Farmers stage protest in Yangon

Published on Monday, 26 November 2012 17:16

The protesters (Photo - EMG)

Myanmar farmers who are the victims of land grabbing staged a protest in front of Wah Wah Win Company in Latha Township, Yangon Region, on November 23.

These farmers came from Hlaing Thayar Township.

They started the protests on October 31 and continued the demonstrations until November 23 after the authorities failed to resolve the land dispute. The company later fenced the grabbed lands.

The protesters marched from the company building to the Settlements and Housing Development Department in Botahtaung Township. The protests have so far lasted for 23 days.

"We have staged protests to stop land grabbing for days. But, the authorities and the company did not hear us,” farmer Kyi Shwin said. “The company fenced the grabbed lands, instead. In our early negotiation, the company promised not to fence the lands. Now we no longer want the compensation, we are determined to continue farming.”

"The company has nothing to say about the protest, but has agreed to pay 3 million kyats [US$3,500] in compensation for one acre of land. Some farmers were satisfied with the agreement, but some were not,” the company’s managing director San San Win said.

Khine Maung Yay of the Farmlands Investigation Commission said: "Our task is to mainly settle the farmlands grabbed after 1988. The farmers should get their rights. The company's actions are against the law. The commission will have to take actions against those who are against the law."