The Burmese Army in Tamu district, Sagaing division, Burma has taken over privately cultivated land and forced local people to cultivate summer rice from December last year.

Though the army says it has borrowed the arable land, in actual terms it has seized the plots.

“We are summoned to work in the fields and one person from each family has to report for work. If we fail we pay Kyat 5000 as fine,” said a local in Kanan village, Tamu township.

A report said that the military camps in western Sagaing division - LIB 89, LIB 228, LIB 87, LIB 361, LIB 362 and LIB 363 have “borrowed” some lands in their respective areas forcibly and ordered people to cultivate summer rice without any wages being paid.

“They borrowed all lands where summer crops can be cultivated without consulting the owners. Although they said they would pay an amount, we don’t believe them. Local people are cleaning the cultivatable area and arranging for water supply for the crops,” said a local in Tamu town.

There are about 30 villages in Tamu Township and the estimated land area available to cultivate summer crop is at least 20,000 acres.

“Though the military is calling it borrowing from civilians, it is only an excuse. In reality they have confiscated the lands. This creates serious problems for us in earning our livelihood as we cannot produce any crop during summer,” said one of the land owners.

Similarly, the military in Kalemyo also told local people to cultivate summer rice.

Since the military junta cannot support its soldiers with their families, they confiscate private land to cultivate for their use.