Committee representing members of the People's
Parliament elected in the 1990 multi-party general elections
(Committee representing the People's
Parliament)
Notification No 24 ( 4/99)
(translation)
The
matters below are concerns of the people which must be dealt with by the
People's Parliament composed of the peoples' representatives. As the Parliament has
not come into existence, the Committee representing the People's Parliament is
issuing this notification.
1.
It is estimated that in the year 2000 AD, the population of
(a)
To cultivate 14 million acres of paddy in the rainy season and 4 million acres in
the dry season with production of 100 baskets per acre.
(b)
Increase agricultural land as suitable for appropriate crops.
(c)
Produce sufficient eating oil for home consumption by
(1)
Sesamum crop production to be 15 baskets per acre
(2)
Increase cultivation of variety of pulses in the Irrawaddy Division.
(3)
Increase coconut oil production in the Tannessarim
Division.
(d)
Increase rubber cultivation in the Tannessarim
Division.
(e)
Increase livestock and fisheries.
2.
(a)
For the purpose of expanding paddy cultivation and output especially and the
other crops shown above, it will be necessary to find and develop thousands of acres of virgin lands, fallow
lands, "deep water fields" etc. It has been stated that in the
process, there should be no infringement on the rights of the present holders
or lessees or licensees of the lands.
The area that they hold should not be included in this record.
(b)
The authorities have also stated that permits will be issued to enable
sufficient eatable oil.
3.
(a)
Our information is that implementation of these projects have been entrusted to national
entrepreneurs. The authorities look upon them as "comrades". These private
entrepreneurs have had the following advantages:-
(1)
They have flourished because of previous contracts for many different
businesses, especially construction work.
(2)
Large profits have accumulated to them from import and export trade and
they are the nouveau riche.
(b)
The list of the entrepreneurs given projects are mentioned in the Appendix.
4.
Our information is that following special privileges will be granted to those who
undertake cultivation of 5000 and above acres.
(a)
Thirty years lease. (A 28 year old person will be reaching the age of 50 in that time).
This will enable control of the next generation.
(b)
They will be permitted to export half the crop produced and the other half to be sold
within the country.
(c)
Exemption from taxes and duties for machinery, insecticides, fertilizers imported for the purpose
of their cultivation.
(d)
The authorities undertake to assist their "comrades" by building
roads and bridges to their business sites. Also facilities for telegraphic communications
will be provided at the expense of the authorities. Also, they undertake to dig
wells at no expense to the private entrepreneurs.
(e)
Loans to the "comrades" will be granted.
5.
(a)
Factors that are relevant to low lying lands where there are "deep water
fields" need to be elaborated. Rice is the most important crop in
(b)
Broadly speaking, in the regions referred to as "deep water fields" there are
(1)
Some areas, though covered with water can be cultivated.
(2)Areas
overgrown with imperata cylindrica
thatch (a kind of grass used as roofing material), Kine
(reed of the saccharum species), etc.
(3)Areas
overgrown with Sauk (euonymus javanicus), trees used
for firewood.
(4)Natural
ponds or lakes or creeks where fishing by means of putting up
weirs etc. is carried out.
(c)
Our information is that the private entrepreneurs intend to implement their
projects in the areas above in the following ways:
(1)
Take over the lands from the present owners and occupiers
(2)
Take over the lands overgrown with Kine and the lakes
and ponds, which
are
the public property of the people.
(3)
Take over lands that are ownerless.
(d)
People inhabiting land near these low-lying regions depend on the thatch for their
roofs, the firewood plants for fuel, and the natural ponds for fish. In areas that can be cultivated,
they work indefatigably to grow paddy.
(e)
If "deep water fields" are taken over for the cultivation of paddy those people
living in the neighbouring regions will lose all the rights that have accrued to them as set out in (d)
above.
(f)
If these low lying regions are taken over, the cultivators will be left
landless, the thatch and firewood choppers and the fishermen will lose their
means of livelihood. We wish to point out here that under the colonial system, labourers were brought in from a foreign land to cultivate
the fields and so were chettyars (money lenders).
Because of unfavourable climatic conditions,
exorbitant profit making by the chettyars, unfair
price fixing without taking into account agricultural output and consumer
goods, the landowning farmers position was reduced to that of landless labourers (coolies). When the world was hit by a depression Burmese farmers revolted.
(g)
Labour is needed to grow paddy in these flood lands. Our information is that labourers, cultivators in the region, daily wage earners,
and townspeople will be recruited by force to move into the "Labour
Villages" to be used to implement the project. This is bound to result in
social problems. Townspeople cannot cope with the work of growing paddy and
they will be deprived of the facilities and living standards, which they are
used to.
(h)
The heavy rains and excess water from other sources collect and flood the deep
water fields which facilitates the cultivation of
paddy. This is a natural phenomenon that occurred from the time
occur in what was originally dry land. We need to be aware of the
environmental conditions of the region - the land, water, wind, climate,
vegetation, animals, birds and fishes and all the creatures that exist in the
region and try to preserve them.
6.
The mainstay of
borrowed from the World Bank to implement Paddy One and Paddy Two projects in
new locations, but the result was poor and not worthwhile.
7.
Factors prevailing in the post 1988 period relevant to agriculture will be
presented below.
(a)
(1) The system of cultivation approved by the
authorities is known as Thi-sa-cha (rent one's land
for cultivation on yearly basic.). On the average an individual cultivator can
have only about 3 to 5 acres.
(2)
The system of renting land to the cultivators yearly is exercised with
excessive authority. Whether the yield is good or bad, they are expected to
supply certain fixed amounts to the government, civil servants, for charity,
for the defense forces. They are forced to supply altogether about 12 to 14
baskets at a price that is less than one half of the current market price. The
simple-minded cultivators are terrified and are compelled to sell their
belongings to meet the demands made by the authorities. If they do not comply
with the demands of the authorities, they are repeatedly harassed in many
different ways and permission to cultivate the land is withdrawn with tragic
consequences for the entire family. There is no longer any incentive for the
farmer and though there is
a
desire and urge to work on the land, circumstances and the environment are most
distressing which has resulted in a big drop in the quality and quantity of
agricultural products. Production is not of export standard so exports have
dropped.
(3)
Another cause in falling output is the refusal by the authorities for
permission to purchase adequate fertilizers.
(4)
Forcing cultivation of a summer crop of rice in regions where water cannot be
obtained; forcing the cultivation of pulses in regions that are not suitable
have reduced the physical stamina of the cultivator and his farm animals and
caused great losses in capital investments.
(5)
Village and hamlet dwellers are forced to give a variety of
"voluntary" (without payment) service to the authorities. They have
to neglect their duties on their own land and plough and cultivate crops on
Defense Services agricultural land and clear jungles and virgin lands for them
without any payment. At times they are forced to relocate to other regions
leaving behind the crops and lands that have been cultivated allegedly because
of insurgent activity.
(6)
To put it briefly, because of the unchangeable village and hamlet
administrative system and the wrong trading and commercial processes, the
present day hamlet and village dweller is faced with a cruel and ruthless
predicament.
8.
(a)
Because of the above factors, the paddy and agricultural products have fallen
in output and grade. To increase production it is necessary to improve the
living conditions of the cultivator. He should be given the same treatment as
the private entrepreneur in the respective regions. The Thi-sa
(renting land for cultivation) system should be abolished. They system of
"voluntary" forced labour must be abolished. Purchase of adequate
fertilizers must be permitted. Scientific methods of cultivation should be
taught and good quality seeds should be found.
(b)
It is estimated that 31 million acres of land is cultivated in
9.
For the cultivation of the 31 million acres, cultivators and farmers have not
been granted any kind of incentive nor have there been any form of subsidy
which are important features of a market economy, but we hear that with
surreptitious under-the-counter tactics hand-picked private entrepreneurs have
been offered a variety of favourable terms and conditions to cultivate many many acres of these lands. Agriculture is a vital concern
of the nation and policies and decisions on the subject should be openly
discussed. Land which is a country's greatest asset must be utilised
as effectively as possible and to that end there should be proper assessment of
not only the quality of land and its suitability for the purpose it is used but
the ability, knowledge and capability of the
managers needs to be thoroughly scrutinized.
10.
In paragraph 2 above we have stated that the private entrepreneurs should not
attempt to acquire the lands of present owners of land and should not include
such lands in their records. One situation that is worse. in
such projects for conversion of unoccupied, virgin and wet lands, is a case
where lakes and wet lands that are being utilised by
the cultivators have been given over to the private entrepreneur.
11.
(a)
Information received is that in Minhla Township, Pegu
Division, about 20000 acres of paddy fields and fisheries from seventeen
villages of the eastern zone cultivated and operated by cultivators from
generation to generation was taken over and given to the private enterprise
known as Thein Shwe Company. These people are now
left without land and work and have suffered great losses. Their status has
been reduced to that of coolies and there is no other means of livelihood for
them.
(b)
It has been reported that with the cooperation of the Irrigation Department,
the owner of that business is digging waterways and building damns at the inns
(lakes used for fisheries) The people living in the locality have fears that
land that was previously not prone to flooding in the rains will now suffer
floods.
12.
We have heard that the banks are giving the private entrepreneurs loans as
required. There are fears that strict banking practices may not be adhered to
and special privileges and exemptions may be granted. If this happens,
13.
The authorities are proclaiming that "xxxxx Only
when thousands of acres of land is cultivated by privately owned modernised
business enterprises, agriculture will flourish and the lives of the
cultivators dwelling in villages and hamlets will accordingly advance." It
is clearly a generalization of the agricultural system without any precise and
defining meaning.
14.
(a)
To flourish and develop the villages and hamlets assistance should be given to our
current cultivators. For example, increase the acreage that they can cultivate,
supply them with the required fertilizers, assist them to meet the expenditure
incurred in the process of cultivation and develop flood prevention strategies.
There is special need for good seed species and agricultural knowledge. In
addition, the cultivators should be taught the principles of market economy
with the right to export. Full incentives should be given to motivate them in
the business of
agriculture.
(b)
Successful development of rural areas has been accomplished in some
under-developed countries because the rulers and international organisations
that have been established for that purpose have cooperated. Peasants and
farmers have been motivated and given certain incentives like land, house,
water, food, agricultural implements and other facilities like schools, roads,
water connections etc.
15.
(a)
No matter who does the planting, if fertilizers are inadequate, if good quality
and good species is not produced, inferior rice and inferior paddy cannot be
exported. The export market requires a standard equal to that of other
countries. Capacity to compete in the production rate, the grinding and milling
are factors in the export market.
(b)
Our understanding is that the private enterprises will be permitted to export
50% of their yield and the remaining 50% sold internally. If this is the case,
it is possible that the private enterprises (with capital for investment) will
purchase paddy from the other ordinary cultivators. In such instances it is
important that they should pay the market price and measures be put in place to
prevent unjust demands for lower prices.
(c)
An important point is that the authorities should be realistic and not indulge
in whims and fancies in this project of giving land for cultivation to private
enterprise.
16.
Information received is that in
10,000/-.
This kind of exploitation should not be allowed.
17.
No matter what, the actions of the State Peace and
Development Council has greatly reduced the opportunity for prosperity
and social well-being of the people. They have caused the peasants and farmers
to become landless. They have lost the fisheries and the thatch etc. and are
now unemployed. The poor have become poorer and a middle class can disappear
with only two classes remaining - the rich and the poor. Because of what is
being done by the authorities, an imbalance is created which will have an
effect in our dealings with the rest of the world.
18.
(a)
Rice is an important factor in the sociopolitical life and the economy of
(b)
This operation impacts on the cultivators which is the largest group living in
Committee
representing the People's Parliament
(Responsibility
for distribution and publication is taken by the NLD).
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(Appendix)
Schedule
showing names of private enterprise, region, township and acreage of grants for
cultivation of uncultivated, virgin and wet lands up to
Company/Org Sub-township Township Granted
Acrage
Magwe Division 198,400
1.
2.
Dagon International YayBokeGyi Pwintbyu 36,000
3.
4. Yuzana KyeeGan Minbu/ 30,000
KanToke Minhla
5.
Service International Ngaphae/ Salin 40,000
6.
Shwe Family KoeBin Sinbaungwae 10,000
7. SHweThaZin Syndicate TharZi SInbaungwae 20,000
8.
Olympic AKaeRiz Sinbaungwae 5,000
9. AungHteinMin YayDwinGaung Taungdwingyi/ 7,000
ShwePanDaw Aunglan
10.
small companies 11,400
11.
Interior Ministry SinGyan Tikegyi 2,000
12.
13.
Dagon Agriculture Htantabin/Teikgyi 18,000
14.
Golden Plough SinGyan Tikegyi 2,080
15.
Steel Stone Agriculture Hmawbi/ Tikegyi/ 5,000
Htantabin Irrawaddy Division 244,343
16.
SI Limited Nyaungdon/ Danubyu 30,000
17.
Yuzana MoeGokeDiDoke (South) Pantanaw 20,380
AhYwaeJin Pantanaw 1,500
18.
Olympic MoGokeDiDoke (North) Pantanaw/Einmae/
10,650
Danabyu 10,000
19.
small companies 171,813 TOTAL
471,323
Source: