Kaladan News


Date: Thursday, September 16, 2004


Confiscation of 315 Acres for Nasaka Business and Forced Labor


Buthidaung, September 16: Nasaka forces confiscated about 315 acres of farmland and the villagers have to pay forced labor to grow paddy in the confiscated lands at Buthidaung Township of Arakan State, belonging to villagers for their own business purpose, said a villager of Panze.


In the first week of August 2004, by the order of Nasaka Sector Commander No. 9, the local Nasaka officials confiscated the farmland from villagers of Buthidaung north. Nasaka confiscated 200 acres from Kyaung Taung, 12 acres from Tin May and 103 acres from Ba Da Gar village tracts of Buthidaung Township, he further added.


Since the beginning of August 2004, the villagers have been engaged in forced labor for tilling and growing paddy in the fields, in which Nasaka confiscated. The villagers of Kyaung Taung, Tan May and Bada Gar village tracts have to pay forced labor. Only poor villagers have to provide forced labor and affluent villagers have to pay Kyat 500/- to 1,000/- per family to the Nasaka despite forced labor, said another villager.                         


A farmer said, “ 95% of the people in Buthidaung Township are farmers and have no other side business. How can we survive and maintain our families? Day by day, our people are becoming gradually into poverty and jobless.”


On August 10, 2004, local Nasaka officials were utilizing villagers as forced laborers in their paddy fields while the Commander of the Nasaka Sector No. 9 visited the above-mentioned areas to survey. Therefore, they put the laborers in nearby jungles to avoid from the sight of the Sector Commander. Local Nasaka also threatens to the villagers that if any body informs to higher authority about forced labor,he/she would be punished, villager further added.                                                                                                      


In 2nd week of August 2004, a delegation from Rangoon arrived at Buthidaung Township and instructed the local concerned authorities not to take forced labor from any villager. But, so far, forced labor exists in Arakan State, said a village PDC Chairman.

Besides, 15 families of a village have to provide a cook to a police camp. For the salary of the cook, the 15 families have to pay Kyat (Burmese currency) 500/- per family per month. But, the villagers are exempted from forced labor those who provide cook to the police camp, the village PDC Chairman further added.


In 2004, the land confiscation by the Nasaka in Buthidaung Township without any payment has increased. The land in this township is fertile and so suitable to grow paddy. The Nasaka’s process of land confiscation gradually moved up from the southern part of Buthidaung Township to the north, said a trader. 


Another farmer said, “ We have to pay our farmland and also forced labor to the Nasaka for growing paddy. What type of government is this? When will it be ended?


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