Eight farmers from the first group that lodged complaints over illegal cuts to their farming loans in Taunggup Township, Arakan State, were reportedly summoned and questioned by the township administrator.
The farmers, allegedly from Kyaukmaungnhama Village in Taunggup Township, were interviewed by the Township Administrator U Tint Zaw in his office at 11am on 7 October.
“The administrator asked us if there were any illegal cuts from our loans, how the loans were cut, and if cuts were based per acre of farmland or generally. He also asked us if we are satisfied with those cuts or not. We told him that we are unhappy and want the money back because it was illegally taken from us and it is very difficult for us to make such amounts of money”, said a woman farmer and fellow complainant.
The administrator reportedly asked the farmers to sign the statements given during the investigation and dismissed them without detailing a plan for resolution.
According to the farmers, Kyaukmaungnhama Village Administrator U Myint Shwe (a) Pu Maung and Land Department official Ko Tin Maung Htwe illegally collected 10,000 Kyat from a farmer for a ticket issued for farm loans.
U Chit Hla, a Chin ethnic farmer included in the investigation said Village Administrator U Myint Shwe and Land Department official U Tin Maung Htwe cheated him of over 1 lakh kyat with promises to issue registration for the cultivated orchard around his paddy fields.
“I planted an orchard around my paddy fields. U Myint Shwe and U Tin Maung Htwe have already taken money from me twice with promises of registering my orchard—70,000 Kyat at first and 40,000 Kyat the second time. I still have not received the registration nor a receipt for the money paid. I told this to the township administrator and signed my statements given during the investigation”, said U Chit Hla.
Dissatisfied with the illegal collection of money, the farmers lodged complaints with the township administration during the second week of September.
Farmers from Moe and Maunn Village Groups in Taungup Township also complained to the township administration about illegal cuts to their farming loans and will be summoned by the administrator soon.
The farmers said the township agricultural bank recently issued farming loans at a rate of 50,000 Kyat per acre of farmland, but the officials who were assigned to disburse the loans illegally collected between 7,000 to 10,000 Kyat from each farmer.
Many area farmers have reportedly complained to the township administration about officials illegally cutting their farm loans, but still face difficulties because the administration has neglected to take meaningful action against the officials.
