In Mon State, military council departments and administrative bodies are reportedly collaborating to divide and sell agricultural and garden lands—designated as prohibited for alternative use—to businesspeople and local residents at will.
The military council is seizing farmlands under the label of “project land,” sometimes providing minimal compensation and forcibly acquiring and relocating people before subdividing and selling the land plots.
In recent days, rubber plantation lands along the Mudon-Kan Kyi road have been cleared under the authorization of the Mudon Township Administrative Office and are being sold in plots measuring 40×60 feet for around 20 million MMK per plot. According to a local from Mudon, both township authorities and some local individuals are reportedly involved in these transactions.
“They’re dealing with businesspeople. If Naypyidaw later tries to develop a real project in these areas, the land could be reclaimed. No documents are valid. These areas are legally designated for specific agricultural use only,” the local added.
According to land laws, these areas cannot be legally repurposed, and since they are subject to reclamation at any time, locals are hesitant to engage in buying or selling them.
On June 10, the military-appointed Chief Minister of Mon State, U Aung Kyi Thein, personally stated at a farmland management meeting that agricultural lands should not be used for other purposes without official approval.
Despite that, sources say the military council’s administrative group is implementing a new residential development project called “Hlaing Yadanar” in downtown Mawlamyine.
“People are trading land however they like. Some transactions are done with complete paperwork; others are done without documents but with government offices’ help. Those who believe in the system are still buying,” said a resident.
In addition, since the early period of the military coup, in Chaungzon Township areas such as Kwan Rite, Ywa Lut, Thekaw, and Kwan La Mine villages, large acreages of farmland and garden lands have been subdivided and sold, with the situation worsening this year, according to residents of Chaungzon.
In administrative areas where the military council’s system is operating smoothly—such as Mawlamyine, Chaungzon, Mudon, and Ye—permits to repurpose farmland are reportedly being granted to land brokers, ward administrators, and businesspeople affiliated with the military.
Sources added that buying or selling farmland without permission to use it for non-agricultural purposes is not legally valid under farmland laws and may lead to imprisonment, fines, or both.
