Central Myanmar holds Workshop on Peasants' Affairs
Published on Wednesday, 20 August 2014 20:33
Farmers attend a workshop to discuss legislation on farmland and forests. (Photo/EMG)
The issue of land grabbing dominated a workshop for farmers in Magway, which drew delegates representing farmers in every township of the region in central Myanmar, delegates said.
The August 19-20 workshop aimed to regain land farmers say was grabbed under existing laws. Delegates discussed the strengths and weaknesses of current legislation on farmland and forests so that they could prepare a more robust report on the crime to submit to the Union government and Parliament, they said.
More than 60 delegates representing the farmers from all 25 townships in the region attended the event organised by farmers' rights activist Aung Kyaw Kyaw.
"More than 30,000 acres of land were grabbed by No.25 Defence Equipment Factory in Saw Township," delegate Tun Myint from the township's Ngat Pyar Kyin village said. Of this amount, more than 700 acres had been taken from farmers in his village, he said.
"We are planning to submit our grievance against land grabbing to the Magway Regional chief minister in cooperation with local farmers," he added, saying the workshop would allow them to draft a petition in accord with the law. They will then sign it and send it to the government and Parliament.
About 13,000 acres of farmland have been seized by a defence equipment factory in Taungdwingyi Township, farmer Than Naing said, adding that the Ministry of Industry had grabbed another 700 acres.
Than Naing said the land taken had been cultivated by farmers. "We discussed how to regain our land or receive compensation, and signed a report on land grabbing to give to authorities," Than Naing added.
The workshop was the second of its kind in the region. Delegates discussed how to collect signatures for a petition against land grabbing, relevant legislation and how to amend or remove contentious articles or sections of current laws.
http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/central-myanmar-holds-workshop-on-peasants-affairs/
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