Kaladan News

FORCED LABOUR FOR GROWING PADDY

Buthidaung, July 1:  On 12th June 2003, the Commander

of the Military Operation Command (MOC)-15 of

Buthidaung Township,Arakan State, had ordered five

villages to provide forced labour to work in

farmlands controlled by the army camps, according to

our correspondent.

The 5 villages namely  Nan Yah Gone, Aley Chaung (Ali

Yaung), Kwan Dine (Koin Daung), Tha Yet Kin Manu (Say

Ra Kuni) and San Nyin Way (Lambabil-East), of

Buthidaung Township were ordered to provide daily 60

labourers for ploughing the paddy fields controlled by

the army camps.

But it contradicted the earlier order issued by the

same army asking each village to provide daily 12

labourers  to till 4 acres of lands, source further

added.

Accordingly, the chairmen of the said five villages

have to send to the army camps, without any respite,

daily 60 ploughmen, 120 oxen and 60 plows, together

with other agricultural tools,  from their espective

villages, a village farmer said to our source.

These farmlands, which were earlier seized from the

poor villagers for the purpose of the construction of

army camps, have now been used by the army as paddy

fields to support their families or their camps, he

further added.

 From 13th June, the people of the 5 villages have

been working daily in the fields, measuring  about 20

acres, to grow paddy for the army camps, without any

wages, carrying with them their own  foods. The

villagers have been asked to complete the works by

15th July 2003, the sources said. ##