KALADAN NEWS
Dated: Sunday,
October 19, 2003
BURMESE ARMY DEMANDS FARM PRODUCTS AND FIRE WOOD TO WITHDRAW FARMLANDS
CONFISCATION ORDER
Buthidaung, October 19: Rohingya
villagers have to pay chili, potatoes, peas and fire woods for army battalion
to withdraw their confiscated farmlands and grazing ground in Buthidaung Township,
Arakan State,
said villager.
On September 25, 2003, a section of army
accompanied by three others from the Township Agriculture Department went to Maung Nama Palay
Daung village tracts, Buthidaung Township
with the collaboration of village Chairman. The army battalion Commander issued
an order to confiscate 1120 acres of farmlands and grazing grounds which are
surrounded with army battalion No. 564. The Commander said, “From today, the
lands will be owned by the battalion and no villagers can claim its ownership”.
The Commander also warned the villagers that if anyone opposes the confiscation
of the lands, he/she will be punished or jailed as anti state activist, said a
farmer from the village.
On September
29, 2003, the owners of the farmlands accompanied by the Chairman
went to the Commander and submitted an application, requesting him to withdraw
the order of farmlands confiscation.
Finally, the battalion Commander has come to agree
with the villagers for short time withdrawal of order with payment of 100- Visses (1 Viss =1.75 kg) of
chili, 200- Visses of potatoes, 70- Visses of peas and 4 tons of fire wood to them. The land
owners have also to sign on an agreement to return their lands to the said
battalion by 30th April
2004, he further said.
It may be mentioned here that there has been a
continuation of land confiscation in Arakan State
from Rohingya villagers. These lands are being used
for army battalion for sometimes and many are distributed to new settlers from Burma
proper. The Rohingya people are frequently threatened
to vacate their lands for new settlers which affects the Rohingyas
to become landless. ##
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