Mar.

In an attempt to keep financial records transparent, the village’s chapter of the Mon Youth Association asked the village administration groups to make a financial report each month. “The village headmen said they will make reports available. But we will wait and see how clear the financial report is,” explained Mehm Chan, 25, a member of Doe Mar’s MYA. The IMNA field reporter said many people do not trust that the collected funds will actually be used for gas pipeline and railway security. But, regardless of how the funds are used, each household will be required to pay.

Pipeline sentry duty resumed in the first week of September, and guards must be present from 7 pm to 4 am everyday. “I saw four groups and each included four persons. They all have to take responsibility from 7pm to 4 am every night to patrol the gas pipeline and the railways line which pass through near village,” said a witness in Doe Mar.

Many villagers feel that the authorities should take responsibility for the security of infrastructure projects. “We have not received any benefits from this gas pipeline since it was built. All profits directly go to the SPDC, so it should manage the security. It’s not involved with us,” said a student from the area.

In 2004, the pipeline exploded near Kwan Hlar village, about 10 miles from southern Doe Mar village. The reason for the explosion is unknown, but troops from LIB Nos. 318 and 209, as well IB No. 62 arrested and tortured a group of villagers during the subsequent investigation. Villagers have had to provide security for the pipeline most of the time since the explosion, although villagers had been granted a four month reprieve.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News