With only our voices (English)
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
‘<strong>With</strong> <strong>only</strong> <strong>our</strong> <strong>voices</strong>, what can we do?’<br />
1. Occurrences and actors<br />
Since December 2012, villagers and KHRG researchers working with KHRG reported cases<br />
of direct or indirect land confiscation related to NRE projects 55 times across all seven<br />
KHRG research areas in southeast Myanmar. 95 The majority of reports received by KHRG<br />
involved NRE projects in Hpapun District, followed by Dooplaya and Thaton districts.<br />
Land confiscation for the purpose of implementing NRE projects was perpetrated by, or with<br />
the cooperation of, the Tatmadaw, 96 Karen BGFs, 97 KNU, 98 KNU/KNLA-PC, 99 DKBA, 100<br />
KPF, 101 Myanmar government officials, 102 Myanmar private companies, 103 foreign private<br />
companies, 104 and wealthy individuals. 105 Villagers identified Myanmar private companies<br />
and wealthy individuals as the perpetrators most often involved in abuses related to NRE<br />
projects, often in collusion with armed actors and Myanmar government officials.<br />
According to villager testimony, land confiscation usually occurred with little or no prior<br />
consultation. In the majority of cases, villagers did not receive any compensation for their<br />
appropriated land. Of the 55 cases of land confiscation related to NRE that KHRG<br />
documented, <strong>only</strong> three reports involved compensating villagers for their land, 106 nine reports<br />
involved partial compensation for villagers (either below the market value of their land 107 or<br />
below the value promised by the perpetrator), 108 and <strong>only</strong> six reports mentioned consultation<br />
with villagers before their lands were taken. 109 In one instance, villagers reported being forced<br />
to sign an agreement to sell res<strong>our</strong>ces on their land: 110<br />
“In terms of the compensation, at first I was promised that I would be given 2,000,000 kyat<br />
(US $1,929.58) per acre. However, since I am [now] being given <strong>only</strong> 2,000,000 kyat for<br />
seven acres of my land, I do not feel satisfied. I cannot do anything. I just have to forget<br />
about it. I also cannot use the land in the future [after they have conducted gold mining].”<br />
Saw A---, (male), D--- village, Ma Lay Ler village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Hpapun District/<br />
Northeastern Kayin State (Land Grabbing Form received in July 2014) 111<br />
95 For an example of land confiscation in Thaton District see s<strong>our</strong>ce #9; in Toungoo District see s<strong>our</strong>ce #71; in<br />
Nyaunglebin District see s<strong>our</strong>ce #19; in Mergui-Tavoy see s<strong>our</strong>ce #80; in Hpapun District see s<strong>our</strong>ce #22; in<br />
Dooplaya District see s<strong>our</strong>ce #14-10-LGF1; in Hpa-an District see s<strong>our</strong>ce #98.<br />
96 For example see s<strong>our</strong>ce #102.<br />
97 For example see s<strong>our</strong>ce #25.<br />
98 For example see s<strong>our</strong>ce #22.<br />
99 For example see s<strong>our</strong>ce #43.<br />
100 For example see s<strong>our</strong>ce #62.<br />
101 For example see s<strong>our</strong>ce #49.<br />
102 For example see s<strong>our</strong>ce #20.<br />
103 For example see s<strong>our</strong>ce #42.<br />
104 For example see s<strong>our</strong>ce #95.<br />
105 For example see s<strong>our</strong>ce #19.<br />
106 For example see s<strong>our</strong>ce #16.<br />
107 For example see s<strong>our</strong>ce #12b.<br />
108 For example see s<strong>our</strong>ce #13b.<br />
109 For example see s<strong>our</strong>ce #49.<br />
110 See s<strong>our</strong>ce #17.<br />
111 See s<strong>our</strong>ce #13b.<br />
33
Change language