Almost 90% of Mon people in Mon state come from farming families and have a very strong attachment to the land they farm.
The recent news of land confiscation by the Zekabar Company to build a cement factory in Kyaikmayaw Town, as well as Lt. Gen. Ohn Myint’s order for land confiscation in Mudon Township has shown that the government authorities and government backed companies treat local Mon farmers quite terribly. Both the company and the Lieutenant General have disregarded Mon farmers’ rights to a livelihood, survival, and human dignity.
The executive director of Zekabar Company, U Khin Shwe, is also an elected Military Personnel (MP) in the People’s Parliament, under the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). Now he not only has power capital but political power as well. U Khin Shwe was close with the previous government, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and he succeeded in attaining many business concessions from the Burmese regime. Even before he became an MP, he confiscated land from Mon farmers, and his Zekabar Company forced farmers to abandon their land with only minor compensation.
After the November 7th election, local farmers in the eastern part of Mudon town, situated in the middle of Mon State saw even more land confiscation by the new government. Mon State Parliament was formed and Lt. Gen. Ohn Myint was appointed as Chairman.
The USDP made a concerted effort to win the November 7th election. In Mon State, the USDP ran against the All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP) and received the majority.
The Mon State government has the responsibility to ensure the people in Mon State benefit from peace, stability and social development. During the campaign season, the USDP made promises to provide many development projects in Mon areas.
But the USDP and the Mon State Parliament must take responsibility for its voters. Since the Mon people in Mon State are attached to their land, the state government must be concerned with farmer’s land rights. Farmers must be assured that they will not lose their land or property.
Burma’s recent and existing land laws, which state, “all lands are belonged to State” are highly disadvantageous to Mon farmers. Additionally, there are no land laws related to business investment, factory building and infrastructure. The Mon State government must, therefore, ensure that the land belonging to Mon farmers is not taken by force by companies’ business interests.
Since November 7th, most Mon voters expect peaceful livelihoods, especially in accordance with their land. If the government does not guarantee farming land and sustainable livelihoods, the voting in November will have lost all meaning.
