Hpa-an residents who lost 40 acres of their land to a construction project in the town’s industrial zone want compensation from the government for the loss of their rubber plantations.
Saw Khant Win Aung, who had his land confiscated for the construction, said that on 25 January, the Karen State Chief Minister, U Zaw Min, visited the project site and said that the rubber plantation owners were not to be disadvantaged.
He told Karen News: “We were told by the minister that he will make sure [that the construction] project will not have a bad impact on us. But he [U Zaw Min ] didn’t exactly say when and how much we will be paid. We want compensation for the loss of our lands."
Hpa-an’s industrial zone’s chairman, Minister Saw Kyi Lin, said that the construction is a housing construction for the industrial zone workers. The minister also said that schools, hospitals, a fire station and houses would be constructed.
Minister Saw Kyi Lin reiterated that farmers who had their lands taken would be paid. He said: “We will provide compensation to locals who have lost [land]. After managing the plots, we will also provide [land] plots to people who have lost theirs.”
Naw Keh who lost her land said that she welcomes the government’s compensation.
She said: “We are not saying we are against this project. But we will demand compensation if the state government’s failed to provide it.”
Local villagers told Karen News that the construction project started at the end of January.
