Maungdaw, Burma: The Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) members are using forced labor of villagers in Maungdaw Township for growing onion, garlic and sun flower since last week.

The villagers of Maung Nama village, Ye Twin Pyin, Gyikan Pyin, Nwah Yon Daung, Phur Wut Chaung,  Bagona Nah,  and  Ngan  Chaung  villages have to provide labor to the TPDC members twice a week to till the land to grow winter crops.

In every village, the villagers have to grow one acre of onion, one acre of garlic and two acres of sun flower, on a total four acres. Twice a week, a villager has to give a pair of draught cattle to plough the vegetable fields along with the people.

The farm lands are along the Maungdaw-Bawli Bazar Road that were confiscated from Rohingya farmers for Natala villagers earlier. Now, the TPDC members are willing to grow winter crops for their own profit.

At present, the arable farm for growing winter crops of Rohingya villagers are mostly confiscated by the authorities to grow pulse, onion, garlic, sun flower, physic nut ,rubber  for the army camp and Natala (Model) villagers. If any one of the villagers wishes to grow winter crop, she/ he has to borrow farm lands from Natala villager by paying money.

To grow the TPDC's project crops, they will provide seeds, but villagers must nurture the seeds and nourish the plants with fertilizer with their (villagers') labor.

Besides, State Peace and Development Council's (SPDC) authority, especially agriculture department is forcing villagers to grow sun flowers, pulse and potato in Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships since the beginning of this month. So, Villagers have to grow crops for agriculture department once and then for TPDC authorities. As a result, they will have no time to work for their family members.