MPs warned not to use farmland conflicts to win votes

MPs warned not to use farmland conflicts to win votes

By Soe Than Lynn   |   Sunday, 18 August 2013

The head of a land investigation commission has warned MPs not to use land disputes for political gain as parliamentarians express concern that farmers are vulnerable to exploitation by politicians, activists and brokers.

U Tin Htut, chairman of the commission investigating land disputes, told the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on August 16 that farmers were frustrated at the lack of inaction from the government on the issue.

"There are growing concerns about some people instigating or exploiting farmers by persuading them to protest. This is an issue across the country. So all MPs, including me, should avoid [using land issues] to win votes for personal or political gain," U Tin Htut said.

His comments came during a debate on the involvement of state and region governments in resolving land disputes and implementing the findings of the commission. MPs agreed that the Union Government should submit a report to parliament on what actions it has taken in regard to land disputes at least once every two months.

Following the discussion, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann urged MPs and the media to assist farmers who have been charged or punished because they cannot show evidence of land ownership.

"Their colleagues and media need to act as witnesses that these farmers have owned the land since before," he said. "We must help them by being strong witnesses even if they haven't got proof of ownership."

"Some farmers may have committed an offence when they were trying to get back their land. We need to help people in these cases by submitting an appeal for them. We must also help the farmers work within the law."

Lieutenant Colonel Saw Shwe, a Tatmadaw Pyithu Hluttaw representative and head of the investigation commission's sub-group on Chin and Rakhine States, said many brokers persuade farmers to pursue land ownership claims.

The group that he heads has received more than 200 complaint letters, of which it has assessed 90 and reported its recommendations to the hluttaw.

"It is easy to return land but it is more important to make sure we give it back to its real owner," Lt Col Saw Shwe said.

"There are many brokers who persuade farmers saying they will help them get their land back. These brokers include law experts and lawyers … We have to take legal action on those.

He said that the committee had uncovered cases where government officials had confiscated land for personal gain and would take legal action against the perpetrators.

"Our commission is working based on the principle that we should minimise the suffering of the farmers whose lands have been confiscated. We will take action against everyone who should be punished. We won't be lenient even if the accused is … a government minister," he said.

"Some government officials are holding lands by putting them in the name of their wife, children or other relatives. We need to examine these cases carefully and make sure the land is returned."

"This problem has occurred because farmland was confiscated in some places by the authorities in collaboration with businesspeople. And some government department or ministries seized farmland and then rented it back to the farmers. We have to check all cases and give the land back to the real owner."

He said this principle also applied to land seized by the military.

"The Tatmataw has started returning land it has taken but the process is slow because each case is being examined in detail."

Translated by Thiri Min Htun and Zar Zar Soe

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/08/19/mps-warned-not-to-use-farmland-conflicts-to-win-votes/