SPDC confiscates rubber plantations to sell to the rich

SPDC confiscates rubber plantations to sell to the rich

Marn & Joi Htaw, IMNA
June 19, 2006

Soldiers of the Burmese Army under the directives of the SPDC, have
been confiscating rubber plantations belonging to local people and
selling them to the rich, given that the price of rubber plantations
are skyrocketing in Thanphyuzayart Township, Mon State.

In northern Wekali, Thanphyuzayart Township, residents have nurtured
the plantations with hard labour on virgin soil for years and the
Military Training School No-4 soldiers just turn up and confiscate them
without paying anything. The authorities in turn sold them to rich
people many times over, said a villager close to the area.

"The army authorities have sold some plantations at least four times
and nobody knows who the actual owner is. The whole thing is very
complicated," Mi Aye, a plantation owner said.

This month the plantations which the authorities have confiscated and
sold are to Nai Jork - about 10 acres, Mi Sein - about six acres, Nai
Hla Oung - 15 acres, Nai Tha - four acres and Mi Htay - five acres,
respectively.

Depending on the quality of the plantations the authorities have been
selling it for Kyat 200,000 to Kyat 300,000 per acre. Even though it is
expensive residents are interested to buy because their families send
the money from foreign countries such as Thailand and Malaysia.

The plantation owners on the other hand rue their loss of resources
because they have been nurturing the plantations for at least four
years. So they still go to the plantations, dig the channel and clean
the grass.

Burmese soldiers threatened Mi Dort by shooting above her head on June
8 till she got out of her plantation where she was working, said Mi
Aye. After which she does not dare to go and work in the plantation.

The owners regret their loss but have no way to deal with the situation
living as they do under a military regime. The plantation owners who
still have their plantations are worried, wondering when theirs would
be confiscated given the spiralling rubber plantation prices.

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