Khatter Non: In early September 2010, the Light Infantry Battalion No. 103 (LIB) confiscated land from three villagers in the Alesakan village, Kaleinaung sub-township, Tenasserim Division.
They took 90 acres from Nai Par Dood, 25 acres from the family of Nai Htun Lein, and 30 acres from the family of Nai Nyunt.
Alesakan’s village headman and the people’s militia participated in this confiscation of 145 acres, consisting mostly of areca nut (betel nut) trees. The estimated price for 145 acres is 44 million kyat.
A source close to Nai Par Dood, explained that LIB No. 103, the village headman and the people’s militia will share the profit from these betel nut plantations. Nai Par Dood will receive no compensation for the land taken.
Nai Par Dood explained “My plantation is worth about 18 million kyat, but currently I cannot go to harvest my betel nut and this is the time to harvest it.”
Nai Par Dood’s plantation consisted of 30 acres of uncultivated land and 60 acres of betel nut plantation. On his 60 acres of land, he harvested 100,000 betel nut trees. Nai Nyunt’s plantation had 40,000 betel nut plants and Nai Htun Lein’s plantation had 27,000 plants.
“Two [Nai Nyunt and Nai Htun Lein] were killed by LIB No. 282 in February of 2010. Nai Par Dood left the village and reached the Mon National Defense Army (MNDA),” reported a source from a Mon non-governmental organization working nearby.
It is unknown whether Nai Par Dood or the families of the two other men will be given back their land.
Land confiscation is on the rise in Mon areas. Earlier this month, LIB No. 209 informed the Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) in Kamawet village, Mudon township, that this battalion would confiscate 80 acres of villagers’ paddy fields and give it to the Burmese army.
