Army ordered villager about they are going to confiscate land

Independent Mon News Agency

October 7, 2004 (Karen State)

The Burmese army based in Three Pagoda and village headmen gathered all of the residents of a village of Three Pagoda township Oct. 6 and gave them orders regarding seizure of their land.

Burmese army No. 63 gathered the Choo-cha-plu villagers in the primary school, where army officers told them they are going to confiscate the land and measure it.

“Army officers told us they are going to seize about a 3 kilometer wide by 4 kilometers long area of land between Choo-Cha-plu and Chaung Zone, and ordered 40 house owners to move from the land,” Nai Pick said. “The army officer told us they seized it for building an army base,” he added.

“People are saying the army is going to give us who have to move half the amount of the price of our house. But the army said nothing at the meeting,” said Nai Krak Mon an owner who has to move.

“They said they will give us space for a house, but practically, we do not know what they will do. In my experience it is difficult to get compensation,” Nai Krak Mon added.

“If they do not pay it we will have have nothing. I am very poor. For me, I will have to start my life at zero,” he said, “and not only me but all of the villagers. Most villagers in Choo-cha-plu are very poor.”

Most of the land the army is going to seize is owned by local villagers in the area and some of it has orchid plantations.

According to villagers, Nai Htaw, a Three Pagoda town resident, owns the largest plantation.

In Mon State, the Burmese army seized thousand acres of land without compensation and they regularly seize land for their army base and for army business.

For further information, please contact to Independent Mon News Agency
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

E-mail [email protected], [email protected]

www.monnews-imna.com

Tel: 66 (0) 9 5494 296