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The Mon State Government and Private Companies Intimidate Landowners from Speaking out Against Unjust Land Confiscation

HURFOM: The Mon State government and its backing companies have been unjustly confiscating the Burmese peoples’ land for decades. This widespread practice, coupled with the country’s 2012 Farmland Law, Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands Law and the Foreign Investment Law, has pushed farmers into circumstances of profound hardship. The government and private companies have systematically intimidated local farmers to sell their lands, or the land would be forcibly confiscated with absolutely no compensation to the farmers.

Most farmers remain silent about their suffering, afraid to speak out against the authorities due to intense intimidation. Instead of coming to their aid, Mon State government ministers have not only protected these 2012 land laws, but have put pressure on farmers to give up their lands.

Such intimidation can be seen in the case of Kyaikmayaw Township, Mon State. In January 2013, the Pacific Link Cement Industries Ltd and June Company arrived in Kyaikmayaw Township to establish a cement plant. The companies conspired with the government authorities to threaten the local people to sell their lands. A common threat used by the companies was the insistence that the farmers’ land was needed for a state-level project, and if the farmers did not sell their land for the compensation offered, it would be forcibly confiscated for no payment whatsoever.

On January 15, 2014, government ministers called upon local landowners, whereupon Mon State Prime Minister for Security and Border Affairs, Colonel Htay Myint Aung, warned that any action committed by landowners to affect the cement factory would be ‘handled according to the law”.

Landowners, and those seeking justice on behalf of the farmers, expressed dissatisfaction with Col. Htay Myint Aung’s words.

A local 45 year-old farmer comments on the land issue after hearing from the authorities; “in my perspective”, he says, “The compensation from [the] company really affected us. It seemed they relied on [the] government to benefit more. The way the Prime Minister spoke to farmers on January 15^th was really authorized [by the government]. If the company wanted the land, they should provide fair compensation. Some [landowners] got fair compensation, but others got [a] negligible amount, and have been intimidated by the authorities. Our family did not get [fully compensated]. Moreover, my uncle got nothing and [its] like he has been deceived by the company. The government ignores [our situation and does not] solve it. It is not a [responsive] government, [and government members] intimidate us. It should not be like that”.

Since Col. Htay Myint Aung has called upon them, other Mon State government ministers have pressed Kyaikmayaw Township farmers to accept whatever price the Pacific Link Cement Ltd and June Company offer for their land. Due to such intimidation, the farmers have been afraid to move forward with steps to protect their land rights, and have remained silent.

Another local farmer pointed out that this issue is of no concern to the Mon State Prime Minister, and he feels that is it not fair that Col. Htay Myint Aung is even involved in a conversation against the farmers.

The farmer doubts that this project has not been connected to the military, “Due to even [the] Prime Minister’s [involvement] in protection of [the] cement factory, this project may have [been] related to the military or government. It is not just Pacific Link Cement Ltd Industries. Why am I talking [like] this,” he asks, “it’s because I saw some former civil servants, who [have] retired, participating in the project site. For example, General Zaw Lwin and U Tan Chaung were [former] military. They over-used their power while communicating with local farmers. We are not sure whether Col. Htay Myint Aung was [involved] for himself, or [for the] state. We (farmers) could not stand that they used their power against farmers [while talking] about the project. They should offer fair prices if they have confiscated the land”.

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