NLD STATEMENT 42 IN ENGLISH

[nldburma@xxxxxxxxxxx]

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

Statement No: 42(3/99)

Contents of letter dated 8 March 1999 from the Chairman, National League 
for Democracy to the Chairman of the Chairman of the State Peace and 
Development Council is reproduced and published for the information of 
all.

START 
" Subject- Forced labour and demands for money in Baw-lae-kyun village 
tract, Htantabin township.

1.	Our information is that since 1990, in the twenty six village tract 
(Kyun-ngu to Hlei-hseik in Htantabin township) every household was 
required to dig ten pits and orders issued by the military to villagers 
in the vicinity for cutting grass, reconstruction of embankments had to 
be obeyed.

2.	Village and Ward administrators from these twenty six village tracts 
demanded sums of money from one thousand five hundred to four thousand 
kyats from every household allegedly for re-enforcing the embankments 
with laterite. The money on this account was deducted from the bank 
loans of some cultivators during the rainy season of 1998. Other 
cultivators and labourers were told that commencing from February of 
this year, if payment on this account was not met, action (similar to 
that for failure to supply the required paddy produce) would be taken 
against them. Reports reaching us from those involved is that the least 
of these threats was that they would be made to dig out rocks from the 
ocean. One very poor family in the Tha-baw-chaung village tract had to 
sell their children's clothing to meet this demand of one thousand five 
hundred.

3.	Our information is that when one is unable to carry the laterite due 
to illness or being out of the locality, penalties are imposed. This 
penalty in Thabawchaung was 300 kyats, in A-lein-lei, 150 kyats and in 
Yay-dwin-gone it was 400 kyats. On 26 February, 1999, each person had to 
give the authorities an impost of 40 kyats in addition to this forced 
labour with their own provisions.

4.	It has been reported to us that collections from all these twenty six 
village tracts on various pretexts have been made and that the last date 
for contribution was fixed for the 27 February 1999. The pretext given 
by the authorities in Yebyu village tract was for the census and another 
pretext was that the collection was for the Myawaddy Television Station 
and at another village it was alleged that the contribution was for the 
United Nations.


5.	Without informing the people, Kyee-gan-thaik field which is a part of 
Yay-nek-kwin in Baw-lei-kyun was sprayed with weed killer to kill the 
grass for the purpose of cultivation by a company. This is grazing 
ground for cows and buffaloes and consequently about fifty died. The 
owners are distraught.

6.	The embankment between Hlei-hseik and Kyun-ngu was built in the BSPP 
period which caused a lot of flooding in the fields  in Bawleikyun and 
the cultivators suffered great losses. Therefore a breach was created 
between Ta-mar-ta-kaw and Pantaw villages. This year the gap has been 
filled by a company and the cultivators have grave fears of the 
consequences.

7.	It has been said that since 1989, some prosperous cultivators from 
Ah-lein-lae and Kyaung-su villages conspired with the authorities in 
Yebyu village tract and have been cultivating about 150 acres of land 
that lies between that three village tracts of Yebyu, Tha-baw-chaung, 
and Ah-lein-le without the knowledge of the higher authorities. This 
year because discontented cultivators want more land the authorities 
surveyed and demarcated the land which has been auctioned off at two 
thousand kyats per acre. Yebyu villagers were not capable of paying the 
high price and are now experiencing great hardship.

8.	This kind of self-serving activities by lower authorities in the 
village tracts  is causing hardship and as the saying goes "ugly living, 
ugly dying" is being experienced which is deplorable- do unto others 
what you would have them do to you."					END


Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy

Rangoon
9 March 1999








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