Farmers campaign against land confiscations at Ngwe Saung Beach

Farmers campaign against land confiscations at Ngwe Saung Beach

Published on Sunday, 08 December 2013 13:08

 

Local plantation owners and farmers have launched a poster against the Shwe Family Company for land confiscation in Ngwe Saung Beach, where yachting competition will be soon hosted as part of the 27th Southeast Asian Games.

"The Sea Games is a national sports festival for all of us, Myanmar people. I am proud of it and I welcome it. But, I want them to know that we have been exploited. That's why we have put up vinyl signs and posters at the confiscated lands to show who have confiscated them. We have also planned to do a T-shirt campaign. We don't have any plans to stage a protest," said Thein Aung, a land confiscation activist from Ngwe Saung Beach.

Over 40 vinyl signs with the slogans "Farmers Whose Lands Have Been Confiscated by U Hla Maung Shwe, Shwe Family Company", and "Give Back the Lands Forcibly Confiscated by Hotels" have been erected at the confiscated lands. The farmers will also wear T-shirts with the same slogans on the opening day of the Sea Games.

"The President gave an instruction to investigate the land confiscation issues as soon as possible on the day he came [to Ngwe Saung]," said Thein Aung, chief minister of Ayeyawady Region.

"He told us that the authorities will come to investigate us on December 12. So, we are making investigations to have a systematic order when the confiscated lands from the villages in Ngwe Saung, Thazin, Buukwe, Phone Maung Kyaing, and 23rd Mile are given back," said Thein Aung.

Some departments including the general administrative department of Pathein district will investigate the land confiscation issues on December 12. 

Hla Maung Shwe, a member of the President's National Economic and Social Advisory Council, has established Silver View Hotel in Ngwe Saung Beach and Pyae Phyo Kyaw Company. He is also working as a senior official at the Myanmar Peace Centre.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/farmers-campaign-against-land-confiscations-at-ngwe-saung-beach/