Farmers compensated for losing land

The payments began after Aung San Suu Kyi, chairperson of the commission of inquiry on the mine, visited protest sites in Sagaing Region’s Monywa district late last week. 

“Aung San Suu Kyi ... guaranteed to pay nearly five billion [in compensation] for land grabs,” a resident of the area said. She was accompanied by other members of the commission set up to investigate the project during her visit last Wednesday and Thursday. 

“The investigation committee announced that compensation would be paid in Kantaw-Wethmay village after surveying the area. President’s Office Minister Hla Tun, Minister Lt-Gen Ko Ko of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Sagaing Region Chief Minister Tha Aye also visited Monywa,” the resident said.

Compensation was paid to the farmers from Taungpalu, Kyaw, Aung Chan Si and Phaungkatar villages on Saturday after checking land plot numbers. Local residents said the compensation rate was 1.5 million kyats for one acre (0.4 hectares) of irrigated farmland, 1.2 million kyats for one acre of cultivated monsoon hillside and one million kyats per acre of land not used for cultivation. 

Officials continued to pay compensation on Sunday to farmers from other villages whose land had been grabbed.

Myint Aung of the military owned Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited, which operates the mine with a China-based partner, said compensation would be paid for 6,784 acres (2,745ha) in total.

Some farmers from Hsete village refused to take compensation, saying the amount was less than what the land was worth. 

Farmers have only been offered compensation of 1.5 million kyats for land plots worth five million kyats, said Myint Tin, a mine protester who has been sued by the military holding company several times.

He submitted a letter to the local authorities asking that Hsete-Zeetaw village be moved.

Compensation is being paid by a committee set up to implement the findings of the investigation commission, which early last week released its final report.