A group of 16 farmers from Aunglan township, Magwe Division has sent a letter to State Peace and Development Council leader senior general Than Shwe, complaining that they have been bullied by forestry officials.

The group of farmers, led by U Pan The, sent a letter to the SPDC head on February 20, saying local Forestry Department official U Tin Ohn had tried to force them off their land and had attempted to destroy their crops.

The group claims that U Tin Ohn attempted to have their farms listed as part of the Bwetgyiyebaw conservation area – a move that would have prevented them from developing the land.

But the farmers filed a complaint against the action with Magwe Division’s chairman major Phone Maw Shwe, who reportedly stepped in to stop the move.

U Min Naing, one member of the farmers group, told DVB U Tin Ohn held a grudge against them and had repeatedly tried to interfere with their crops since.

“The forestry official bore grudges against us and forcibly planted castor oil plants in the sugarcane, cotton and bean crops of the farmers,” U Min Naing said.

“He told them that he would sue them if they destroyed his plants or it they were damaged . . . the farmers were then unable to plant early or late monsoon crops. The Forestry Department has been harassing us for the whole year.”

The group claims U Tin Ohn’s actions have cost them about 10 million kyats. Forestry Department officials were repeatedly unavailable for comment yesterday.