Thousands of acres of confiscated land in Mon State are being returned by the military and other government departments. A total of 16,527 acres in ten townships has been pegged for return to rightful owners.
“Most of them have been returned by the military. The Ministry of Industry returned the second most (acres). The remaining is the general administration (department),” said an unnamed official from the Mon State Land Resources Management Committee.
After receiving numerous complaints by previous owners the military and previous Burmese government agreed they will return land that is no longer a priority—mostly uncultivated farmland, orchards or wetlands.
Nai Soe Thein from Ye told IMNA that some got their land back but others only received compensation. Furthermore, the soil on most of the returned land has been spoiled, rendering it “unusable” for farming.
About 13,000 acres of the 16,527 acres slated for return hasn't been claimed and is being maintained by the respective departments, said the Mon State Land Resources Management Committee official. Those affected by land confiscation can inquire at local township land records offices.
The land that will be returned by township: 11,288 acres in Kyaikhto; 347.5 acres in Bilin; 1,333.405 acres in Thaton; 217.77 acres in Paung; 664.703 acres in Mawlamaying; 47.73 acres in Chaungzon; 1,364 acres in Kyaikmaraw; 187 acres in Mudon, 51.66 acres in Thanbyuzayat; and 1024.89 acres in Ye.
According to a survey conducted by the Food Security Working Group, over six billion acres have been confiscated across the country—four million by the military.
Translated by Thida Linn
