“In the Auden [Village] area some trucks and bulldozers were brought in to make new roads, but because the State government hasn’t approved such construction they couldn’t continue their work,” said Nai Lawi Aung.

According to local residents, the Chinese businessmen have bought many acres of land in Ye Township’s Aunden and Hangan Villages and in Kawzer Sub-Township with help from some local people.

“It is not that they [the Chinese businessmen] themselves came to buy the land, but that people from this village buy [land] for them. Because they pay good prices some villagers sell their land, while some do not,” said an Aunden Village resident.

The Chinese company CONCH bought 37 acres of land on a hill located near Aunden Village for 225 million kyat as well as land in other villages.

IMNA reporters found that the land CONCH bought near Aunden Village to build a stone production factory is only half a mile away from the sea, and the new road the company is making is nearly completed.

Due to the state government’s ban on the Chinese company constructing new roads, the trucks and bulldozers have been left near the beach.

Aunden Village and the Parlain area is located in western Ye Town. The area is a gateway to the sea, and a suitable place for the import and export of raw materials and other products.

Currently, the Toyo-Thai Group is preparing to construct a coal-fired power plant in the Parlain area, but  on August 23rd the United Parlain Regions group called on village administrators to examine and monitor all foreign investments in the area.

The New Mon State Party (NMSP) also forbids Chinese businessmen from investing in land for purposes of building stone production factories or road construction.