Residents of Naung Ka Myaing Village in Hpa-An Township, Karen State have called for greater transparency from the company laying MPT and Telenor fibre optic cables in the area.
They made the demands after the company, Fiber Optic Communication Network Co. Ltd, dug trenches on farmland in front of houses without informing the residents.
Trench for Fibre Optic Cable
Saw A Naing, a Naung Ka Myaing resident said to KIC News on 9 May: “They didn’t come and consult with the local residents about the digging. They only informed us through the [local] administrator. The administrator didn’t explain to us. We couldn’t stand it so we complained. Only then [after we complained] did they come to explain it, but the farmers didn’t accept [the explanation]. They should explain to us transparently [what they will be doing] before doing it. Now, they are digging in front of local residents’ homes and farms. [The trenches have been dug] in the area of farms and yards instead of in the road area.”
Residents of Naung Ka Myaing Village met with the company’s planner for the project, Bo Myint Htwe, some of his associates and the Naung Ka Myaing administrator, Saw Maung Tu, on 8 May to try and resolve the issue.
Residents said that when they asked Bo Myint Htwe why the company had dug on their farms without asking for permission and who had ordered the company to do so he failed to give a clear-cut response.
On 26 February 2015 the Fiber Optic Communication Network Co. submitted a letter to the Hpa-an District General Administration Department saying they were going to to lay down fibre-optic cables. The letter said that the fibre optic cables would be laid next to the road, but in reality, according to residents, trenches have been dug on farmland and next to people’s homes.
Saw Maung Tu said: Officials from the company told us to inform the local residents. I was busy so I couldn’t inform everyone. Farmlands and homes of 42 people will be affected in our village. They are also digging in another village. I think it would be inappropriate for only our village to oppose it.”
He also said that the company told him that it would dig fibre optic cable trenches from Hpa-An to Mae Tha Wa in Hlaingbwe Township and that no one else had complained about their farmlands being affected.
Fiber Optic Communication Network Co. has been given permission to install fibre optic cables from Taungoo to Hpasaung, Hpapun, and Hpa-an for MPT and Telenor.
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
