To:
U Zaw Min
State Minister
Kayin [Karen] State
Subject: Request for permission to rebuild Taung Na village
Regarding the above subject, when [Tatmadaw][2] LIB[3] [Light Infantry Battalions] #548 and #549 came and built their new army camp, the Taung Na villagers lost their village and currently live temporarily in the Taung Na Taw Ya Monastery.
Because it is not appropriate for Taung Na civilians to live long term on monastery territory and religious grounds, we plead that you give us permission to build a new Taung Na village alongside the road from LIB #548’s pagoda to Kwet Thit Bridge.
U B--- (elders of the community, Taung Na village)
Displaced Taung Na villagers (representative)
Na Bu tent nel [village tract], Kawkareik Township[4]
Copy
- State Administrator, State General Administrator Department, Kayin State, Hpa-an Town
- State Land Registration Administrator, State Land Registration Department, Hpa-an Town
- Received
This complaint letter regards the T’Nay Hsah [Nabu] villagers [originally] from Taung Na village who live on monastery territory, which they refer to as a “refugee [displaced] settlement” with 38 houses in total. They have requested a permission letter from U Zaw Min [Kayin State Minister] to allow them to set up the location and build the [new] Taung Na village. All of the villagers are Karen people. Twenty years ago, when the military [Tatmadaw] confiscated their houses, lands, plantations and farms, they became refugees [displaced] on the monastery’s territory. They have had to hire [back] their own farms that the military confiscated from them in order to be able to make a living. Currently, the two groups [Tatmadaw battalions #548 and #549] reported in the letter have set up plots for them beside the army camp and they have to pay 50,000 kyat (US $52)[5] for one plot of land for a house. One villager reported that, “There is no way we have to buy our own land for 50,000 kyat for one house [plot of] land. They confiscated a lot of our plantations and farms; they leased [sold] our land and we have to buy our own land. We need to find our friends [local and international supporters] who can help us. If we find them, we will tell them everything about this case.”