“Land robbery by Burmese army has destroyed lives”, says Kyang-Ywa Village farmer

February 16, 2015

In June 2001, Battalion No. 591 and No. 983 confiscated 200 acres of land from 33 landowners in Kyaung-Ywa village, Ye Township. Today, Kyaung-Ywa villagers are still living in poverty as a result of these infractions. Speaking to HURFOM, one victim, referred to here as Nai Blai, explained that farmers in his village have lived in distress since the confiscation, plagued by mental conflicts.

Prior to the confiscation, land in the area had largely been inherited by villagers from their ancestors, with land shared between siblings and other relatives. However, at the time of confiscation Second Commander Myo Zaw Thein ignored these emotional ties, telling Nai Blai, “We have taken your land grandpa. Do you want compensation or do you want permission to work [on your land] for five more years?” While Nai Blai chose the offer of compensation, the commander instead issued him with permission to work on his land for five years. During this time, he, like other land victims, had to pay 30,000 Kyat each month to the military, to bolster army finances.

Yet, despite the land-use permission being granted for five years, Nai Blai and other Kyang-Ywa landowners were expelled from their land after just three years and three months. Later, the military said that they would instead issue compensation to the landowners. However, when the land victims went to Ye City to collect their compensation they were only given 100 Kyat per acre. Some people accepted this low sum, as those who refused to sign in agreement were threatened with detention.

The military had initially claimed that they were taking the land to build a temporary battalion camp. However, at a later date landowners were called to a meeting to be told that their land had been more permanently confiscated. The landowners returned home, heartbroken.

Nai Blai elaborated, “After the land was confiscated, the people [in Kyang-Ywa] became distressed and mentally ill. Our neighbor U Nyein, a landowner, developed mental problems. He is now dead. Many landowners became mentally ill after they lost their land. Many lives have been destroyed. It has been 14 years since I lost my land. Nowadays, I can no longer work. I have to rely on my children to survive. I cannot afford to buy another piece of land as a replacement [for the land confiscated]. The military told us that they would return land to all those whose land had been taken. We are still waiting for our land.”

He continued, “Even if they don’t return our land, they should at least give us fair compensation. Even if they returned only a small piece of my land, I would accept it.”

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News