Local farmers in Waw Township, Bago Region, were allegedly coerced into signing denials stating that they did not pay landmine clearance fees. This comes in the wake of news reports revealing that 100 household heads had demanded these fees, locals said.
In recent days, local farmers called on the 100-household heads to clear the landmines laid by Myanmar army troops in the fields near Letpan, Oakpho and Pauktan villages so that farmers can harvest their crops. According to reports, the 100-household heads collected fees from farmers for mine clearance fees of up to 10,000 kyat.
After news reports surfaced that the administrators collected mine clearing fees of up to 10,000 kyat, they were asked to sign statements that no fees were paid, said a local.
“Those who demanded the fees are members of the Pyu Saw Htee militia who were appointed by the military council,” he said. After the news came out, they stopped collecting the fees. But a day later, farmers were forced to sign statements that they never paid any money. As for the landmines, they have not cleared any of them yet. Let has the most landmines planted,” he said.
The Myanmar army has been collecting landmine clearance fees through its 100-household and 10-household heads since September. Although more than 1,000 local farmers have paid the fees, the mines have not yet been cleared. Instead, they have been forced to make denial speeches, according to locals.
The military council’s failure to clear the landmines in the fields has left farmers unable to harvest their crops.
The Bago Region is an area where revolutionary forces are trying to expand their control over territory, while the military junta is also actively training and arming Pyu Saw Htee militia to boost their strength.
“It’s true that the military council has demanded money from farmers in Letpan village in Waw Township to clear landmines so that they can enter their fields to harvest rice. We haven’t yet received any formal complaints from the residents. We, the People’s Defense Forces, will take action if they do injustice to the people,” said a leader of PDF-Waw.
Last September, the Myanmar army responded to attacks on its outposts in Letpan village with artillery fire.
The junta’s artillery fire forced residents to seek safety elsewhere.
After the incident, the military council threatened to confiscate the villagers’ property if they did not return to their homes, residents said.
Sent by KIC.