The government hasn’t replied to demands from the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) to give back land that was confiscated by the military for a training centre in Hpruso Township, Kayah state.
The KNPP told the military to build it somewhere else, not in the middle of a planting field, according to Vice President Khu Oo Reh.
“This land was confiscated land by the government. But the government said that they have already finished the building and it used a lot of their budget so it’s not possible to stop it.”
The KNPP responded by suggesting that the building be used as a school, but the government hasn’t replied.
Many people oppose plans to build the training centre. A referendum, demonstration and a prayer ceremony were organized by locals demanding the land be returned to the farmers.
Farmers were offered 50,000 kyats an acre for the land but most didn’t want to sell it.
The Union Level Peace Making Committee and the KNPP have officially met twice. The KNPP also recently met for state level talks and off the record on 3 occasions.
During all of those meetings they expressed their opposition to the construction of the military training centre.
The KNPP signed a ceasefire agreement with the government on March 7 of last year. Although both sides agreed to a 20 points agreement discussions about repositioning of troops have failed to net any results.
