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Print:This Short Update describes events occurring in Hti Lon Township, Hpa-an District in March 2014, including land confiscation committed by the Burma/Myanmar government and wealthy individuals, destruction of villagers land due to flooding caused by a dam, as well as the strategies of villagers to claim back their land, and obtain compensation for the land that they have lost.
- In Naung Ka Myaing village, fields belonging to 39 villagers were confiscated and flooded by the Yay Boat Dam (also called the Hti Lon Dam), resulting in the destruction of over 3,000 acres of land. A further 44 villagers had their land confiscated and marked as ‘forest land’.
- The villagers filed an official case with the Burma/Myanmar government, in an attempt to receive compensation, and have submitted a list of landowners and the amount of land they lost, as well as videos portraying the land.
- Burma News International (bnionline.net) conducted a video news report on the case. A link to the video, as well as a description of its contents, can be found below, following the tables.
Short Update | Hti Lon Township, Hpa-an District (March 2014)
The following Short Update was received by KHRG in April 2014. It was written by a community member in Hpa-an District who has been trained by KHRG to monitor human rights conditions. It is presented below translated exactly as originally written, save for minor edits for clarity and security.[1] This report was received along with other information from Hpa-an District, including six other situation updates, 1,080 photographs and two video clips[2].
| 800x600 This photo was taken on March 9th 2014 in the western part of Hti Lon village, Hti Lon village tract, Hlaingbwe Township, Hpa-an District. The photo shows damage to villagers fields due to water which was released by the Hti Lon Dam. [Photo: KHRG] Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} | 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} This photo was taken on March 9th 2014 in Hti Lon village, Hti Lon village tract, Hlaingbwe Township, Hpa-an District. This is a photo of the Hti Lon Dam. The Burma/Myanmar government confiscated villagers land to build the dam, and once built, resulted in damage to over 3,000 acres of villagers land. [Photo: KHRG] Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} |
I want to report about the suffering of the villagers of Noh Ka Mler village. The village is called Naung Ka Myaing village in Burmese. The villagers are suffering the same things as the villagers from Maw Ko Der village, Hti Lon village, the kaw la [Muslims][3] and the Mon[4]. In the list that was submitted to me by the villagers of Naung Ka Myaing village, there are 40 fields that were flooded [due to the Yay Boat Dam]. They submitted the amount of land and the names of the villagers whose land was confiscated. They also submitted the acres of land that were confiscated by the government and rich people, and the names of 58 land owners[5] whose land was confiscated. The villagers are also trying their best to get compensation for their land that was affected by flooding, and the land that was confiscated by other people. There are 3,000 acres of land that were flooded. They also gave videos that show the land that was confiscated (while traditional music plays in the background), and the list of land owners, in their own hand writing. The government also threatened the villagers.
Table A1. List of farmers whose land was flooded due to the Yay Boat Dam, and the number of acres flooded:
|
No. |
Name |
Father’s name |
Residence |
ID number |
Acres |
Signature |
|
1 |
U Saw Kin Shwe |
U Chit Thein |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
12.00 |
|
|
2 |
Daw Ma Than Nweh |
U Moo Be |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
16.00 |
|
|
3 |
Saw Aung Kyi Win |
U Shwe Li |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
2.22 |
|
|
4 |
U Thein Lon |
U Ton Nyin |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) |
4.87 |
|
|
5 |
U Naing Min Aung |
U Awh Tha |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
3.57 |
|
|
6 |
Kay Thi Soe |
U Pipe Thaung |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
3.57 |
|
|
7 |
U Loon Shwe |
U Aung Kin |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
8.84 |
|
|
8 |
Daw Naw Moo |
U Ton Hpay |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
11.30 |
|
|
9 |
U Saw Myah Shwe Aung |
U Maung Tin |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
25.00 |
|
|
10 |
U Than Tin |
U Kyah Mee Lone |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
6.00 |
|
|
11 |
Daw Hlah Sa Ber |
U Tu Lu |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
5.00 |
|
|
12 |
Daw Moo Thout Lah |
U Ah Ku |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
20.00 |
|
|
13 |
U San Thein |
U Sein |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
15.00 |
|
|
14 |
Saw Hpa Lay Kyaw |
U Tha Tin |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing)--- |
|
|
|
15 |
U Than Tin Aye |
U Be Sa Koe |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
17.00 |
|
|
16 |
U Paing Law |
U Kyaw Thin |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
7.00 |
|
|
17 |
Saw Thein Ngwe |
U Hpa Ler |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
6.00 |
|
|
18 |
U Maung Htun |
U Paw Law |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
1.14 |
|
|
19 |
Nan Hte Po |
U Shwe Htun |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
4.20 |
|
|
20 |
Moo Hta Ler |
U Sein Tway |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
15.00 |
|
|
21 |
Daw Ta Htet Htet |
U Kya Hkin |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
5.00 |
|
|
22 |
U Saw Kin Hlet |
U Shwe Mya |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
10.00 |
|
|
23 |
Nan Paw Hka Lu |
U Tway Maung |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
2.08 |
|
|
24 |
U Hpa Sa Lon |
U Tha Yin Aye |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
2.50 |
|
|
25 |
U Shwe Sein |
U Hpa Shaung |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
|
|
|
26 |
Maung Win Naing |
U Mya Yon |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
17.00 |
|
|
27 |
Htain Lin |
U Hton Hpay |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) ---- |
7.00 |
|
|
28 |
Naung Mu Ti |
U Maung Oo |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
3.00 |
|
|
29 |
Daw Nan Hkin Myint |
U Hpa Hpaung |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) ---- |
3.00 |
|
|
30 |
U Tha Kwee |
U Lone Shwe |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
20.00 |
|
|
31 |
U Win Kyaw |
U Hpa Su |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
13.50 |
|
|
32 |
Moo Naung Htee |
U Ba Lee |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing) --- |
13.44 |
|
|
33 |
U Hpa Taw |
U Hton Rate |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing --- |
3.58 |
|
|
34 |
Daw Ma Thaung Na |
U Kyah Kee |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing --- |
20.00 |
|
|
35 |
U Ka Lee Htun |
U Myah Sein |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing ---- |
20.00 |
|
|
36 |
U Hpa Lo |
U Tin Poe |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing ---- |
13.14 |
|
|
37 |
U Saw Hpah Htoo |
U Shwe Hlah Tun |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing ---- |
14.00 |
|
|
38 |
Nan Moe Moe |
U Tun Maung Shwe |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing--- |
12.00 |
|
|
39 |
U Sein Myah Shin |
U Kway Paw |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN(Naing--- |
25.00 |
|
Table A2. The list of farmers whose land was confiscated and marked as ‘forest land’, and the number of acres confiscated:
|
No. |
Name |
Father’s name |
Residence |
ID number |
Acres |
Signature |
|
1 |
Nan Lu Ku |
U Tin Aung |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing) --- |
Farms |
|
|
2 |
Maung Myint Soe |
U Myaing Thein |
Ta Wan Pan Ya |
N/LBN (Naing) --- |
1.50 |
|
|
3 |
U Ah Bu |
U Maung Shwe |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
3.00 |
|
|
4 |
U Win Kyaw |
U Phaa Wu |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
11.68 |
|
|
5 |
Daw Pu Lone |
U Maung Saung |
Kyone Kaw |
N/LBN (Naing)--- |
Farm |
|
|
6 |
U La Kwa |
U Ba Chit |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
Farm |
|
|
7 |
Daw Sein Lite |
U Myah Sein |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
3.00 |
|
|
8 |
Saw Nay Tun Aung |
U Mot Kain |
Gyone Pa Kaw |
N/LBN/ (Naing) --- |
Farm |
|
|
9 |
U Maung Sein Myint |
U Htee K’ No |
Gyone Pa Kaw |
HBE – --- |
3.00 |
|
|
10 |
Saw Tin Soe |
U Pa La Bon |
Gyone Pa Kaw |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
Farm |
|
|
11 |
Daw Po No |
U Kyah Doe |
Gyone Pa Kaw |
N/BAN (Naing)---- |
8.75 |
|
|
12 |
Daw Moo Nya |
U A’ Dwite |
Naung Ka Myaing |
HBE – --- |
Farm |
|
|
13 |
U Saw Pu Lu |
U Nyuat Sin |
Ta Wan Pan Ya |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
Farm |
|
|
14 |
Saw Has Ma Nya |
U Hpa Gaw Htee |
Ta Wan Pan Ya |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
Farm |
|
|
15 |
U Maung Way |
U Pipe Poe |
Ta Wan Pan Ya |
HBE – --- |
Farm |
|
|
16 |
Daw Ma Yin Aye |
U Ta Bu |
Ta Wan Pan Ya |
N/LBN/ (Naing) |
Farm |
|
|
17 |
U Hlah Aye |
U Pan Mya |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/LBN/ (Naing)--- |
4.00 |
|
|
18 |
Daw Myu Hlaing |
U Ban Du La |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/LBN/ (Naing)--- |
20 |
|
|
19 |
Saw Ba Thein |
U Htun Maung |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
15 |
|
|
20 |
U Ah Pa Lon |
U Tun Hla |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)---- |
Farm |
|
|
21 |
Daw Mya Kyone |
U Nyaing Myaung |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
3.00 |
|
|
22 |
U Maung Sin Shwe |
U Tin Aung |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
4.00 |
|
|
23 |
U Hpa La Own |
U Chaung Lone Pyu |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
1.50 |
|
|
24 |
Daw Kin Mya |
U Hpay Mon |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
Farm |
|
|
25 |
Daw A’ Wa |
U Hpaa Pu Lu |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
Farm |
|
|
26 |
Daw Mya Than |
U Taung Thu |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
Farm |
|
|
27 |
Daw Ma Yi Tun |
U Thein Aye |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
Farm |
|
|
28 |
U Than Aye |
U Than Hpay |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
Farm |
|
|
29 |
U Thant Kin |
U Kaing De |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
2.50 |
|
|
30 |
Nan Kin Myint Htay |
U Ban Du La |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
Farm |
|
|
31 |
Saw Hpa Loung |
U Kyaw Kin |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
Farm |
|
|
32 |
Nan Meh Yin Thein |
U Pa Da |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
Farm |
|
|
33 |
U Hpa Thon |
U Ngwe Htun |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
3.00 |
|
|
34 |
U Tha Daw |
U Hpa Hla Aung |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
3.00 |
|
|
35 |
U Saw Hpa Da |
U Jet Nu Paw |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
|
|
|
36 |
U Saw A’Ka Ler |
U Hpa Pu Lu |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
9.95 |
|
|
37 |
U Awh Ba Sein |
U Maung Chit |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
Hill field |
|
|
38 |
DAw Ma Win Aye |
U Shwe Hla Lu |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
Hill field |
|
|
39 |
Saw Shwe Hlaing |
U Aung Tin |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)---- |
3.00 |
|
|
40 |
U Kyah Aee |
U Aung Kyaw |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
2.00 |
|
|
41 |
U Shae Lone Sein |
U Hpa Ti Ka Lu |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
5.00 |
|
|
42 |
U Maung Shwe Sein |
U Hpa Naung |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
|
|
|
43 |
Daw Pi Li |
U Za Bout |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)--- |
2.50 |
|
|
44 |
Daw Sa Per Nyaunt |
Ni Taw Lu |
Naung Ka Myaing |
N/BAN (Naing)---- |
3.00 |
|
Review of BNI video:
Burma News International (bnionline.net) conducted a video news report on the case, which can be viewed below or at http://burmese.bnionline.net/index.php/videos.html?task=videodirectlink&id=200 (Burmese language).
In the video, local people who live between Hti Lon Township and Hpa-an Township discuss the land that they have lost due to the construction of the Hti Lon Dam, and how they reported this to Nan Say Hwah, a member of Parliament from Hpa-an Township.
Over 100 people[6] from Hlaingbwe Township, Karen State, had over 3,000 acres of their land confiscated due to the construction of the dam, and the villagers have encountered various difficulties because of this. The villagers do not have land to live and work on, so they must do odd jobs in order to survive. In addition, a number of their children have gone to work in Thailand, as there is no work available locally.
The local Agriculture and Irrigation Ministry (#6) began construction on the Hti Lon Dam in 2006, and finished in 2010. The villagers have not yet received any compensation for the land they have lost. Villagers from Naung Ka Myaing village in Hpa-an Township, and Hti Lon village & Yay Pu village in Hlaing Bwe Township, in particular have suffered the consequences of the dam project. The villagers were not informed and consulted about the project.
U Zaw Htike, Chairman of the 88 Generation Students in Hpa-an, arranged for the villagers to meet with Nan Say Hwah. Nan Say Hwah stated that she did not have the right to tell the Chief Minister of State to provide compensation to the villagers who lost their land, but she will report about the case to the Minister, as well as to the chairman of the Farmland Investigation Commission.
This photo was taken on March 9th 2014 in the western part of Hti Lon village, Hti Lon village tract, Hlaingbwe Township, Hpa-an District. The photo shows damage to villagers fields due to water which was released by the Hti Lon Dam. [Photo: KHRG]
This photo was taken on March 9th 2014 in Hti Lon village, Hti Lon village tract, Hlaingbwe Township, Hpa-an District. This is a photo of the Hti Lon Dam. The Burma/Myanmar government confiscated villagers land to build the dam, and once built, resulted in damage to over 3,000 acres of villagers land. [Photo: KHRG]
Footnotes:
[1] KHRG trains community members in eastern Burma to document individual human rights abuses using a standardised reporting format; conduct interviews with other villagers; and write general updates on the situation in areas with which they are familiar. When writing situation updates, community members are encouraged to summarise recent events, raise issues that they consider to be important, and present their opinions or perspective on abuse and other local dynamics in their area.
[2] In order to increase the transparency of KHRG methodology and more directly communicate the experiences and perspectives of villagers in eastern Burma, KHRG aims to make all field information received available on the KHRG website once it has been processed and translated, subject only to security considerations. For additional reports categorized by Type, Issue, Location and Year, please see the Related Readings component following each report on KHRG’s Website.
[3] Kaw La Thu, “thu” meaning black, is a term used to refer to Muslim people by Karen people in Burma. Muslim people do not typically self-identify with this term.
[4] The Mon people are believed to be some of the oldest inhabitants of Southeast Asia. Most live in the central Myanmar government demarcated areas of Mon State, located in the south of Burma and bordering Kayin State, Bago Region (formerly Pegu Division) and Tanintharyi Region (formerly Tenasserim Division). These areas overlap to an extent with KHRG’s research areas, which follow a locally defined system of demarcation.
[5] In the original report, the researcher indicated there were 58 landowners whose land was confiscated. Upon reviewing the lists provided, there were 39 landowners who lost land due to flooding, and 44 whose land was confiscated and marked as ‘forest land’.
[6] The video describes ‘over 100’ villagers losing their land due to flooding caused by the dam. KHRG only received information pertaining to 39 villagers who lost their land specifically due to flooding.
