The circumstances relating to the acquisition of agricultural land from

farmers of Ward 27, New Dagon town (north), and the result of their

representation to the authorities because of failure to be suitably

compensated as promised is set down here to keep the public informed.

1. Over 30,000 acres of agricultural land in 22 villages including

Toe-gyaung-ga-le, Toe-gyaung-gyi, Da-Wei-gyaung, Ma-da, Sit-pin,

Kyu-chaung, Ma-lit, Ah-waing, Lay-daunt-kan, Ywa-thar-gyi, Thone-gwa,

Nyaung-bin-ywa, Tha-yet-pin-chaung, Ye-dwin-gyaung, Thein-gyaung,

Kwin-ma, Kyi-su, Sin-chae-ya, Thit-seik in Hlegu township, Rangoon

Division, were acquired in 1988 and 1989 for the purpose of creating the

New Dagon town.

2. Our information is that in May 1990, at a meeting convened by U Ant

Gyaw (Director General of the Town and Housing Department), Major Tin

Win (Director of the Town and Housing Department), Major Aye Myint

(Hlegu township Peace and Development Council) and Major Aung

Win(Chairman, Dagon town), the farmers of the above villages were given

an undertaking that each farmer would be compensated for the land of

their inheritance with a plot measuring 40 feet by 60 feet.

3. The farmers believed the big people and were awaiting the fulfillment

of their promise. Another inventory was taken on 6 October, 1993 by the

township SLORC. The farmers were told to attend at Land Office branch No

12 on the 25 October 1993 where U Ba Tint, the Township officer (Town

and Housing), U Ba Lwin (head of Land Records), U Ye Kyaw Khine (member

of township LORC). They were then deceived into putting their signatures

on forms purporting to be applications for plots of land while the

documentary evidence they produced (books, records, land tax receipts,

paddy sale receipts and bank statements) were retained by the

authorities.

4. Nothing more was heard after that. The farmers were left without

work and impoverished and their sufferings can be enumerated as

1) loss of one's land;

2) loss of the rights and privileges that should have accrued because of

the non-fulfillment of a promise made by the state;

3) loss of one's savings with the Rural and Agricultural Bank;

4) loss of ones right to live in one's own hut/house and the irony o f

being classified a trespasser and forced to vacate;

5) arrest and imprisonment for failure to vacate;

6) cultivation by other farmers was refused;

7) impoundment of one's cows and buffaloes and imposition of penalties;

8) rental of one thousand eight hundred kyats had to be paid to the Head

of Dagon University for some plots in some villages (according to

information received by us).

5. Through these various methods the farmers have been persecuted and

cheated and they are now miserably hard pressed. A small number of

farmers of Toe-gyaung-gyi, Toe-gyaung-ga-le and Da-wei-gyaung were given

small plots between the period 1988-89 to 1998-99. But the majority of

the farmers from these villages and the remaining villages have not been

compensated in a way. (This is the information we have received).

Sixty seven farmers presented an appeal.

The list below gives the names of the villages and the extent of

compensation.

1. Toe-gyaung-ga-le one third have been given plots of land.

2. Toe-gyaung-gyi two thirds " " " "

3. Da-wei-gyaung one third " " " "

4. Thein-gyaung one third " " " "

5. Ma-da No one has been given any land.

6. Sit-pin " " " " "

7. Kyu-chaung " " " " "

8. Ma-lit " " " " "

9. Ah-waing " " " " "

10. Ywa-thar-gyi " " " " "

11. Lay-daunt-gan " " " " "

12. Shan-tae-gyi " " " " "

13. Thon-gwa " " " " "

14. Nyaung-bin " " " " "

15. Tha-yet-bin-chaung " " " " "

16. Yay-dwin-chaung " " " " "

17. Kwin-ma " " " " "

18. Kyi-su " " " " "

19. Sin-che-ya " " " " "

20. Thit-seik " " " " "

6. We have been informed that an appeal has been presented to the

District SPDC. We solicit that the farmers' appeal be given

compassionate consideration and they be appropriately compensated for

the losses they have suffered.

Central Executive Committee

National League for Democracy

Rangoon

24 February 1999