17 March
Over 300 acres of farmland in six townships in Magway Region were released by government departments and returned to 108 farmers yesterday, in the presence of Vice President U Henry Van Thio.
A ceremony to return the farmland was held at the Town Hall in Magway yesterday, where temporary land use certificates were presented to 128 farmers in the region.
Out of 877.49 acres released by government departments, over 300 acres were returned to farmers and some 570 acres were also returned to the government, as land to be kept under the management of the government.
“It is found that some land confiscation issues are not right, not because of dishonesty, but because of not understanding the laws, and some are not right because of dishonesty. Therefore, the land confiscation issues should be resolved within the framework of the law and courageously, systematically and with goodwill and compassion by committees at different levels,” said the Vice President, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Central Committee for Scrutinizing Confiscated Farmlands and Other Lands.
“Solving farmland confiscations involves scrutinizing documents and ownership to know if they are in conformity with the law. The task is also needed to take time to handle the issues on the ground, as there are inadequate documents and records,” he said.
“To solve the issue without mistakes and losses, great care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the work,” said U Henry Van Thio, “When implementing the work, we are solving the issues as fairly as possible, and with sympathy and compassion.”
The central committee, formed in May 2016, established regions and state-level sub-committees for scrutinizing land confiscation issues, and laid down a 52-point work process to solve the issues.
The lands were released by No. 5 Textile Factory of the Ministry of Industry in Pakokku Township, Myanma Timber Enterprise of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation in Seikpyu Township, a tank battalion from the Ministry of Defence, and the Agricultural Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation in Magway Township. Land was also turned over by the Acid Factory of the Ministry Electricity and Energy in Chauk Township, Horse and Sheep Farm of the Ministry of Industry in Taundwingyi Township and the Agricultural Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation in Minhla Township.
Solving farmland confiscation issues would result in decreasing the migrant populations leaving their farmlands in search of job opportunities in cities and in overseas countries, and decreasing the number of skilled labourers leaving to seek employment in foreign countries.
The Vice President urged the farmers to work hard and honestly, to raise their living standards and to produce high-quality agricultural produce, without losing sight of the transition from traditional farming to mechanized farming.
He also expressed thanks to the departments concerned for releasing the farmland.
Magway Region Chief Minister Dr. Aung Moe Nyo, Chairman of the Magway Region Committee for Scrutinizing Confiscated Farmlands and Other Lands, reported on those measures being taken for solving the issues in the region. Officials of the government departments presented documents related to releasing the farmlands to Pakokku District Administrator U Kyaw Arnt Maung. The officials also presented temporary land use permit form-3 to the rightful farmers. — MNA (Translated by Kyaw Zin Lin)
