Kyauk Pru: The Secretary of the Kyauk Pru Township Union Solidarity Development Association, (USDA) organizing department has allegedly seized many acres of forest land with the help of local army officers for his personal use, said a teacher in the area.
“U Myo Ko Han, Secretary of the USDA township organizing department, confiscated many acres of forest land near the foot of Kyauk Si Daung mountain in Kyauk Pru township. The forest is used by local people,” he added.
U Myo Ko Han is not only a highly placed official of the township USDA but also a senior clerk of the government survey department in Kyauk Pru Township.
“He can take possession of the lands and make it his own easily because he is in power. Again, he is a senior clerk of the survey department. So he knows how to manipulate and occupy public land for his own use. Many public lands in the area are his own and people do not get a chance to work there,” the teacher said.
Despite the local Burmese Army authorities being aware of U Myo Ko Han seizing public land no action has been taken against him because he has greased the palms of army officers by bribing them with money and gifts. This way they do not take action for the land confiscation.
Many villagers from villages including Thi Chy, Htin Thway, Kyauk Si, Pri Daw, Ma Ahu Pri and Dwe Cha are in a spot after he seized forest lands.
“The villagers living near the mountain are now in trouble because U Myo Ko Han has banned them from procuring bamboos and timber from the forest. Earlier, local people procured timber and bamboo from the forest to build their homes. There is no rule or law which allows government officials in rural areas of Arakan to do what they like as Myo Ko Han has done,” he said.
It is flouting of the law by Myo Ko Han but there is no one to complain about the seizure of public lands for private use as Myo Ko Han has done.
“Every body will be in trouble if he or she complains to higher authorities. The local people are silent despite knowing it is an offence and an injustice. It is tantamount to oppression by a powerful official of innocent people,” the teacher added.
