Buthidaung Arakan State: The Buthidaung Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) Chairman along with the Township Land Survey officer have confiscated over 500 acres of arable lands from Rohingya farmers since 2008 to grow paddy in summer for additional income, said a local farmer on condition of anonymity.
After seizing the lands, they rented it to the original owners for growing paddy in summer as an extra crop. In 2008, they collected Kyat 50,000 per acre from the farmers during harvesting.
But, in 2009, they (TPDC Chairman and Land Survey officer) collected Kyat 30,000 per acre from the farmers.
However, in 2010, the TPDC Chairman and the Land Survey Officer U Aung Mya Tha asked the Rohingya farmers to pay half the money for the rented lands. This year also, the farmers have to pay Kyat 50,000 per acre or 13 Tans per acre (one Tan= 35 kg or 40.91 Litre). Some of the farmers had already paid half the money per acre, and some farmers are still delaying payment, the farmer added.
They seized 500 acres of arable lands from Rohingya farmers for their business without any investment, by just ordering the farmers with the help of the army or the Nasaka or the Sarapa (Military Intelligence) or the police. They confiscated over 500 acres of arable lands from eight village tracts including Badana village Tract, Taragu village Tract and Panbe Chaung village Tract of Buthidaung Township, said former village chairman.
But, from Wa Thaya village of Badana village tract, they seized 81-acres of arable lands from only Rohingya villagers of which 21 acres belong to the Land Survey Officer and another 60 acres belongs to the Chairman of the TPDC. Since 2010, they have been collecting money from the villagers.
As a result, from one village tract, at least, the Land Survey Officer made Kyat one million fifty thousand and the TPDC Chairman made 3 million Kyat per year. In this way, the authorities have been earning money illegally from the Rohingya community, said a local trade seeking anonymity.
The original farmers are deprived of ownership of their land and have to grow paddy for the authorities. It is a kind of forced labour, said a local farmer.
There are many kinds of lucrative business ventures in north Arakan State run by other authorities such as --- Army, Nasaka, Sarapa (military Intelligence), DPDC chairman and the Tactical Operation Commander( TOC) by using forced labour from the Rohingya community.
The objective of the junta is to be in a position to strictly monitor and control the day-to-day activities of ordinary individuals, thereby creating a situation of complete state oppression. The regime especially targets the Rohingyas for abuse because of their ethnic, racial and religious status.
