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NLD Statement 32 in English
National League for Democracy
NO (97/B), West Shwegondine Road
Bahan, Rangoon
Statement No: 32(2/99)
The circumstances relating to the acquisition of agricultural land from
farmers of Ward 27, New Dagon town (north), and the result of their
representation to the authorities because of failure to be suitably
compensated as promised is set down here to keep the public informed.
1. Over 30,000 acres of agricultural land in 22 villages including
Toe-gyaung-ga-le, Toe-gyaung-gyi, Da-Wei-gyaung, Ma-da, Sit-pin,
Kyu-chaung, Ma-lit, Ah-waing, Lay-daunt-kan, Ywa-thar-gyi, Thone-gwa,
Nyaung-bin-ywa, Tha-yet-pin-chaung, Ye-dwin-gyaung, Thein-gyaung,
Kwin-ma, Kyi-su, Sin-chae-ya, Thit-seik in Hlegu township, Rangoon
Division, were acquired in 1988 and 1989 for the purpose of creating the
New Dagon town.
2. Our information is that in May 1990, at a meeting convened by U Ant
Gyaw (Director General of the Town and Housing Department), Major Tin
Win (Director of the Town and Housing Department), Major Aye Myint
(Hlegu township Peace and Development Council) and Major Aung
Win(Chairman, Dagon town), the farmers of the above villages were given
an undertaking that each farmer would be compensated for the land of
their inheritance with a plot measuring 40 feet by 60 feet.
3. The farmers believed the big people and were awaiting the fulfillment
of their promise. Another inventory was taken on 6 October, 1993 by the
township SLORC. The farmers were told to attend at Land Office branch No
12 on the 25 October 1993 where U Ba Tint, the Township officer (Town
and Housing), U Ba Lwin (head of Land Records), U Ye Kyaw Khine (member
of township LORC). They were then deceived into putting their signatures
on forms purporting to be applications for plots of land while the
documentary evidence they produced (books, records, land tax receipts,
paddy sale receipts and bank statements) were retained by the
authorities.
4. Nothing more was heard after that. The farmers were left without
work and impoverished and their sufferings can be enumerated as
1) loss of one's land;
2) loss of the rights and privileges that should have accrued because of
the non-fulfillment of a promise made by the state;
3) loss of one's savings with the Rural and Agricultural Bank;
4) loss of ones right to live in one's own hut/house and the irony o f
being classified a trespasser and forced to vacate;
5) arrest and imprisonment for failure to vacate;
6) cultivation by other farmers was refused;
7) impoundment of one's cows and buffaloes and imposition of penalties;
8) rental of one thousand eight hundred kyats had to be paid to the Head
of Dagon University for some plots in some villages (according to
information received by us).
5. Through these various methods the farmers have been persecuted and
cheated and they are now miserably hard pressed. A small number of
farmers of Toe-gyaung-gyi, Toe-gyaung-ga-le and Da-wei-gyaung were given
small plots between the period 1988-89 to 1998-99. But the majority of
the farmers from these villages and the remaining villages have not been
compensated in a way. (This is the information we have received).
Sixty seven farmers presented an appeal.
The list below gives the names of the villages and the extent of
compensation.
1. Toe-gyaung-ga-le one third have been given plots of land.
2. Toe-gyaung-gyi two thirds " " " "
3. Da-wei-gyaung one third " " " "
4. Thein-gyaung one third " " " "
5. Ma-da No one has been given any land.
6. Sit-pin " " " " "
7. Kyu-chaung " " " " "
8. Ma-lit " " " " "
9. Ah-waing " " " " "
10. Ywa-thar-gyi " " " " "
11. Lay-daunt-gan " " " " "
12. Shan-tae-gyi " " " " "
13. Thon-gwa " " " " "
14. Nyaung-bin " " " " "
15. Tha-yet-bin-chaung " " " " "
16. Yay-dwin-chaung " " " " "
17. Kwin-ma " " " " "
18. Kyi-su " " " " "
19. Sin-che-ya " " " " "
20. Thit-seik " " " " "
6. We have been informed that an appeal has been presented to the
District SPDC. We solicit that the farmers' appeal be given
compassionate consideration and they be appropriately compensated for
the losses they have suffered.
Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy
Rangoon
24 February 1999
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