Announcement to register objections to a stone mining project withheld from the public

January 26, 2021

HURFOM: On December 21, 2020, the Ye Township Department of Agriculture Land Management and Statistics announced the Mon Peace and Defense Front (MPDF) had submitted an application to use 177 acres of virgin land in Magyi village, Khaw Zar Town, Ye Township, Mon State.

The MPDF is led by General Nai Shaung and Colonel Min Aung Tun. It is believed the land will be used for a stone mining project.

However, the public announcement regarding the process and deadline for any objections to be registered, did not take place until January 24, 2021. The announcement stated that any objections needed to be made before January 19, 2021. The announcement went on to say that no objections can be made after this date.

The Ye Township Department of Agriculture Land Management posted the announcement letter at Magyi village administration office on January 24, 2021.

“The announcement should come 28 days before the last day of objections. The particular departments have the right to do land surveys only after the announcement. Now the announcement letter and the land survey came on the same day. This has not followed the proper procedures,” said Venerable Monk U Thi Ha from Magyi village.

In addition the Village Administrator, U Than Tun Lay said the Ye Township Department of Agriculture Land Management had not informed him in advance about the announcement.

“We’ve been planning to report this issue to the government and the parliament. If we tolerate this misconduct, it will be worse later. But I’ve worried that the government will ignore the voice of the villagers and neglect the problem,” said a Magyi resident.

Min Aung Htoo, the elected candidate from Ye Township, has criticized the Mon State government for not being transparent with natural resource extraction investment projects.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News