Army orders cutting down of rubber plants near base

Wed 30 Jul 2008, IMNA
A Burmese Army artillery battalion under the command of the Southeast Command forced local plantation owners to cut rubber plants along the army base.

Rubber plantations near Ah-bit, Youngdoung, Hnee-padaw, Kwan-hlar, Set-thawe village southern Mudon Township and some villages in Thanpyuzayart Township were ordered to be cut down by artillery regiment No-318 based in Ah-bit village Mudon Township Mon State.

Over 6,000 rubber plants ready to produce sap and about 15,000 medium plants near the artillery battalion were identified to be cut down, according to an owner.

The owner said "The plantations owners don't want to cut it because their plantation could produce sap in the coming season. That's why the plantations owners have being bribing the Burmese artillery battalion to avoid cleaning up heir plantations." Most owners paid 700 Kyat per plant to the artillery.

Artillery regiment No- 318 confiscated approximately 200 acres to build their battalion base in the southern part of Mudon Township since 2002 without paying compensation.

"He (the artillery officer) warned us that we can't sell our plantation to others. They would seize our plants when they wanted to" the owner said.

Currently the army authorities have allowed owners to walk across the army camp only from 6 am to 5 pm to go and work in their plantation beside the army camp.

The army forced them to make permit cards for allowing them to cross the army gate, a Youngdoung villager said, "They won't allow the travelers and local villagers if they cannot show the card".

The plantation owners had paid for their photographs to the artillery to get the permit cards.

A Youngdoung villager said the plantation owners are disappointed with the artillery because the plantation workers have start work from midnight to scrape the plant. Due to limited time, they face problems going to their plantation.