Kyauk Pru: The villagers on Masaraichaung Island, one of the areas hit hardest by Cyclone Giri late last year are facing difficulties as a common creek on which they have come to depend for their livelihoods has been confiscated by the local army for its welfare funds.
A school teacher from the island said that the army battalion LIB-34 has confiscated the creek, resulting in 250 families losing the source of their wealth, food and employment. This comprises a total of over 1,100 peoples from Chaunggreephya, Shwenyoma and Rwathikekay villages on the island.
“Masaraichaung Island in Kyaukpru Township was one of the areas hit hardest by Cyclone Giri. No paddy farming can be done in the rice season of this year as the dams and dykes on the island were damaged in the cyclone, so most of the villagers on the island have now turned to fishing for their livelihoods. Despite the outlined situation, the Kyaukpru based LIB-34 has confiscated the creek, which the villagers are dependent upon, under the title of raising its welfare funds. The army is now restricting access to and fishing in the creek. They beat and abuse those who do not comply with their restrictions”, said the school teacher.
He said the creek on the island is abundant with fish and was confiscated by the forces of LIB-34 led by Sergeant Thein Han for so called army funds in June this year.
A villager from the island also said they had complained about the matter to the district and township level authorities, but no authority has yet been able to stop the army from monopolizing the creek.
“After we had complained about the matter to the district and township level authorities, the officials from the departments of fisheries, land registration and irrigation investigated the matter, but they do not have enough power to overrule the army so the monopolization of the creek has continued, as have the threats against the villagers", said the villager.
There are six villages including Chaunggreephya, Shwenyoma and Rwathikekay on the island. Almost every house, school and dyke on the island was damaged by the strong winds and tidal surges of the cyclone. The damaged dykes on the island were restored by the help of the ‘Save the Children’ NGO and a local youth group.
However, as the dykes were been broken again during the heavy rains in July this year, the farmers on the island could not cultivate paddy farming this season and they have to work with whatever is available on the island, including fishing to sustain their day to day needs.
The army's unruly confiscation of the common creek on which the villagers had been depending as a life giving source has simply added to their existing worries, including a lack of shelter, food and other essentials.
