These photos taken in February 2005 can be viewed as a panorama from left to right (with some overlap in the center). Most of the flat land visible is farmland belonging to villagers in Thaton Township, Thaton District but it has now been confiscated without payment to establish a vast 5,000-acre rubber plantation for a Rangoon-based company called Max Myanmar. On 3 December 2004, the area was visited by representatives of Max Myanmar along with Lt. Gen. Maung Bo, who is an SPDC member, and many of his soldiers. The villagers who had their land confiscated were told that the rubber plantations will be a joint venture between Max Myanmar and the Army. When these photos were taken, much of the land had been cleared in preparation, but no planting had occurred yet. (Photo and Text Source: KHRG, 2005).
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A close up view of some of the scrubland that has been cleared and two piles of cut trees that the villagers gathered for firewood. Villagers have always gathered firewood on this land but fear that they will be denied access once the rubber is planted. (Source: KHRG, 2005)
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Facts on Human Rights Violations