June 5, 2009: The Burmese military junta authorities confiscated private lands in Kalemyo, Sagaing division western Burma in May this year.

Mr. Zahleithang of Zohnuai Town Peace and Development Council said that 15 acres of land have been seized by Kalemyo authorities. The land belonged to two farmers.

“The reason for seizing the land could be that the two farmers could not cultivate their land. The authorities issued an order to confiscate land which is not being maintained by the owner. So the TPDC chairman has grabbed the land on the orders of higher authorities,” said a local.

A total of 200 acres of land have been confiscated by the authorities in Kalemyo area.  After seizing the land they ask local people to do the cultivation but the locals hesitate to do so as the lands are confiscated from fellow civilians.

“Local people depend mainly on cultivation. If the authorities seize the land how can we continue with our farming? The victims are facing many problems in earning their livelihood. Some have sold their lands cheap before it could be seized by the authorities, and then shifted to other villages,” said a local.

The military junta confiscates private lands citing many reasons. The regime never pays any compensation for the lands seized. There are about 1000 villages in Kalay area where 80 percent of the population is into farming.