A forum on land issue was held at Gaung-ei relatives’ traditional hall in 5th ward of Pekon on October 23 and local residents staged a protest during the forum demanding the return of 1,600 acres out of 4,000 acres military confiscated land in Pekon Township in Southern Shan State.
“The military compound is larger than the Pekon town area. We’ll not speak out about this land issue if the military actually used the confiscated land. But, the problem is that the military has leased the confiscated land for payment,” Khun Angelo, chairman of the Pekon Peasants’ Network, told Kantarawaddy Times.
According to Khun Angelo, they will continue asking for the return of the confiscated land in line with legal procedure via Minister for Kayan Ethnic Affairs and Kayah state parliament members. If the authorities did not take notice on the issue, they will launch other types of movements continuously, he said.
Currently, the Tatmadaw has blocked the roads to the agricultural fields and the local farmers have been troubled to go for farming.
“Tatmadaw should take some land for compulsory plans and it should return the unused land to the farmers in sympathy,” said U Maung Ma who is the representative of Gaung-ei relatives group.
If Tatmadaw return the confiscated land, he would manage to deliver the land to native peasants and homeless people in Pekon town, U Maung Ma told Kantarawaddy Times.
In the Kayan region, people respect and recognize each other’s possessions including land. When land issue happened, the Kayan people resolved in accordance with the traditional practice.
Current 4,000 acres of military confiscated land are owned to the Gaung-ei relatives group and the right to manage this land is in the hand of the Gaung-ei relatives group.
“It is really trouble for traveling in Pekon area as the military has fenced along the neighboring acreage. As Tatmadaw has banned trespassing in the fencing areas, the natives farmers and peasants have been in trouble for traveling around the town. So, the respective military commanding officers should make negotiation with the native people,” said Khun Htet Soe, a central committee member of the New Kayan Youth Generation Organization.
According to the local farmers, the land were confiscated by the Light Infantry Battalion 336, LIB 421, 7th MOC and the artillery battalions
Around 1970s, a great number of farming acres possessed by Pekon farmers were lost under water due to Moebye Dam construction. Then in 1990-91, Tatmadaw seized many more agricultural lands and local people faced misfortune in daily life.
