88 Group slams bill for neglecting farmers interests
Published on Friday, 05 July 2013 20:11
88 Group's Tun Myint Aung makes clarification (Photo-EMG)
The 88 Generation and Open Society has criticised a new bill that aims to protect the interests of Myanmar farmers during a press conference in Yangon on Wednesday, saying that the bill only serves the interests of business people.
The Bill to Promote Farmers Interests which was submitted to Myanmar's Parliament on June 30 does not represent farmers because it lacks provisions to give farmers land ownership rights and protection from land-grabbing, according to the former student activist group.
"The law to protect farmers' rights is more important. Without protection, the interests of farmers cannot be promoted. So its necessary to enact a protection law. Only then can we should discuss how to promote farmers' interests," said Tun Myint Aung, an '88 Group representative of farmers affairs.
Myanmar farmers make up more than 70 percent of the population. Many complain of loss of land, having their ancestral farmlands grabbed and being prosecuted under various charges, including trespassing. The '88 Group said that the proposed bill only concerns loans, industrial farming, market and pricing which is designed to serve the interests of bankers, industrialists and merchants.
"When prosecuted, famers are always defeated. This may be because there are law abuses as well as bribery. Actually, land can be seized only after a permit has granted under Section 29 of the Farmland Nationalisation Act. But famers enjoy no protection because the permits are issued out in large numbers," said Myo Thant, also from the '88 Group.
Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/07/06/88-group-slams-bill-for-neglecting-farmers-interests/
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