Military, businessmen grab land: farmers

According to the farmers, the village tract administrator Tin Win and Than Aye, a local entrepreneur from Sit Pin Seik village, were alleged to have collaborated with the authorities since 2006 to confiscate and sell their lands, while the original owners were framed and imprisoned and forced to sign agreements.

Eight farmers from the village tract submitted a complaint letter to President Thein Sein earlier this month over this issue.

“I have planted 3,000 rubber trees in my plantation and 22 acres of farm land. After I heard that Than Aye was named owner of the farmland that has been in my family for many generations, I went to clear up the issue. But, four people including me were sentenced to seven months in prison on charges of pointing a knife at the village administrator. We were released six months later with a period of detention when [they] couldn’t submit the weapons mentioned in the charge,” Kyi Win, one of the farmers, said.

“All my rubber trees were cut down while I was in prison and Than Aye gave me 5 million kyats as compensation after forcing me to sign an agreement. When I refused, as only 5 million kyats were given for the plantation that was worth 450 million kyats, [she] showed me the police who were with her and said ‘Should I send you to prison?’ so I signed,” he added.

Some farmers committed suicide while others hid in the jungle after they were threatened with arrest if they try to take back their lands, farmers say.

“Rubber trees and teaks planted on 4 acres of land have been incinerated after Lt-Colonel Myint Than claimed to be the owner of our land, which has been in our family for many generations. When I went to look at the real-estate list, his name was not registered,” said San Win.

“Land owned by the eight of us have been confiscated by Brig-General Win Aung, who said a military camp and a college would be built there. There is no military camp or college and he and his wife Daw Haymar are the owners. Now, they are trying to negotiate with us by giving us 100,000 kyats per acre. We want our lands back,” said U Myint Naing. 

The farmers said they plan to stage a protest if they do not get their land back and get compensation for the destroyed trees.

When the press went to village tract administrator Tin Win's home, they were told that he went to Bago. Than Aye denied that she and Tin Win were involved in the land-grabbing issues.