Police 'used restraint' with farmers

Police used “only” four rubber bullets and one lead bullet in quelling Wednesday’s clashes with local farmers over a land dispute between them and a fish-farm operator in Maletto village, Maubin township, Ayeyawady region, the deputy chief of Region Police Force told Eleven Media Group yesterday.

 “Policemen were injured in large numbers as they defended against the locals with rubber batons only,” deputy chief Tun Min said. He later admitted that the police fired guns, but said “only” four rubber bullets and one lead bullet were used when the protestors became very violent.

“Police force members would have never threatened or responded if the locals had followed discipline and order,” the deputy police chief said.

“Company staff had to flee fearing the mobs, who broke up the fish ponds and caught fish. A curfew was imposed yesterday as the situation became more violent on Monday. We warned the villagers two times as they failed to follow the order. We first negotiated with them but they insisted on returning their land immediately. Finally, they started attacking the police with all available weapons such as swords and rods because no compromise could be reached,“ the police official added.

Yesterday’s clashes injured 27 policemen and 15 local farmers, who are now in a local hospital. 

One police private died in Yangon General Hospital from head injuries, hospital staff said.

“All the patients are being given medical treatment at the hospital. As soon as we heard of the clash between the police and the farmers, we prepared X-ray rooms and surgical rooms. We sent a health team and an ambulance to the scene. A police officer suffered a crack on his skull and the victim was handed over to Yangon General Hospital,” the medical superintendent of Maubin People’s Hospital said.

Of those sent to the hospital, 16 were discharged and the remaining patients were not in serious condition, the superintendent said.

Social organisations in Maubin township provided assistance to ensure the injured were admitted to the hospital. 

Some are in hiding, as they fear being arrested in the villages, said Htaik Htaik, a member of a social organisation.

Insisting the lands belonged to them, the villagers broke open the fishponds. The police told the crowd to withdraw from the scene, but in vain. In the evening, the clash happened between the police and the villagers. Both sides suffered injuries, Ngae Lay of Orchid Agriculture and Breeding Company said. Under Article 144, a curfew was imposed by the authorities.

The local people remain in the conflict area and if the crowd did not disperse, the police said they may have to act soon.