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NLD Statement 15 in English




National League for Democracy
NO (97/B), West Shwegondine Road
Bahan, Rangoon

Statement NO: 15


1.  In Mindon township of Magwe Division, (since 1996), though the 
digging of irrigation canals was done by contract,  because of shortage 
of funds, the people of the area were forced to dig 200-500 pits per 
village at the rate of Kyats 70 per pit. Not having the expertise 
themselves, they had to hire others at the rate of Kyats 200. We have 
received this information.
2.  The township authorities continued with this forced labour practice 
in 1997. The rain washed away the banks that were built in 1996 and 1997 
and the work did not reach completion even into 1998. Because the 
Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council was scheduled to 
inspect the works sometime during the year, they were instructed to 
complete sowing the summer paddy crop by the month of April. A labour 
force of approximately 2000 people from 100 villages with 100 pairs of 
cows were forced to reinforce the embankments, pump water with water 
pumps, plough the fields and transplant seedlings which had to be 
fetched from Aunglan and Pwintbhyu townships.
3.  Houses by the roads which was on the scheduled route of the Chairman 
of the SPDC had to be either white-washed or coated with earth oil and 
weeds and wild plants had to be cleared. Fines were imposed on villages 
where such instructions were not followed out as per schedule. This is 
contained in the reports that have come to us.
4.  It cost the cultivators Kyats 3500/- per acre for the water pumped 
into their fields in preparation for the visit of the Chairman of the 
SPDC but his visit was cancelled and since that time water supply was 
cut. The farmers had to arrange for their own water  and reap their own 
crops for which the authorities took no responsibility. This has caused 
great hardship to the farmers who have had to sell their buffaloes, cows 
and other properties to survive. In addition, there was not much success 
with the crops cultivated through these means resulting in even greater 
loss.
5.  In Mindon township, a winter crop (1998-1999) of  split peas for the 
army had to be sold at the rate of  3 baskets per acre at a very low 
price of Kyats 150/- per basket. This had to be fulfilled without regard 
of crop failures due to pests and other causes.
6.  We denounce in the strongest terms this imposition of forced labour, 
unjust demands for cultivation of paddy in the summer, and forced sale 

of crops that is happening to the cultivators in Mindon township. We 
urge the appropriate authorities to take measures to relieve the 
sufferings and hardships of the farmers.



Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy


26 January 1999









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