ARMY CONFISCATED LAND FOR PRAWN PROJECT ( Kao-Wao ) January 13, 2003

ARMY CONFISCATED LAND FOR PRAWN PROJECT

(Kao-Wao, January 13, 2002)

Mudon -- The Burmese army has confiscated more land for a prawn project in Mudon Township since December 2003, a local source reported.

Kyauk Ta-Lone based, the Light Infantry Battalion No. 210 took 64 acres of land belonging to 9 local farmers from Yaung-Down and Kwan-Hlar villages of Mudon Township. The farm is located in the western side of Moulmein Ye railway. A notification statement from Mudon Township Peace and Development Council was issued to village headmen last October to cooperate with the regime’s Department of Survey for measuring occupied farms. The announcement released by the regime said the land would be returned to farmers if the Army could not produce anything in the future.

But local farmers objected to this statement saying, “they’ll probably return our land to the local Land Committee and the committee will transfer it to the State Land Department”. Nai Blai, a farmer from Kwan-Hlar village said it was a blatant act of violation toward farmers and they will endeavor to work for their land rights.

The Burmese military has occupied 200 acres of land at A-Bit village and another 200 acres at Sak Kaw village in 2002, in Mudon Township. "If no one can prevent them from taking the land like this, we can no longer survive,” concluded a man from Yaung-Down village said.