[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

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








______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com