Myanmar has formed the Central Committee for Reviewing Confiscated Farmlands and Other Lands by the order number 21/2019 of the President Office on 5 February 2019, to address complaints about land confiscation and proper transfer of lands to the original owners.

The Central Committee held a coordination meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

Vice President U Henry Van Thio, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Central Committee, made an opening speech.

The meeting was also attended by its Vice President and Union Minister Dr Aung Thu, Union Minister U Min Thu, the members of central committee Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe, Lt-Gen Sein Win, U Ohn Win, U Thant Sin Maung, U Win Khaing and Dr Myo Thein Gyi, the Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council, chief ministers of Regions / States, Secretary of the Central Committee and Deputy Minister U Tin Myint, Deputy Attorney General U Win Myint and cabinet members of Regions / States, the Joint-Secretary of Central Committee and officials.

In his speech, the Vice President said the members of central committee have met eight times and adopted 52 policies up to the ground level to be able to reward the confiscated farmlands and other lands in line with the existing laws.

The Central Committee was expanded with the forming of its branches for Nay Pyi Taw and other Regions/States on 26 April 2019. In doing so, each Pyithu Hluttaw MP and Amyotha Hluttaw MP took part in the respective district and township committees.

The Vice President also advised all the committees to address the complaints on land seizures, while the government ministries are releasing the confiscated lands to the original owners and the transfer of these lands to other ministries for reserved land.

He also suggested the return of lands to the original owners without delay, and the members of Central Committee are to review the settlement mechanisms for land disputes to avoid the losses of owners.

He also offered to submit special reports on informing the requirement of urgent settlements to the relevant committees, and to follow instructions and guidelines from the Union government to the committees.

The Vice President then called for opening committee offices at the local levels with enough human resource capacity and organizing workshops and training programmes.

Secretary of the Central Committee and Deputy Minister U Tin Myint, presented the reform of the Central Committee, ongoing dispute settling mechanisms, and the return of confiscated lands.

Vice Chairman of the Central Committee and Union Minister U Min Thu explained the return of seized lands to the original owners in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations.

Then, the members of Central Committee explained their reviewing on the cases of land confiscation.

Union Minister for Transport and Communications U Thant Sin Maung, Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Ohn Win, Union Minister for Electricity and Energy U Win Khaing, Union Minister for Education Dr Myo Thein Gyi, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Sports Dr Thar Tun Kyaw, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Construction U Win Tin, Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, Joint Secretary of Yangon City Development Committee U Than discussed the processes of issuing recommendation from the relevant ministries and compensations.

Then, Deputy Attorney General U Win Myint explained laws and regulations related with the confiscated farmlands and other lands, followed by the suggestions of Union Minister Dr Aung Thu on the land confiscated issues.

The meeting was concluded with the coordination of Vice President U Henry Van Thio in the discussions.

MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)