Authorities forced more than three hundred villagers

Authorities forced more than three hundred villagers

to clean the bush

Independent Mon News Agency

February 4, 2005

More than three hundred villagers in Kyait Roi village

in Mudon Township of Mon State were force to clean up

the bush along the roadsides by local authorities on

February 2, 2005 as preparation for the visit of

military government leaders.

“Village headmen, Nai Sein ordered us to do so. If we

do not follow the order, he will be fine 5000 Kyat to

a family. That’s why we have to come and clean the

bush,” Nai Chan Ong told IMNA reporter who visiting

their working site.

The villager were forced to clean the bush a long

motor road which lie Nyounggon village, Paingkamar,

Kwaid-one, Kyati Roi and Thaw-guu. They were force to

work from 06:00 a.m. to 01:00 p.m.

“We were force because the regime leaders will visit

to Mon State, village headmen told villagers when he

declared the order to clean the bush,” a villager

said.

Although Mon State authorities are saying that the

state leaders will coming, but did not mentioned who

they are and when they will come. According to a

police officer in Mawlamyine, the capital of Mon

State, the state leaders will be come to attend the

opening ceremony of Than Lwin bridge, the longest in

Burma linking between Mawlamyine and Mutama.

Forcing the people to work is against the law enacted

by the military government in 1999. However, people in

Burma are still force to work.

According to a Kyait Roi villager, the owner of rubber

plantation that situated beside the motor road also

forced to paint the rubber plant with white color. If

they are absent of painting they will fined with the

order.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For furthers information contact to Independent Mon

News Agency.

Tel: 66 09 54 94 296