48 farmers sue chemical plant
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Military-linked operator took more land than it was entitled to, they claim
Local farmers have sued officials from a chemical plant in Sagaing region that is owned by the military’s largest conglomerate, accusing them of appropriating more land for their plant than they were legally entitled to, a lawyer representing the farmers said.
Forty-eight farmers have filed a lawsuit against Myanmar Economics Holdings Limited’s Moegyo Sulphuric Plant in Salingyi township, said their lawyer Pho Phyu.
The conflict dates back to 2006 when a staff housing project was built on about two hectares of land near Kankon Village in the township. When the housing was completed, the military-owned conglomerate applied for about 57 hectares of land for a chemical factory.
The farmers say that this was far more land than was necessary for the plant.
However, last year the conglomerate sued more than 30 local farmers, accusing them of encroaching on its land.
“We have piles of land problems across the country,” Pho Phyu said. “This land was seized before the 2012 Farmland Law was passed,” he added.
“The problems could not be solved by the old law or the new one, which is still unfair. This is why we are suing on the basis of the Specific Relief Act 1877,” he explained.
He also said it was necessary for Parliament to pass a law to solve land disputes because 2012 Farmland Law did not provide a framework for solving disputes over land that began before it was enacted.
The case against Moegyo Sulphuric Plant is scheduled to be heard at Monywa District Court on February 28.
The Myanmar military is under fire for allegedly grabbing land across the country. The Farmland Investigation Commission, formed by the Union Assembly last August, recently released a draft report calling for greater controls over the military’s appropriation of land.
