New land use law 'incomplete'

In a statement released on November 6, the Farmland Investigation Commission criticised that the draft law is a devoid of democratic practices, couldn’t protect the interests of the farmers, and may bring about more complications.

“The existing law and new draft include many points regarding centralisation. The General Administration Department will be in charge of matters relating to land. As it is under the control of the Ministry of Home Affairs which is also under the control of the commander-in-chief, the matters are still under the army's control,” said Nu Nu Aung from the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society. 

He joined a workshop with the representatives of farmers’ networks from regions and states, community-based organisations and civic organisations during November 1-2. 

Nu Nu Aung called for a master plan, which would require the merger of various departments under several ministries. At present, the Forest Department manages forest areas, while the Ministry of Agricultural and Irrigation oversees farmland. Urban land development is controlled jointly by  the Settlement and Land Record Department, local development affairs committees and the Ministry of Home Affairs’ General Administration Department.

Tun Myint Aung from the political group’s farmers affairs department noted that the draft fails to highlight measures to prevent land price speculation. 

“It’s crucial for any country to have a complete set of land use policy, as it concerns all people,” said Tun Myint Aung. “Our country has experienced many landless issues and this draft law does not take people into consideration. It doesn’t include provisions on land allocation for real low-cost housing development. The government has said such projects are happening all over the country but as we know, the units are beyond the grass-roots’ affordability. Only the rich and speculators can afford them.” 

There are also calls for the effective plan to curb speculation, rising from the turning of farmland into urban development projects. 

One representative from a civic organisation noted that the government should also take into account the situation in 2040 when the population is expected to reach 100 million. Then, how much land would remain for the future generations, he asked.

The draft law contains 10 categories of land. Vacant land is one of them. At a seminar on October 18, Aung Naing, director from the Union Attorney General’s Office, said the state had no reserved land and a lot of land pieces were under the management of government ministries. 

Myo Thant, a member of 88 Generation’s farmers affairs department, said that the drafting started in 2013 and the draft was available for download nearly two months ago. The draft stipulates public hearing in 18 places. 

“The issue is too complicated for ordinary people to understand, as all land is under the management of ministries concerned,” Myo Thant said. “More farmland can be confiscated for housing projects or others. I don’t know what they can be, but we will definitely see more development projects.