Myanmar farmers seek help from UN

“We are going to write the report on Kantbalu farmers’ issue by the end of February. The translated version will be submitted to the UN before March 25,” said Thein Than Oo, a law expert, while meeting with the farmers.

He said that the petition would be submitted through the Global Justice Centre. 

He noted that farmers are in a worse condition even when the nation is undergoing democratic changes. Many farmers have been sued and imprisoned since the incumbent government took office, he said. In the agro-based country like Mynamar, there remains a big gap and poor farmers are generally ignored.

More than 10,000 acres of farmlands in Kantbalu Township, Sagaing Region, were grabbed to implement the Army’s Sugarcane Project at the time of previous government era.

 “I’m sorry when I heard a farmer’s voice saying that they were hopeless. As for justice, the constitution must be amended. According to the current constitution, the judicial pillar is not free and fair,” he added.

With the aims to know the international community about taking responsibility and giving pledges, the report to be submitted to UN will include Kantbalu farmers’ affair and Letpadaungtaung issue.

“13,000 acres of farmland were grabbed. Although we negotiated with the authorities again and again, they broke out their promise. Afterwards, the farmers were being charged and sentenced. Due to the reasons, the farmers’ lives are getting worse and worse. When Thura Shwe Mann (Union Speaker) visited there, we tried to submit him the problem but we faced obstruction to do so,” said farmer Than Htike.

Among laws related to land ownership enacted in successive era, the 2012 Land Law is the worst for farmers, critics said. They viewed that the law not only failed to solve existing  problems but also invited more troubles.

Thein Than Oo reviewed that to effectively solve the farmers’ problems, it was very important that a farmer union be established. 

In August, about 1,000 farmers from Kantbalu Township staged a protest to ask for the return of confiscated lands and fair trials. Earlier, 56 farmers were given prison sentences of up to two years following protests against confiscation of land by the state and military. 

 In the township, it was reported that over 450 farmers faced various charges last year.