January 15, 2021
By returning over 8180 acres of confiscated land to farmers in Yaksauk Township, Taunggyi District, amidst COVID-19 pandemic yesterday, the Union Government has stepped up efforts for solving the confiscated farmland issues for the New Year.
A total of 1,116 farmers were granted land-use certificates or Form-7 in the presence of Vice President U Henry Van Thio in Taunggyi yesterday.
The legal certificates would grant the farmers with the rights guaranteed by the 2012 farmland law and 2012 vacant, fallow and virgin land management law. They will benefit from the work they have done and their future generations will have the right to use the land.
Assessments are being carried out to return the remaining confiscated lands to farmers as soon as possible.
Regarding the solving of the farmland confiscation issues nationwide, it has been found that there have been delays in returning the farmland to farmers on the ground although the confiscated farmland had been released by the relevant ministries.
Hence, findings by the authorities and the situation on the ground need to be carefully scrutinized to ensure there are no differences between them.
Meanwhile, it should be worth noting that action would be taken against any personnel or officials who caused hindrances to the work of the relevant committees in assessing, reviewing and returning confiscated lands to the farmers and permitting them to work on these lands.
Members of the region and state farmland confiscation committees continue to go to the grassroots level and closely supervise cases and to check if the cases from regions and states are handled in accordance with the 52-point list of procedures, which has been implemented to resolve complicated land confiscation issues, based on paper documentation, evidence, and legal matters.
The manner in which the land confiscation issue is resolved would reflect on the image of the country. Land management must be carried out properly and with transparency, in accordance with the rules, regulations, and procedures laid down by law as this has a direct bearing on improving the socio-economic condition of the people.
Therefore, all levels of committees for scrutinizing confiscated farmlands and other lands need to effectively handle complaints on land matters according to the policies and work processes.
