Ponna Kyunt: Many acres of farmlands in several villages in Arakan State were confiscated by the Burmese Army recently for army families, said a teacher from the area.

"Over 200 acres of farmland in Ponna Kyunt Township was seized by Light Battalions 550 and 232 for army families. Some acres of army owned-land have been lost to railway construction. So, the army authorities confiscated the land of farmers to make up for its loss," he said.

Light Infantry Battalion 550 is based in Ponna Kyunt, 20 miles north of Sittwe, and LB 232 is based in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State. The two battalions are known to have confiscated land from Arakanese farmers in the past.

A local source said, LB 550 confiscated 36 acres from Mala Wra, 73 acres from Kua Son Village, 60 acres from Myin Daw Village, 30 acres from Thedek Village, 80 acres from Tauk Son Village, 50 acres from Bae Kho Village, 30 acres from Kywe Lan Chaung Village, and 10 acres from Wan Tean and Nga Pruk Si Villages.

LB 232 also confiscated farmland from Ponna Kyunt Township, including nine acres from Kyi Daw Village, 11 acres from Bae Nga Rar Village, 45 acres from Yo Ta Yoke, and five acres from Aung Sit Village.

"Some land will be allocated to army families but some will be used for cultivation by the army battalion. In Ponna Kyunt Township, many rubber and castor oil plantations are being cultivated by the army after the land was confiscated from the public," the teacher added.

According to a local source, almost half of agricultural lands in Arakan State have been confiscated by the Burmese Army since 1988 for use by the military without any compensation.