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A two crops policy that barely yields one: the failed Win-pha-non Dam project

Introduction

Heavy-handed, but poorly designed and managed, government policy has kept Burma’s economy in steady decline for decades. This report details one such failed policy, an irrigation project designed to enable farmers to grow crops in the dry season. Unfortunately, the project has not only failed to achieve its goal but has actually reduced the amount of arable land in the area. The failure of the project has, in turn, highlighted the existence, and consequences, of corruption within the military regime. Instead of reporting the failure of the project, local officials file reports of a successful project, making reform and future success impossible.

Background

Fifty years ago, Burma was one of the richest countries in South East Asia. After independence in 1948, and a coup in 1962, Burma quickly lost that status. Following the coup Ne Win, the country’s new leader, ordered farmers to plant rice crops during two seasons instead of one. The policy was an attempt to regain the country’s position as the world’s largest rice exporter, and in 1973 it was implemented and backed with heavy penalties. Read more

International organizations can, and should, help protect the people of Mon state

THE MON FORUM

SPDC authorities and army troops in Southern Mon state and various parts of the Tenasserim Division have openly committed various types of human rights violations since the movement of international organizations began being restricted in conflict areas.

In the past, organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross and some UN Agencies were able to protect civilians in Southern Township. The ICRC encouraged the Southeast Military Command in Moulmein, the capital of Mon state to cease some types of human rights violations such as conscription, forced labour, extortion, arbitrary arrests, land confiscation and killing. Read more

Local police ban beer sale in Mon state

Selling of beer has been prohibited by the local Burmese police in Kalawthut village, Mudon Township, Mon state, said residents. The step was taken after two beer shop owners were jailed last November for selling beer to students. Read more

Burmese junta force farmers to cultivate summer paddy

The Burmese military regime is forcing farmers to grow rice this summer while withholding necessary water supplies from the government controlled dam, alleged farmers in Mon state. Read more

Monks require hometown police recommendation making passport

Monks needing foreign passports a required to get a local police ‘character’ recommendation, said an abot in Rangoon.

This is a restriction on the monks, said the aboot. According to him, the order was given last month from Rangoon’s Embassy. Read more

Burmese regime force farmers to feed army

The Burmese Army is forcing farmers in Mon state to give newly harvested rice to soldiers. The Army is also pressuring farmers to grow groundnut this summer, farmers said.

The farmers, who have been harvesting since the end of December, are being stopped as they take the unhusked rice, known as paddy, from farms to their homes. Read more

Patients required to pay private clinics before receiving hospital treatment

Patients without referrals from doctors at private clinics are denied treatment at the public hospital in Mawlamyine.

Mi Soe, a woman from Thanbyuzayaut township, sent her son to a public hospital in Mawlamyine. When she arrived, nurses told her that if she did not have a signed patient registration from doctors her son would not be treated or allowed to stay. Read more

Forty villagers tortured for their possessions

About forty villagers in Mon State were violently assaulted by Burmese troops from Batallion No -299. The villagers were trying recover wood left in houses they had to abandon when the Burmese military forced them to relocate their village.

The villagers, including nineteen women, were from Bayoun-ngae village, in Khaw-zar Sub Township, Mon State. Read more