Karenni Farmers’ Union Chairman Khoo Thu Re said that the Tatmadaw (Defence Services) arrested 22 local farmers in connection with land disputes in Loikaw and Demoso Townships, Kayah State.

These 22 local farmers, 17 male and 5 female, had their cases registered under section 477 of the Penal Code (trespassing) and currently nine of them are in detention.

“These local farmers have stayed on their land for 50-60 years. Now their children cannot go to school after their parents were arrested with these cases. The families are struggling for their livelihood as their breadwinners are in detention,” Karenni State Farmers’ Union Chairman Khoo Thu Re said.

Some farmers have the ownership document of these plots of land, called Form 7, but Kayah State based No. 360 Artillery Battery and 250th Infantry Battalion seized their land declaring and designating them as fallow land and virgin land for the sake of security.

Kayah State legislative assembly legislator Khoo Thae Re from Hpruso constituency (1) said, “The Military always claim security whenever it concerns the military. It is difficult for us as it is not within our authority because of restrictions imposed by law. We should discuss this matter outside, as we did not get the deliberate this issue in the assembly. We are trying as much as we can to present this case to the Union Parliament.”

Some farmers submitted a mercy petition to the Kayah State government over the cases but the government has reportedly not yet taken responsibility to resolve these cases so far.