About 400 Paoh farmers protested in Taunggyi City on 8th January demanding the return of farmland confiscated by the Paoh National Organization (PNO) and the Paoh National Army (PNA).
Farmers from Thayetpin, Sikekhoung, Konlon, Khonar, Noungkar, Phetkon, Nyetmee, Mauksan, Htwebwar, Satthay, Phayarne, Kyaukne, Pinphyit, Pernway, Kanaingchar, Phapyarphyu, and Hopong; village-tracts in Taunggyi, Hopong, Hsihseng, Pinlaung and Yawksawk townships; took part in the protest in downtown Taunggyi.
As they marched from Bogyoke Park to Aung-Myay-Boanthar monastery the protesters yelled their demands and held placards that said things such as: “Stop, grabbing and selling out the land”, “No more confiscations (PNO/PNA)”, “We must own our land”, and “The People’s desire must win”.
U Kyaw from Mauksan Village said: “The PNO came and said we should donate our land to them. I could not accept that because about 20 acres of my land were grabbed.”
Nan May Soe Oo from Naungkar Village said: “Paoh people are protesting against Paoh people because some Paoh people [the PNO and the PNA] are unfair to others. Why is it happening? We would like them to show us some sympathy and request that they return us our lands. Even if they do not return it all we would be satisfied if we could get one third back. Although we have appealed to the state government several times they have done nothing, which is why we are protesting.”
The protesters were given legal advice by the National League for Democracy and some of their members joined the protest. U Tin Maung Toe the NLD Taunggyi district chairman said: “We did not lead this protest. By law we have the right to help people when they request it, not just Paoh people, but anyone from Shan State.”
Local ethnic residents already held two protests against land confiscations in 2014.
The Shan State Government is looking into over 1,000 cases of land grabbing in Taunggyi, Tachileik and Kyaukme districts and they are receiving new cases on a daily basis according, said U Sao Aung Myat, the prime minister of Shan State on 24th December.
Colonel Khun Lar from the PNA said that the PNO and PNA had not grabbed the farmers land for themselves, but that they were going to use it for development projects.
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
