Over 1,000 acres of crop plantations belonging to the people were confiscated in Kachin State, Northern Burma by the Burmese ruling junta two weeks ago, farmers said.

The seizure occurred in areas about 18 miles south of Myitkyina Township, capital of Kachin State between the Myitkyina-Mandalay highway and the railway. The plots are owned by farmers between Mali Hka village, where a small train station is located, and Myitkyina, said land owners.

The farmers were told by the government staff by the Township Land Ownership Office and Administrative Office (Ma-Ya-Ka) at a special meeting in Mali Hka village that the land confiscation without compensation was in keeping with the government’s plan.

Of the land confiscated, over 200 acres are active paddy fields and the rest are different seasonal fruit plantations. The seized land includes over seven acres of paddy fields in Mali Hka belonging to the Baptist pastor, actor, director and comedian Rev. Jawnshaw Yaw Ying, the villagers told KNG.

Of the seized land, the farmers in Mali Hka grew fruit trees like Djenkol-bean tree, edible leafy trees and land paddy mainly on highland areas, villagers said.

The farmers said they mainly depended on the plantations for both their daily income and survival. They are in a hopeless situation and are facing big trouble without any idea about where to appeal regarding the matter.

According to rumors from Burmese military bases and government personnel, the land was seized by Kyaw Thura, the eldest son of Maj-Gen Ohn Myint, military commander of Kachin State.

The ruling junta has confiscated civilians’ land in Putao District, Hukawng Valley, Myitkyina District and Bhamo District for military bases. The seized land would be used for building Buddhist monasteries and implementing government programmes like planting rubber and castor oil trees, the locals said.