Their demands were: for every village to have access to enough farmland so that all villagers can earn a livelihood; to return all unfairly confiscated farmlands; to remove and dispose of whatever is causing bad smells at the Yazuna Company cassava growing business; to increase the development and improvement of farmland quality; to construct water reservoirs and dams to improve the quality of farmland.

About 100 farmers attended the Peasant’s Day celebrations held at Wa Ra Zup Village which is on the Ledo Road in the Hukawng Valley area of Kachin State. U Mar Khar, a senior lawyer, gave a lecture explaining the laws relating to farmland.

Lashi Awng Lat, the leader of the Wa Ra Zup Village-Tract farmers said the celebrations were intended to spread knowledge and experiences regarding farmland to farmers and to ensure that they had sufficient farmlands to provide them with a livelihood and to improve their lives.

In order to set up its business along the Ledo Road in the Hukawng Valley in 2006 the Yazuna Company confiscated all the farmers’ lands and they have been facing daily hardships ever since.

Farmers from 10 villages along the Ledo Road in Hukawng Valley were surveyed to find out if they wanted the Yazuna Company in their area. The results showed the farmers did not want the company in their area and they held a press conference to publicise the survey’s conclusions.

Daw Bawk Jar Kachin the state leader of the National Democratic Front (NDF) said they had been using two points in law to try and lawfully get the farmland returned to the farmers.

He said: “While we are trying to get the confiscated farmland back the laws are being changed. This means that if they [the farmers who originally owned the land] have no receipt to show that they owned the land it will be confiscated.

“Now, according to a speech made by the president, even if farmers cannot show evidence of land ownership they should still be given back their farmlands if they can prove they have been working there a long time and four farmers from the surrounding area can vouch for that.

“We are still opposed to the clause that states land ownership will be cancelled if they [the farmers] do not work on the land for six months. [We are also opposed] to the draft Law of National Land Use.

The farmers decided to make their points on Peasant’s Day because they feel aggrieved that they have been losing farmland and cattle since the Yuzana Company set up its business in the area.

Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI