KNPDP is a Karenni armed group which agreed ceasefire with the government and it gave back the size of 148-acre farmlands out of 220 from No.1 farmyard located near Pado-Ngan village, De-maw-so Township to deliver among the local villagers. However, there was a dispute among villagers concerning who ought to be owners of the returned farmland.

Nevertheless, these farmlands were being cultivated by Sobawthe villagers, before the tenure of Kayawni group. As a result, Sobawthe and Pado-Ngan villagers have been arguing on land-ownership for the returned farmlands previously grabbed by KNPDP. According to Lay-wee, head of So-baw-thae village, some part of farmlands ought to be shared to his villagers as well.

“Since they have no land to work, they were allowed to cultivate on farmlands by understanding. So, they shouldn’t exploit the situation and parts of our farmlands should be given back. If our farmlands are not given back, it would be unacceptable,” Lay-wee said.

After Kayawni group was presented these farmlands by Regional Military Commands (Loikaw) in 2001, Pado-Ngan villagers were also allowed to use those farmlands for growing afterward, said Pado-Ngan village-head Par Tri-romin.

 “Although Pado-Ngan village granted to work on these farmlands by RMC, they didn’t cultivate for a decade. Coincidently, we have no land to live and work at all and for that reason we move in here for our livelihood.” he said.

As the local inhabitants requested, the organization turn in the farmland to them, said Chit Maung, secretary of Karenni National Peace and Development Party.

“As we aimed in order to support easy life for villagers, we officially returned the land in the presence of government officers,” he continued.

After Kayawni group exchanged arms for peace with former regime in 1999, the then junta offered military-grabbed farmlands to them as a welfare assistance supporting their families’ livelihood in 2000.