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NLD STATEMENT 42 IN ENGLISH
National League for Democracy
NO (97/B), West Shwegondine Road
Bahan, Rangoon
Statement No: 42(3/99)
Contents of letter dated 8 March 1999 from the Chairman, National League
for Democracy to the Chairman of the Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council is reproduced and published for the information of
all.
START
" Subject- Forced labour and demands for money in Baw-lae-kyun village
tract, Htantabin township.
1. Our information is that since 1990, in the twenty six village tract
(Kyun-ngu to Hlei-hseik in Htantabin township) every household was
required to dig ten pits and orders issued by the military to villagers
in the vicinity for cutting grass, reconstruction of embankments had to
be obeyed.
2. Village and Ward administrators from these twenty six village tracts
demanded sums of money from one thousand five hundred to four thousand
kyats from every household allegedly for re-enforcing the embankments
with laterite. The money on this account was deducted from the bank
loans of some cultivators during the rainy season of 1998. Other
cultivators and labourers were told that commencing from February of
this year, if payment on this account was not met, action (similar to
that for failure to supply the required paddy produce) would be taken
against them. Reports reaching us from those involved is that the least
of these threats was that they would be made to dig out rocks from the
ocean. One very poor family in the Tha-baw-chaung village tract had to
sell their children's clothing to meet this demand of one thousand five
hundred.
3. Our information is that when one is unable to carry the laterite due
to illness or being out of the locality, penalties are imposed. This
penalty in Thabawchaung was 300 kyats, in A-lein-lei, 150 kyats and in
Yay-dwin-gone it was 400 kyats. On 26 February, 1999, each person had to
give the authorities an impost of 40 kyats in addition to this forced
labour with their own provisions.
4. It has been reported to us that collections from all these twenty six
village tracts on various pretexts have been made and that the last date
for contribution was fixed for the 27 February 1999. The pretext given
by the authorities in Yebyu village tract was for the census and another
pretext was that the collection was for the Myawaddy Television Station
and at another village it was alleged that the contribution was for the
United Nations.
5. Without informing the people, Kyee-gan-thaik field which is a part of
Yay-nek-kwin in Baw-lei-kyun was sprayed with weed killer to kill the
grass for the purpose of cultivation by a company. This is grazing
ground for cows and buffaloes and consequently about fifty died. The
owners are distraught.
6. The embankment between Hlei-hseik and Kyun-ngu was built in the BSPP
period which caused a lot of flooding in the fields in Bawleikyun and
the cultivators suffered great losses. Therefore a breach was created
between Ta-mar-ta-kaw and Pantaw villages. This year the gap has been
filled by a company and the cultivators have grave fears of the
consequences.
7. It has been said that since 1989, some prosperous cultivators from
Ah-lein-lae and Kyaung-su villages conspired with the authorities in
Yebyu village tract and have been cultivating about 150 acres of land
that lies between that three village tracts of Yebyu, Tha-baw-chaung,
and Ah-lein-le without the knowledge of the higher authorities. This
year because discontented cultivators want more land the authorities
surveyed and demarcated the land which has been auctioned off at two
thousand kyats per acre. Yebyu villagers were not capable of paying the
high price and are now experiencing great hardship.
8. This kind of self-serving activities by lower authorities in the
village tracts is causing hardship and as the saying goes "ugly living,
ugly dying" is being experienced which is deplorable- do unto others
what you would have them do to you." END
Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy
Rangoon
9 March 1999
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