the critical review of wfslb english version

8/7/2019 the Critical Review of WFSLB English Version

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Certain Documents of Violation of Workers and Farmers Rights in Burma

Workers and Farmers Solidarity League of Burma Rangoon, Burma.


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Farmland Confiscation and Labour Exploitation: The Critical Conditions of the Lives of the Toiling Mass



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Farmland Confiscation and Labour Exploitation:

The Critical Conditions of the Lives of the Toiling

Mass

Certain Documents of Violation of

Workers and Farmers Rights in Burma.

Workers and Farmers Solidarity League of Burma

28-3-2011 Rangoon, Burma

From Saya San and Thakhin Pho Hla Gyi to all those who have participated in all

revolutionary eras of anti-imperialism, anti-fascism and anti-military dictatorship system with

courage and glory

To all those who have been imprisoned for democracy and human rights movement, workers

and farmers strikes and fighting for their private rights as revolutionary heroes.

To the oppressed mass of workers and farmers around the country, Burma,

(And)

To all suppressed migrant workers in exile.

Sincerely and truly,


Rangoon, Burma.


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Index

1. Prelude ............................................................................................... Page (1)

2. Preface ................................................................................................ Page (2)

3. Introduction ....................................................................................... Page (3)

(Current conditions of the lives of Burmese workers and farmers)

4. Documented cases of the violation of the rights of workers and farmers

(1)Farmers section .......................................................................... Page (7)

(1-a) Force confiscation of land ................................................. Page (7)

(1-b) Tyrannized maltreatment .................................................. Page (9)

(1-c) Planned crops rotation practices ................................... Page (12)

(2)Workers section ........................................................................ Page (14)

5. Conclusion

(a) Analysis and Resolution .......................................................... Page (20)

(b) Fundamental Necessities and Minimum Rights ................. Page (22)

(c) Demand and Request .............................................................. Page (23)

(d) Documentation ......................................................................... Page (24)

(e) Future Agenda .......................................................................... Page (24)

(f) Suggestions ................................................................................ Page (25)

(g) Our Chronicle .......................................................................... Page (26)

Abbreviation .......................................................................................... Page (27)


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(1)

Prelude

1. This thesis highlights only a small part of the critical conditions of the lives of the

oppressed and exploited workers and farmers, who represent the highest level of

Burmese population. In other words, it may be just the beginning as the first line of the

first page of the chapters of the book, which comprises the human rights violations of

the military regime.

2. As like the usual codes of conduct of other dictators, Burmese military junta usually

apply various forms of barriers to control the spread of the news, eradicate the evi-

dences, putting various pressures to the victims not to reveal the truths etc. regarding

their systematic human rights abuses.

We, therefore, would like to express our gratitude to foreign media associations

which produce public reports under difficulties and restrictions; the local news jour-

nals, which prudently endeavour to highlight the realities of the lives of workers and

farmers under poverty and hardship on the news pages by all means; activists and

organizations of workers and farmers affairs which communicate with ILO and glo-

bal media and finally workers and farmers, who courageously address the unjust situ-

ations that they had suffered. Without their efforts, this thesis could not be docu-

mented.

3. This thesis is not prepared as a Human Rights report for International Human Rights

bodies and International Criminal Court. Specifically, it is prepared for Burmese people

and the mass of workers and farmers around the country to get insight knowledge. We

will be waiting for the day when a unity is established among the workers and farmers,

after discussing the matters in this thesis and passing the information with the word of

mouth.

4. In terms of unforeseen problems including security precautions, we may have a weak-

ness in verifying the documents. Therefore, if errors and mistakes regarding citations,sources of information and documentation occur, we would like to make a special

request with due respect to the victims and readers for forgiveness and contribution to

provide the required data.

News and Information Committee



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(2)

Preface

Independence, what we get today is not only for a particular social class. It is a product of the

unity, renouncement, upheaval and struggle of people from all walks of life, from workers, farmers,

traders, students, civil servants and officers to the resistance fighters. Therefore, this independence is

for workers, farmers, traders, students, civil servants and officers to the resistance fighters from all

forms of social class.

Independence, what we get today is not only for a particular organization. It has been acquired

by various organizations including People Voluntary Comrades, Socialist, and Communist, youths, women,

farmers, workers, organizations, unions etc, who fought imperialism from their sphere of concern with

unity. Therefore, this independence is for various kinds of organizations which include People Volun-

tary Comrades, Socialists, Communist, youths, women, farmers, workers, organizations, unions, etc.(From Prime Minister U Nus inaugural address at the ceremony of setting foundation of the Independence Monument on

4 January 1948, Sunday)

62 anniversary of our Independence Day has been marked now.

It might be a sad moment for the Independence Monument and the ceremonial address of setting

foundation. The lives of farmers and workers who fought for independence by sacrificing their lives are still the

same as under the colony era.

Acquisition of land

Acquisition of paddy fields

Forced labor, Forced potters

Usury, more harmful than Chettyar

Ongoing hardship everywhere like the saying of taking money, taking gold, then take girl

Workers have been under the oppressed situations of no holiday entitlements, denial of rights, no bonussystem, deduction of salary and wages, low wages and dismissals, etc.

In brief, the current situations of workers and farmers are the same as the situation of farmers during

the 1930s and situation of workers in 1938.

So, There are some questions now.

Is it a real independence?

If so, why couldnt workers and farmers enjoy the fruits of independence?

Who plunder their quota of independence?

The answers are clear.

The source of monopolistic plunder is military cliques monopoly economic system, the top rank military

clique and their nepotism.

All the proportions of independence quotas have been monopolized by the military clique and their

cronies, the skys the limit. If military dictatorship system continues to exit, the lives of the people wont be any

different to the lives under the colony. It would be under the new form of military slavery system.

In this thesis, we attempt to probe some cases that highlight the current situations of difficulties faced

by the workers and farmers.

One certain fact is....

The mass of workers and peasants have to fight and demand for their rights by themselves with unity,

renouncement and upheaval, to regain their independence which has been pillaged from them,

Organization Committee



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Introduction

Present condition of Workers and Farmers of Burma

Confiscation of farmland and exploitation of labour do not only amount to being invaded by the military

government and its cronies. The farmers whose social and economic life dependent upon the land are

subjected to being treated like slaves as well. Exploitation of labour not only affects the profit interests,

but also produces the consequences like desolation of the dreams of the families and waste of our countrys

prosperity. Moreover, it is a heinous crime against humanity of the plunders.

In fact, rural farmers represent 70 % of the population and agriculture is the main economy of the country. Over

40 % of GDP comes from farmland. According to SPDC official figures, there are more than 20 million acres of

paddy fields, which produce 160 million baskets (tins) of paddy annually. Nevertheless, the lives of the majority

who have contributed the large amount of countrys national income are still at a low ebb and bitterness despiteof the increasing figures in ploughed fields and productivity.

Authorities in each level use the law as a tool of exploitation, therefore, farmers have never got legal protections.

They are living under the poverty line, while their fat and flesh are being fed in the ploughed fields. In Burma,

farmers have no right to possess farmland, while wheeler-dealers possess land unlimitedly and unfairly. Military

government authorities of all ranks and their crony capitalists of devastated era have suppressed farmers, seized

their lands and apportioned between them. Freehold lands, which were cultivated by their predecessors, were

also seized. Tilled lands, which were cultivated exhaustively by farmers with the tilled land plan, were seized at

random. The areas surrounding the construction projects were confiscated unlawfully with so many reasons

such as the buildings of road, airport, military outpost, weapons factory, contract farming, cultivated garden plan,

factory compound, outpost compound, precedents land, generals land, sister-in-laws land, etc. The legal docu-ments of land property rights were destroyed unjustly at land revenue office. There are so many farmers with

deep sorrow who had to work at their own land as wage manual workers. Land-lost farmers went into exile as

illegal immigrants for manual work. It would be impossible for them to have a dream of getting their stolen land

back.

Farmers lost not only their property rights of land, but also lost the freedom to plant. Although the military

government claimed that BSPPs planed crops policy had already dissolved, it was just a propaganda tool. In

fact, the military government forced to plant castor oil plant, sugar cane, sunflower etc. Authorities compelled

farmers to buy paddy seeds, sunflower seeds and fertilizers from them. Farms products were not allowed to sell

in a free market. There used to have a compulsory policy that 12 baskets (tins) of paddy must be sold to the

government. After 2005, it was officially dissolved and claimed that there would be a free market policy. How-ever, prohibition of cross regional marketing and forced low- price settings for army quota were used. As a

result. farmers did not get the market price.

As military clique only knows how to get profits from agricultural products, they do not subsidize effectively in

terms of loans and inputs. Government Agriculture Banks used to lend, 2,000 kyats to 8,000 kyats and later

10,000 kyats to 20,000 kyats per acre, only for 10 acres. This form of government loan could be seen as feeding

a handful of sesame seeds to the elephants, as the real cost per acre per annum is about 100,000 kyats to

300,000 kyats accordingly. Loans of 100,000 kyats per person by some NGOs firms were incompetent as well

due to the low percentage of NGOs catchment areas. The Union Solidarity and Development Party gives loans

only to their members, relatives and people who may vote for them in the 2010 election. In this way, farmers

were bound up with chains and held within the walls. The practices of divide and rule policy among the farmers

were more obvious day after day.

Before ploughing, farmers have to borrow the necessary amount of money from local profiteers. It is very rare

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During the worker strikes at industrial zone that happened a few months ago, workers peacefully demanded to

increase their wage rates levied by the market price. However, they were demolished by armed forces without

any attempt to examine and solve the real problem. They deceived the workers by promising to increase wage

rates to stop the strikes. The wage rate was increased at first, but was reduced under the various titles later.

Finally, all were the same.

Working conditions are terrible as well. There is no mess hall, no pure water availability, no social welfare and nocasualty insurance. Helmet, boots, glass, etc for safety precautions are not provided. The employers dont pay

enough compensation for injury or compassionate allowance. It might be worse in in-house workshops, but

nobody had talked about this as it was invisible.

As the income from the factories is not sufficient, some workers tried to sell small goods in the markets. But most

of them could not afford for a small shop. Even outside the shopping centre, the rent of an area of 3 ft wide is at

least 15,000 kyats per month. Moreover, 200 kyats a day for sales tax and other titled tax by municipal needed

to be paid. Journal and pirated CD sales on platform have to pay money for sale tax, waste tax, bribe money to

police or and municipal. In some place, local Solidarity or swan-ar-shin looters threatened to pay money. Even bus

drivers and conductor have to pay money for transport line charges, toll gate charges, but, are also subjected to

deliberate deceptions by traffic police.

For the civil servants, their salaries were increased with printing banknotes in mass. However, as commodity

price increased with the levels of mass printed notes, increased income could not be sufficient to cover the higher

levels of living expenses. Therefore, civil service workers are also in a debt cycle.

As a result, office workers and civil servants tried to get extra income by taking briberies leading to the deterio-

ration of morale and being hated by the people. Furthermore, the military government does not assume them as

workers in the public services. Instead of being recognized as workers, they were assumed as the servants of the

military authorities. So they were subjected to be forced loyalists to the regime by attending sham mass demon-

stration, being as informers for the security agencies and participating in the collection of illegal advanced votes

during 2008 referendum. During this referendum period, people did not get the right to advanced votes nor vote in

many places, however, their places were appeared with vote yes in the lists.

At present, the military regime is using a number of unfair procedures to make sure victory for the government

backed-up party called Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). They urged the civil servants to vote

for USDP to secure their jobs. In every sectors, the officers used to oppress their subordinates. Specifically, ex-

army officers in public service sectors are more notorious for physical abuses such as shouting, punching and

attacks.

Accordingly, private company workers and workers in industrial zones had to suffer the similar forms of hardship.

Labour law statues are not enacted or upgraded along with the international standards to protect the rights of the

workers. Even the labor law enacted under BSPP regime had not been used properly and legal proceedings

favour the rights of the owners by taking briberies. Workers are subjected to recruitment and discharges depend-ing on the states of mind of the owners. In terms of salary figures, workers have to accept whatever amount,

even the low wages. As the unemployment rates are very high, workers have to do any jobs even though the jobs

are not related to their acquired skills and education standards.

In the education sector, teachers, who are relatives of the powerful military generals, have got a special rights of

promotion and good positions - while ordinary teachers were busy with both teaching and security duties. As the

salaries were not adequate, most of the teachers had to work as tuition teachers, lottery-ticket sellers, clothes

sellers to get extra income outside the teaching hours.

Era by era, lives of the retired staffs are worse than ever. They are too old to get other jobs. An old retired

headmaster of middle and high school, who had 33 years of service, got a monthly pension of 1,100 kyats, thatcould buy only 4 bottles of water. In fact, the military government knows the situation very well, but ignored the

situations of the elderly persons. It could be assumed as a violation of human right. It should be ashamed for the

Burmese people that some of the elderly retired school teachers, who have no relatives, became beggars for their


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survival.

Accordingly, migrant Burmese workers, who worked legally or illegally abroad, especially in ASEAN countries,

are also subjected to discrimination. They havent got equal opportunities like other workers. They seem to be

international hard labourers, who have to do 3D jobs (Dangerous, Dirty, Difficult). Nowadays, more Burmese

workers have become the victims of human trafficking due to the consequences of poverty, low education stan-

dards and lack of empathy. It is obvious that Rangoon, Mandalay and northern Shan State have become the main

areas used by human traffickers. However, protection by the government for the victims (people) is seriously

loose. Forced recruitment of child soldiers is a problem until now. In fact, the number of cases are increasing

rather than being ceased. It may be difficult to estimate the actual number of child soldiers in the army.

Nevertheless, it is sure that there might be many child soldiers. Recruiting children into the army is illegal. How-

ever, we have never heard about the punishment of the soldiers who recruiting the children into the army. There

has been a practising cycle of recruiting child soldiers as much as they can and releasing them when parents, ILO

& human rights activists found out. The lives of the children are also difficult as well. There are a number of

children of age 16, some under 12, working at the tea-shop, restaurants and casual jobs, instead of being in

schools. They have to work very hard beyond their abilities and subjected to daily beatings and physical abuses.

In Burma, it is obvious that manufacturing labourers, vendors, tricycle drivers, car drivers, casual labourers,pensioners, child labourers, civil servants, private sector workers etc., as well as farmers, do not get the rights of

fair and sufficient legal protection. Instead of giving legal protection to the workers and farmers, SPDC govern-

ment have put thousands of human right activists and non-violence protesters into the prisons. Although ILOs

support is inadequate, at least, it contributes some help for the workers, farmers and children.

Workers and farmers have now realized that, a genuine constitution and peoples government whom may repre-

sent the peoples interest and human rights is required; to solve the problems of workers and farmers and to be

free from human right violations. With this perspective, we, workers and farmers, should have to analyse our

current situations seriously and learn lessons from the past of the national struggles and international experiences.

We have to be in unity with monks, students, youths, indigenous nationalities and patriotic soldiers with a strong

determination to transform our country in terms of self-relying mass movement, to liberate workers and farmersfrom the lives of toil.


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The Documented cases of the Violation of

Worker and Farmers rights

(1) Farmer Section

(1/A) Forced Acquisition of Farmland

Case (1): At some of the villages in Nyaunglebin and Kyaukdagar township, eastern Pegu division,

authorities seized farm lands from some farmers. U Maung Soe and U Kyin Hlaings farmlands at Htingon

village, Kyaukdagar township which were sold legally by ex-village head (Village Peace and Development

Council)(VPDC) for the village fund, were occupied by new village head. They complained to township and

division authorities, but were neglected. At Gyaungtar village, Nyaunglebin township, 3.75 acres of farm lands,

which belong to U Han Thein and U Myint Htwe for years, were taken away from the lists of township land

registration office by the village authorities and sold to other persons. When the farmers complained about this

unfair case, authorities of township and division didnt take care, but reviled and threatened them.(RFA/28-1-

2009)

Case (2): In 2002, at Saytoktaya township, Magwe division, farmlands were occupied for military de-

fence service factory. After completing half of construction project, they confiscated again 20 acres of farmlands

from Ywarthit village and south Khattaya village for roads. The farmers have not even got compensation but their

plough fields and crops were bulldozed to build the road. Furthermore, because of blocking the Simee stream to

build road, it is likely to have the problems of water usage in agriculture. Moreover, Chan Aye Company, cooper-

ated with ex-military officers, was authorized to build tanks and military equipment factory in this area. (RFA/ 2-

2-2009)

Case (3): Alluvium, which traditionally belonged to 17 farmers at Ingapu township Irrawaddy division,were unjustifiably seized by Kywegon village authorities, VPDC chairman, secretary and surveyor. After that,

they divided into 20 plots and sold each for 30,000 kyats in 2007; 50,000 kyats in 2008, for themselves. (RFA/12-

1-2009)

Case (4): At the mountain areas surrounding Maei Chaung (stream) and land along New Maei town, in

Taungop township, Arakan state Land and Revenue Department surveyed 129,000 acres of land for rubber

plantation and lease to the Vietnam company. It includes a large amount of private gardening lands and farms

lands, so farmers in these areas are worried about when and how their lands would be occupied or the authorities

being compensated or not. In 2007, authorities also prepared to lease about 50,000 acres of land to Bangladesh.

But the plan had not come yet and Arakan people felt very pleased.(BBC/3-9-2010)

Case (5): Village/ Ward Peace and Development Council (V/WPDC) of Twinte township, Rangoon

division, ordered 20 households of Kangyigon village and 19 households of Tharyarhtay village near Light Battalian

70, to move out at the last date of 18 July. They had been living on this land for 20 years. Most of the inhabitants

are fishermen and gardeners and casual workers.

In July 2009, 40 acres of farm lands of Phayagyi village Twinte township, were taken over by authorities

and forced the landowners to move out by giving the reason that it was a waste land. 23 farmers who refused to

move out were charged with living on the waste land without permission and being sentenced to pay a fine on

June 15.(DVB/16-7-2010)

Case (6): Dagon International Co. Ltd. has started a parking centre construction project for 1000-

container vehicles at Dagon Port Industrial Zone, Rangoon division, since July 2010. They released an order toremove the farmers from the farmlands which were in the construction area during this year. Moreover, in 1996,

U Htay Myint of Yuzana Co. Ltd, compelled the farmers to take under-valued compensation for the farm lands

which are in the areas of Yuzana Garden city project, thus land lost farmers were in great distress and some were

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deceased. Now, the unjustifiably occupied farm lands are transferred from Yuzana U Htay Myint to Dagon

International at high price.(Irrawaddy/9-7-2010)

Case (7):At Twinngae village, Thabeikkyin township, Mandalay division, 30 acres of farm lands belong-

ing to U Bo Phyu, U Chit Htwe, Daw Moe Aye and U Kyung Thuang brothers, were occupied by new military

camp construction in-charge Colonel Zaw Htun, for his personal interests, in June 2010. He started planting agar

wood on the occupied land, against the farmers who planted sugar cane, peanut and variety of beans in the past.

(DVB/ 7-7-2010)

Case (8): In August 13, 2010, U Hla Than and his USDP (government backed-up party) members

arrived at Waryonswan village, Hlegu township, Rangoon division. They asked to gather 300 farmers and toilers

at the monastery regarding agriculture subsidies. With the interest rate was 1.5%, they lent most of the farmers

10 to 20 thousand kyats, but lent their close relatives 200 to 400 thousand kyats. Wayonswan villager Ko Zaw Min

Oo, who pointed out this unfair situation was arrested and sent to Dapein police station.(RFA/14-8-2010)

Case (9): VPDC also unfairly occupied 25 acres of farmlands from 8 farmers of Pathywe village,

Pantanaw township, Irrawaddy division, for the projects of fish pools. Although farmers complained to TPDC,

TPDC didnt deal with the problem well. Instead, they passed the case to the same VPDC who occupied the

land, thus, the farmers lost the case. Farmers not only lost their lands, but also lost their plough seeds according tofarmland acquisitions without notice. (BBC/15-6 2010)

Case (10): Most of Palaung (a) Ta-oung indigenous nationality living in Northern Shan state, Namkhan

township, Onlaw and Kaukwai village tract, are anxious about their farm lands, as forester U Tin Win Zaw of

Forestry department and survey group have measured the land without explanation in July. Inhabitants are wor-

ried about human right violations and farmland acquisitions for China gas pipe line construction.(contemporary/

19-7-2010)

Case (11): At Chinese border, Phimaw and Gawlan area of Kachin state, Chinese business men, ac-

companied with NDA (Kachin) group, compelled the locals to sell their plough fields, for pine-oil projects. Farm-

ers disagreed, but were forced to sell at a low price of about 100 RMB (Chinese currency) per acre with thethreats of confiscation. At Phimaw, Nga Zunbaung area, a small amount of money were forcefully paid for the

occupied land for cigarette factory, firewood factory, hotel and casino house. Now, farmers were left with one or

two acres of farmland per household, and got difficulties to live. (Linn Naing Oo/ 6-10-2009)

Case (12): Since 2006-2007, in the areas of Nammatee and Tanine of Kachin state, along Ledo Road, in

Pharkant township, Mohnyin district, Warazup, Namsai, Nagyarpar, Orra, Bankauk, Shayutsyut, Orral etc., Yuzana

Co. Ltd. backed up by SPDC generals, occupied 1,308 acres of farm lands without compensation for sugar cane

and cassava plantprojects. So 148 local farmers sued Yuzana Co. Ltd. for deprivation of loss of their farmingrights between 2007 to 2010 at the state court on July 16. They asked the compensation for 450,000 kyats per

acre. State judge U Too Jar told them not to open the case after discussing with divisional commander and Kachin

SPDC. While the farmers were waiting, Kachin SPDC members, accompanying with police gave pressure to the

farmers to receive substitute land or compensatory money of 80,000 kyats per acre. They urged their signatures

to receive the money because compensation from the court is uncertain. The amount of money that the farmers

charged are not only for the compensation of farm fields, but for their deprivation of working on this land during

the past 3 years. However, such a money that Yuzana Co. Ltd. gave for 10,000 kyats per acre was not for

deprivation, but for the under-valued fixed cost of land. Indeed current price of land per acre is 350,000 kyats. In

fact, the land that the government relocated are very far from the village and on the rocky soil between moun-

tains, thus, difficult to plant. So some farmers inevitably conceded to accept money, while some continued to fight

legally. They submitted the petitions about the case to Kachin SPDC and also to Senior General Than Shwe, but

were ignored. At present, land-lost Kachin villagers have worked along Hnounghmi and Tabon village as tenants

or hired labor. Some searched for edible wild plants, some went away for daily wages workers of goldmines.

Yuzana Co. Ltd. has got property rights of 200 thousand acres of land along Ledo Road from the government

since 2006. They expanded another 400 thousand acres of land at Hukaung valley of tiger wildlife sanctuary.(Shan Herald; Contemporary; Mizzima; BBC/2/13/19/25/-8-2010)

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Case (13): In 2004, in Minhla township, Pegu division, deputy department officer U San Min of Letpadan

township dam and irrigation department arrived at Myinkawa-Kyaukaei river bank reconstruction site. During his

arrival, he bulldozed 800 acres of farmlands of 50 villages of 15 village tracts to make fish ponds, at night, by two

bulldozers. In 2006-07, township land survey department deleted the farmers land bill, and in 2007-08 renamed

the landowner as U San Min. Leader U Kyaw Htutt of Gonmingun village, Letpadan township and farmers

collectively complained the unjust case to the head of the state. They only took an enquiry among some locals and

staffs but transferred U San Min to Nattalin dam and irrigation department. Since their land were occupied, the

farmers complained to the authorities annually. Although Minister Maj-Gen Htay Oo called and asked the situa-

tions with the leader U Kyaw Htutt, nothing happened. On 27-4-2009 special investigation bureau inquired the

case again, but nothing happened. Therefore, farmers submitted a complaint about land confiscation again to

Senior General Than Shwe on 28-10-2009. Over 200 households are deprived of their land property. (Min Naing

Thu, Irrawaddy/ 18-10-2009)

Case (14): In Mon state, on the other bank of Moulmein, there are over 60 villages at Belukyun (island)

township. At Kalwi, Diewinkun, Dedaye villages of northern part of the island and Mudun, Thetkaw, Natmaw,

Ahbit, Kunhwar etc., and villages of the western part of the island, Salween river, had eroded it banks and

destroyed about 100 acres of lands annually in the rainy season. In the past, Salween river flowed mostly between

Belukyun and Moulmein to the sea. Since Salween bridge has been constructed in 2001, waterway have changed

and flowed mostly between Paung township and island, so that river banks along that villages were eroded.Because of the flooding, farmers along the bank have suffered the loss of the land, at least an acre of plot each.

Those who have gardens at the inner part of the land are able to continue their work, but landlost farmers have

to go to work in Thailand with the whole family. Land lost farmers asked for help to the authorities, but their cases

had not been inquired yet. (Contemporary/ 19-11-2009)

Case (15): In Kyukphyu township, Arakan state, authorities confiscated farmlands for gas pipeline con-

struction projects in May 2009. They promised and offered generous compensation and compelled farmers to

sign on the document, but in practice they dont fulfil the promise. Now authorities have started building gas

turbines on the land, which were possessed by the farmers, where there were coconut gardens and oil wells in the

past. That pipeline has been installed from Gold offshore oilfield to Yunnan province south west China by CNPE

(China). (Mizzima/10-11-2009)

(1/B)Tyrannized Maltreatment

Case (1): In Pegu division, Thanatping township, at Takhungtaing, Thanattang, Kyipingsu villages, au-

thorities collected 1500 kyats per household for agriculture bank notebook, but farmers didnt get any bank

notebooks, until the next two month in January 2009. In Thanatping harvesting township, farming land were

destroyed by Nargis Cyclone and paddy fields were ruined under flood. They haven't got bank notebooks for loan

yet, and got difficulties. (RFA/ 6-1-2009)

Case (2): In Rangoon division, at the eastern part of New Dagon township, Kyarnikan, Kyuchaung,

Taunggadone villages, and at the southern part of New Dagon township, Thonegwa, Shanteegyi, Laydauntkan

villages are located. Their fields were inundated with 4-5 feet of water. It was due to the so-called joint-venture

farming by the contract farming project. They confiscated the farming land and formed new land as well. Thus,

they blocked water channels along Nyaungbin and Kyisu villages. Therefore upper part of the land was flooded.

The contract farming project was led by U Tay Za of Htoo Co. Ltd. in which Senior General Than Shwes family

had possessed a lot of shares. Since 2008, fields and houses are flooded. (RFA/ 26-1- 2009)

Case (3): On Feb 11, 2009, during the night, VPDC arrived U Aung Min's house, Maungma village,

Khayan township, Rangoon division for checking visitors registration. While checking visitors registration, they

intruded into the mosquito-nets and forced the 18 women bean-pickers (waged workers) to sit. They told that

they had got information about the arrival of women bombers in this township, who is tattoo on the breast. Then

they violently pulled off the blouses for checking their breast. The women were not satisfied with the matter andwent to complain to VPDC chairman U Tin Win house on the next day. U Tin Win was sleeping at that time, but

the women asked his wife to awake him as they had to complain. When U Tin Win came out, one of the women

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known as Ma Aye Win remembered him and told that U Tin Win was also an accomplice at night. U Tin Win was

angry about this accusation and pulled her hair and hit her head. As a result, she felt wounded. Ma Aye Win and

landowner protested against his abuses and complained to the Myaungma police office, but they refused to open

the case and told them to complain to the higher level by themselves. (RFA/ 18-2-2009)

Case (4): In Kyar Khat Kot village tract, Eingmee township, Irrawaddy division, VPDC compelled the

farmers to buy fertilizer from Shwe Thee Hnan Co. Ltd. of Pakokku township. They allowed the farmers not to

pay any money if the levels of paddy outputs do not increase. In reality, fields that used such fertilizer were burntdown and output fell. For that matter, farmers managed to show the situation of their fields to the authorities, and

explained about the difficulties to pay fertilizer charges. But Shwe Thee Hnan Co. Ltd. complained to the town-

ship and division authorities and charged the 200 farmers with default in Eingmee township court.(RFA/17-2-

2009)

Case (5): In Malot village, Bogale township, fishery business man, Ko Yin Htwe and his sister, accom-

panying with authorities, accused encroachment of the canal on their bidding area. They broke down the 25 fts

long Htun Naing irrigation canal which was built up by the villagers. Therefore, lower level farmland, belonging to

24 farmers, were flooded and destroyed. Instead of this, a farmer Ko Htun Naing was charged with fishery law

and sentenced to one month imprisonment, and village head U Aye was discharged from VPDC post as he stoop

up as witness. Local authorities, who know about the legal action of the displeased farmers, took 150 thousandkyats from Ko Yin Htwe and his sister by deception and ordered the farmers to reconstruct the dam without

wages. Farmers refused to do, thus they rebuilt the dam with hired labour. This dam was built near Ko Htun

Naings field for 500 acres of land by the farmers ten years ago. According to the dam and irrigation law, there is

no right for fishery in the dam. (Moemakha/ 28-4-2010)

Case (6): In September 2009, at Myothit township, Magwe division, farmers were forced to buy fertil-

izers by TPDC chairmans order. Farmers refused to buy, because the current price was 12 thousand kyats and

they sold at high price of 20 thousand kyats. Moreover, fertilizer were formed in solid substances as well. TPDC

gave pressure to VPDC to do forced-selling half of the bags to the farmers and use half of the bags themselves.

In July 2010, when farmers as well as VPDC couldnt offer to pay back on time. Thus, TPDC chairman U Tin

Naing Soe collected two thousand kyats per bag separately and VPDC and farmers of Htantabin, Lelu, Mankyintu,Htaukshartan, Kansuwe, Sinphyukyin, Tutkong etc. villages, altogether 8 persons, were arrested by township

police. They were put on trial for breach of trust of section 406. (RFA/ 30-7-2010)

Case (7): In 2006, Military Operation Command 6, occupied paddy fields at Gutaung village and Aungtha

village of Thapyaykan village tract, Naypyidaw Lewe township. Later MOC 6 took 20 baskets of paddy from the

farmers who became tenants on their own land. In 2010, due to flooding, farmers cant afford to pay rents in

various forms. They complained to Ministry of Defence and on 17 August, Lewe police office arrested Sharchaung

villager Ko Myint Soe, who led the complaint, by accusation of disturbing development (DVB/ 29-8-2010)

Case (8): Due to the construction project of Pyawbwe-Natmauk-Magwe new railroad earth embank-

ment, over 100 acres of land at Kyupai village, Narlepin village tract, Natmauk township were inundated. While

building the earth embankment across the paddy fields, no irrigation canal was taken place. Therefore, on 20 July,

about 60 acres of fields at the upper side of the embankment were inundated, over 70 acres of fields at the lower

side of the barriers were lack of waterways. In 2009-2010, during the summer paddy plough time for compulsory

planned crop, 200 acres of paddy fields were damaged by drought and lack of dam water. (BBC/ 24-7-2010)

Case (9): In Magwe division, Taungdwingyi township, water of Ngaming dam were irrigated primarily to

the plough fields which belong to No. 7 military training school of East Taungdwingyi and No. 16 defense equip-

ment factory. Therefore farmers were difficult to plant and about 1000 acres of paddy fields at the eastern part

of the town were lack of water. Hired labor at army farmland also got difficulties regarding the daily wages.

(DVB/31-7-2010)

Case (10): In Mandalay division, Meikhtila township, Mauklauk village Solidarity Party organizer UAung Shwe collected 2500 kyats each from onion farmers, for general service payment of loans, 8 months ago.

But after getting the loans and when farmers asked for money, he repeatedly said he might pay. On July 7,

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farmers complained to DPDC, but they neglected. (DVB/ 19-7-2010)

Case (11): In Kayah state, Shadaw township, villagers have no rights to go to their farmland without

VPDCs permit. They have to pay 500 kyats for each permit at each time. The villagers are very worried about

being accused of connection with Karenni army while farming. (Ktimes.org/4-8-2010)

Case (12): In April 2009, in Nyaungbinthar village, Pyu township, Pegu division, LIB 439 took farm

products and bulls and burnt down the house owned by U Myint Swe and Daw Khin Win tyrannically. LIB 439

confiscated farmlands which were frequently cultivated by 31 farmers including U Tin Win. Then LIB 439 leased

the same farmers at 20 baskets per acre. Moreover, battalion commander and officers lent money to the farmers

via corpral Soe Thein and U Myint Swe. When farmers met with economic difficulties and couldnt pay back,

they accused U Myint Swe of failure to pay rent in kinds, and treated violently like this. U Myint Swe complained

maltreatment to Agriculture Ministry, Defense Ministry and Home (Interior) Affairs Ministry. But they had only

made departmental enquiry under concealment. No one asked to U Myint Swe. During the enquiry, they gave

pressure to Daw Khin Wins mother for keeping her mouth shut and they threatened the farmers who may have

witnessed for truth by confiscating of land. They officially took on those wrong statements with their signatures,

but neglected the right statements. (RFA/13-5-2009)

Case(13): On 3 April 2009, U Aung Kyi Thein (age 46) of Nyaungkan village, Sar Pharchong villagetract Daik-U township, Pegu division, felt serious grief over the loss of his land and committed suicide by poison.

Last year, he borrowed 1 million kyats for farming, but it was impossible to pay back due to bad harvesting results.

Thus capital bearing interest loan increased to 2 million kyats and money lender confiscated all the property while

U Aung Kyi Thein and his wife were way. He took over 50 baskets of green gram. He valued the land at 80 to 90

thousand kyats per acre. Moreover he forced U Aung Kyi Thein to sign the bond to pay back another 10 thousand

payment. So U Aung Kyi Thein committed suicide and Daw Than Than Nwe had to face with difficulties while

bringing up two children. (RFA/13-5-2009)

Case (14): In the western part of Pegu division, along Rangoon-Pyay road, township paddy purchasing

centers, backing up by the army, the paddy prices were undervalued by Ko Khin Myint, Ko Pyar Gyi of Gyobingauk

and Ko Pe Gyi of Letpadan who were well-known purchasers of army supply in that area. In 2008 army put thefixed paddy price at 270 thousand kyats for 100 baskets of paddy. But Ko Pya Gyi reduced the prices again by

200 thousand kyats. Other purchasing centre also bought with Ko Pya Gyis fixed price. Thus farmers had to sell

their own paddy to the army purchaser with inferiority. After Ko Pya Gyi and staffs finished checking the qualities

of paddy, farmers sent them into the warehouse themselves. Cash were paid three days later. Coinciding with the

time of more selling power, they reduced the price of paddy, so that farmers were very anxious about the price.

Farmers got only 250 thousand kyats for the value of 300 thousand kyats or more for 100 baskets of paddy.

(Mizima Aung Htet/16-11-2009)

Case (15): Agriculture Bank of Henzada township, Irrawaddy division, lent winter crop subsidy for 6000

kyats per acre according to village tract. For this they collected 1500 kyats per landowner for paper work

charges, cut 500 kyats when sons or daughters or relatives came instead of registered landowner himself andsubsidized only for few acres, for example, only 5 out of 10 acres were subsidized. (RFA/21-11-2009)

Case (16): In Thancake village tract, Shwegyin township, Pegu division, Agriculture Bank subsidized

loans of 10,000 kyats per acre, on 25 April 2009. But VPDC chairman and authorities cut 500 kyats per acre for

themselves. (RFA/26-4-2009)

Case (17): In Kachin state, Momauk township, Tophoneyan sub-township, Dengyayan villagers felt

sorrow for the loss of bulls and buffaloes since LIB 142 and Tophoneyan policemen captured and killed for their

meal. In this village, villagers used to plant on their farmland in winter and army and police used to plant in

summer. When army took term, bulls came near the fields were shot to kill and were eaten, the bones and skins

were buried for concealment. Sometime, bulls going into the fields might be redeemed by 10 of thousand kyats. In

every winter, during the plough time, farmers usually realized less bulls, and met with difficulties. At first, villagers

allowed army and police to plant at summer, later the army and police occupied the land with various reasons. In

some circumstances, when husbands were away and might not plough the fields, they occupied the farmland.

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There were more than 10 acres of farmland that the army occupied. For the locals, they are afraid of banding of

the heads and had to endure, (RFA/294-2009)

Case (18): In Arakan state, Buthidaung and Maungdaw township, and in Chin state, Paletwa township,

army and border guard forced indigenous nationalities to labor in fencing the border with barbed wires and road

constructions without pay and inadequate meal. Because of forced-porter, villagers couldnt do their hill tract

farms. They subsequently couldnt afford to pay salary to the school teachers who were hired by self-supporting

village schools. So the schools had to close and children cannot learn. As government border troops do camping3 times per year, it is an unfinished predicament for the villagers with the jobs of carrying loads, building camps

and preparing food. (RFA/10-5-2009)

(1/C) Planned Crops

Case (1): In Zigon township, western part of Pegu division, local authorities forced to plant sunflower in

the green gram fields in December 2008. In Payagyigon village tract, TPDC and solidarity members came by two

cars and demonstrated and ordered to plant sunflower, otherwise there would be confiscation of land. But plant-

ing sunflower with green gram could destroy both. Therefore, farmers were anxious about the consequences.

(RFA/ 6-1-2009)

Case (2): Since onion export was prohibited, onion price fell down rigorously, thus bed, board and cloth-

ing as well as health and education of this family were perceptively affected. Regarding this issue, 50 farmers of

Yenangyaung, Chauk and Salin townships, collectively sent a letter to Senior Genenal Than Shwe for onion

exporting. Although cost of plantation was 300 kyats per viss, it was under-valued as 200 kyats at first, later 100

kyats for the best grade and 80 kyats for the median, by the brokers shed. Onions were very difficult to store for

a long time because they dried out and lost of weight quickly. Threfore in Salin and Sinbyugyun township, farmers

had to throw putrefied onions into the river or bury them. Last year, onion prices were high as Ayeyarshwewar

Co. Ltd. of General Thura Shwe Mans son and SPDCs business companions got export permit for onion.

(Irrawaddy/ 10-8- 2010)

Case (3): Paddy farmers of Mankyeebin, Thitseinkon, Nabu, Bawday, Mogaung, Badang, village tracts

at Mongmit township, were forced to plant Sinshweli paddy seeds which were sold them 2,300 kyats per acre for

of basket by TPDC chairman U Ye Lin Aung, department officer U Win Kyaing and township police officer U

Myint Thein with the misuse of power. Sinshweli paddy is not only unsuitable with the geographic and weather

conditions but also bad to eat, so that farmers were displeased to plant. However farmers got into trouble with the

threats of imprisonment unless they planted. Authorities said whether planted it or not, they have to pay money for

seeds. Farmers were very worried about money as it was very difficult to have extra money under the high

commodity price. (RFA/22-11-2009)

Case (4): With the official announcement, there are over 20 million acres of paddy fields which pro-

duced up to 160 million baskets of paddy in Burma. By official figures, annual plough areas and rates of produc-

tion were increased but figures of production costs were not changed, said the farmers. A farmer from the

Irrawaddy division said, Production costs were about 150 thousand kyats per acre. For timely usage of fertilizers

and pure paddy seed, this amount of money must be adequate. I have over 70 acres. Over 100 bags of fertilizer

must be used. It may cost about 3 million kyats. It does not include other plough charges and seeds and boarding

costs. It does not include the costs for replanting when it was necessary. In the year when there were inadequate

costs of cultivation, we took pay-in-kind money. Pay-in-kind means, at present if 100 baskets of paddy costs 400

thousand kyats, we ask for prepaid money of 250 thousand kyats for 100 baskets. When paddy appeared, we

have to pay in paddy. Therefore, we do not have enough cultivation costs for the coming year. It might be worse,

if there were less paddy products for various reasons. If we couldnt afford to pay back, they marked double. It

has become a custom. If we take pay in paddy money at the same time, so it was impossible to pay back. It could

be called the cultivation loan cycle.

One of the farmers explained, Some took the money with interest. They borrowed money in winter, paidback in summer, when paddy appeared. It will be the same for the coming years, therefore, most of the farmers

are in the cultivation cost or loan cycle. As the farmers couldnt afford to keep the paddy in hand, the rise of paddy

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price could not bring any benefits for them (Bi Weekly Eleven pg 2-3; 24-7- 2009)

Case (5): Producing cultivated standard quality of paddy seed is very important in paddy production. We

realized that some of the companies bought paddy from farmers and sold back as seeds, so that the quality of

paddy production had fallen. Production of standard quality of paddy needs so many fundamental causes, choice

of seeds, plough at the right land or soil, consistency of seed and land, using the right methods of cultivation and

quality fertilizers. Paddy seed and fertilizer are more important in these matters said U Kyaw Tin, a farmer of

Waw township in Pegu division.

Our farm products are low in quality, until now, in comparison with other countries. Degrading from the

highest rice exporting country to the world ranking at about ten nowadays. Quality degradation is obvious. Nowa-

days in comparison with Vietnam and Pakistan, a ton of 25 grade rice were devalued at 25 to 30 dollar, said an

official of UMFCCI(Union of Myanmar Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry). He also said the

basic cause of degrading of quality of rice is degrading of seed. (Bi Weekly Eleven P 5; 6-11-2009. by Ah Nge

Htwe)

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(2)Worker Section

Case (1): Ten workers of Pho Shwela cloth tailoring factory in Pegu township who enclosed to exiled

media about the injustices of the factory, were dismissed without prior notice at April 2009. The owner gave

appointment to the dismissed workers for their salary and compensation on May 5. At that day, the factory owner

explained that he could give them only one month salary for compensation. The dismissed workers did not satisfyabout this, thus the factorys manager took them to labor office and director of labor office, U Thein Naing, the

ex-major who stand up for the owner, did not stand up with the law. He said that the compensation merely for one

month salary instead of three months was just and fair. The director of labor office deceived the workers into

beliefs with concealment of law and said that he could compromise for medium rate compensation of two months

salary. He told the workers to take money at 6 May, if they agree. The denial of unjust and unlawful compensation

by the woman workers continued. In reality, fundamental rights and Obligations of Works Law(1964) enacted

clearly that the compensation for the workers must be paid for three months. (RFA/6-52009)

Case (2): In Chin-su-mei-flower plywood factory at No.8 ward in Pegu township, two workers were

physically injured in workplace. The owner of the factory paid the medical costs, but he refused to pay compen-

sation (deprivation) according to law. The machinist, Maung Zaw Myo Tun, son of U Win Ngwe, who lived in 19

ward Oktha new township, lost three fingers of his right hand on 22 January 2010. In April 5 Maung Than Htaik

Oo, son of U Ye Win, lost two fingers of his right hand.

In April 2009, Ko Aung Myo Thant, 33 was pressed down under log and was cut off all toes of his left

foot in hospital. In that case, they had not got any compensation and even for 15,000 kyats or 20,000 kyats of Ko

Aung Myo Thants medical fees in hospital, his wife had to ask several times with the phone. They married only

one month ago and they had no house. As they did not get any compensation, they had nothing for their survival.

As a disabled person family, Ko Aung Myo Thant and his wife were anxious for their future. The owner of Chin-

su-mei-flower factory is Mr. Li Ang, a Chinese businessman. (RFA/1-5-2010)

Case (3): A meeting for upgrading the industrial zones was held on 20 August 2010. The authorities

acceded the proposal of the employers to proclaim the black lists of workers, who engaged in the strike of

industrial zones, to block from joining any factories. It was one of the treats, which made by the authorities andemployers who wanted to protect against the workers strikes and to upset the food of living of the workers.

Lieutenant general Myint Swe, commander of Rangoon division military head-quarter, major general Win Myint,

chairman of managing committee of industrial zones, employers and authorities from trade dispute committee

under the ministry of workers attended the meeting. (Irrawaddy/27-8-2010)

Case (4): In Winter, there were landslides along the Htan Ma Thi-Leshi road and Leshi-Sunpra road in

Hkamti district, Sagaing division. When that happened, the local authorities summoned the villagers in terms of

one man from one house by force, to clean up the road for them not for the people. As it was an order, the

villagers went to the road and had to contribute. Under the forced labor, they were not able to the hill-tract

cultivation for their living.(RFA/ 11-7-2010)

Case (5): In April and May 2010, 20 shift workers, who laboured painting the major generals house

(Minister of Transport, Minister of Finance and Revenue, Minister of Economic and Commerce) at Naypyidaw,

had not got their wages until the next three months, and the construction contractor U Htun Wai avoided them.

The workers complained to Trade Dispute Negotiation Committee on August 5, but there was no response.

Contractors fixed the date again and again (June 25 and July 18) to pay wages, but neither wages nor the national

registration cards which he took from the workers, were returned. Lawer Ko Pho Phyu, who helped the workers

for their wages about 60,000 kyats each according to the law, inquired the contractors address and went for

negotiation on 4th August. He found U Tun Wai, the contractor at house number 528, No.3 Alinyaung street, Kyisu

ward, Dawbon township and asked him for wages, but U Tun Wai denied. Lawyer Ko Pho Phyu came back from

the house and reached at the corner of the street, a follower of the U Tun Wai chased after and hit him 8 strokes

or 9 strokes, so that his left lip and eyes were injured and badly swollen. By relying on Eden company as abackground which connected firmly with the generals of SPDC, U Tun Wai forced the workers to do heavy work,

refused to pay wages when they were out and kept their registration cards, etc. (Yoma/ 3,6-8- 2010)

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(15)

Case (6): Officers and soldiers from the No. 49 naval headquarter in Mergui township, Tenasserim

division searched for fishing motor boats near the Mali island and surrounding Thinganaw, Muntongyi, Linlun,

Kanmun villages. They chased them and asked for diesel oil with force. They imposed diesel (from 5 gallons to 20

gallons) from every small boat and levied 50 gallons (one barrel) from each medium boat, 2 barrel diesel oil from

every large boat. They sold the diesel oil to the employers in Mergui township to get profits. When the fishermen

denied to give them the diesel oil , they took out the expensive fish, Kakuyan fish which costs ten thousand kyats

and above for a kilo. If the fishermen tried to get back, they were threatened and beaten.(RFA/11-7-2010)

Case (7): The Burmese police extorted money by various reasons from Burmese citizen workers who

released from the prison of Malaysia and sent back home. In mid September 2009, the police detained 30 people

those who were sent back home at Mingaladon police station for no national registration cards. After theirfamilies paid 300,000 kyats each for redemption, they gave traveling recommendations and released. Before they

got money, the police extorted them by threatening and questioning about the way which they went to Malaysia,

about the taxes which they paid, and the police said the Malaysia Government sent back them to sentence their

case in Burma. The police also took their Ringgit (Malaysia currency) illegally. (Contemporary/ 6-10-2009)

Case (8): On 14 August 2010, a strike appeared in Cherry oil field which lay about 20 miles away of

north east of Kale township. In this strike, over one thousand workers who want to increase the price of crude oil

involved. The company owner did not try any efforts to reconcile with the workers, instead he informed the police

station of Kale township. On August 25, the police abused the strikers by catching, beating, blowing or kicking and

the strikers were injured in ears and eyes. Police destroyed the workers properties and huts. In the past, the

residents earned their living by drilling for oil in part, however at present, the petroleum companies which wereestablished by a group of shareholders and businessmen who had a close connection with the generals. These

companies established a contract for the whole oil field and undervalued the oil by force. They made special oil

barrels, bigger than normal barrel for purchasing oil. Furthermore, the companies took 8 gallons of extra oil

whenever they bought one barrel oil and took 2 bottles of extra oil whenever they bought 8 gallons. After the

strike that was suppressed violently, the companies appeased the workers by rising a mere trifle of oil price.

(DVB/ 26-8-2010)

Case (9): Ko Maung (code name), a carpenter who planed woods, was depressed for his salary deduc-

tion for this month. Some fundamental employees wages were also reduced. The following was Ko Maungs

expression. My salary was cut for three days for absences of work. My salary was a total of about five thousand

kyats, including fees of a full attendance, fees of percentages on products and travelling allowance. I couldntmake 3 days of attendance. I have never been docked to my salary as much as now. If I tried to fulfil of my

attendance, the extra allowance except the basic salary, was not much. For example, some managers deducted

the salary by using the word discipline to satisfy the owner. It had no serious effects on the highly paid staff, but

Workers of Hlaing Thayar industrail zone who demamding worker's rights. WFSLB


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fundamental low-waged labourers lost pleasure in work and and production was hindered. A night-shift worker

from a playground said, If I was late for half an hour, they docked 500 kyats from my salary, but when I worked

half an hour over time, they did not pay the same. Daw Yi Yi Myint, the retired professor of Institute of Econom-

ics, said, Some employers were not doing well in their production due to the financial crisis. So that, they could

not take many responsibilities for their workers, but they ought not to oppress when they had upper hand.

(Modern/ Ei Ei Than page 2; 4-9-2009)

Case (10): Currently there were 1,300 Burmese citizens who arrived with EPS system and worked in

South Korea. According to an investigate news, some of them died accidentally in work-sites. A Burmese worker

who arrived with EPS system a month ago, was stuck in the machine during working hours and died. The

responsible person of Shwe Innwa Agency said The deceased man about 30, was a worker from the packing

department of food and was injured while packing food. At present, many workers who went to South Korea,could not endure in fatigue works. Before going to South Korea, we warned them that they would have to do the

works that the Korean cant do and they will be weary. If they returned home, they would have lost their

investment, so none of them returned home with the reason of weariness. Furthermore, Burmese workers who

joined the foreign agencies, come back home because of chronic illness of their works in a refrigerating chamber

and some were injured physically in jobs as substitute workers in unskilled workplace. Moreover, some Burmese

workers, unskilled at handling the machinery were injured and died occasionally. The responsible person ex-

plained that while working at the big harmful sites, they injured accidentally. He continued that We told the

workers who prepare to go to Korea that the jobs may be dangerous, dirty and difficult. It may be the kind of

harmful work that their citizen dont want to do. Therefore job skill is important. (Weekly Eleven/page 4; 27-11-

2009)

Case (11): Practiced deception and removed from work:Nowadays, when some companies needed to

remove the workers, they did not tell openly but the practised deception upon the workers to depart themselves

from work. U Myo Chit, the responsible person of Shwe San Myat job agency said some employees were not

dismissed, but the companies sent them to the far area again and again, to increase sale targets. As the employees

were not so happy in work, that they became disappointed and departed themselves from works. Some business

men used all means by sending to the rural areas that the employee did not want to go, by raising sale margins, by

denying the holidays, by berating with various reasons or by making no increase in the employees salary, while

the other got, etc. Ma Hay Man Khin who had been looking for a job, said I think that business owner did not like

me because he gave duty for others but not for me. So I felt depressed and departed from work. I am trying to get

a new job now. (Modern/ page 6; 4-12-2009; Aye La Pyei)

Case (12): A woman, who tried to earn money with platform scales at crowed street, said I took 50

kyats for one scale and earned 1,000 kyats daily in August. Some people especially adults, scale once a week.

People came less than usual in September. My husband got 2,500 kyats daily as a stevedore. The income that we

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earned together, was enough for our daily expenses. But we could not save the money income so that when my

husband became poor in health, it was difficult to earn for daily expenses. A trishaw pedaller (within his capacity

of investment) near the Thingangyun market described During these two months, my earnings to get food for my

family by pedaling the trishaw was not very well. Because I had to give 1,000 kyats daily for rental fees and

30,000 kyats for deposit to trishaw's owner. I have to pay for the repaired costs under 1,000 kyats and owners and

I go halves on all the repaired costs more than 1000 kyats. The passengers who used to take the trishaw, go to the

market by foot now. Sometimes when I asked 600 kyats for two passengers far the distance of two streets, they

cant afford to pay. Therefore the elder person take the vehicle by paying 400 kyats and the other go by foot.

They seem to make a balanced judgement of the incomes and expenditures. A street moving vendor who lived in

Kyeemyindaing township and sells fried and fresh spring roll, said My eldest son bought this push-cart for me. In

the past, I gained 3,500 kyats profit by selling 50 to 70 spring rolls daily, but nowadays only about 30 rolls were sold

out daily. I could not sell by foot so far because of raining. (Bi Weekly Eleven page 6; 19-1- 2009; Win MyintKyaw)

Case (13): U Ko Lwin, country consultant of The Leprosy Mission International (TLMI) described, If

the numbers of self-employed businesses are reduced due to the economic depression, the disabled people would

be hit at first in terms of job opportunities. Especially disabled people, mainly on family self-employed at private

sector This comment was based on statistic data of the disabled in some states and division (Rangoon division,

Irrawaddy division, Mandalay division, Magwe division, Pegu division, Mon state and Karen state) which was

collected by social service department and TLMI. 57.7% of the disabled in the 7 states and divisions had no

chance to employ and 85.2% were unemployment even though they wanted to work. U Ko Lwin said The

disabled people were more difficult to get jobs than the able people at this period. Only 15 of 100 disable people

got job, but 85 of them were unemployed. Although they wanted to work, there were no jobs and no employers.(Weekly Eleven page-7;1-3-2009)

Case (14): We realized that jobs are more scarce today. People are not in favour of selecting job as they

wish, but work with whatever jobs to get money. Whatever jobs mean bus conductors, drivers, and part-time jobs,

in which graduates worked as well. If they get regular income or good payment, they do not choose the job. Ma

Theingi 23, graduated with chemistry major said even though I had graduated a long time ago, I had no job, so

that I worked as a clerk at a video-disc and book shop near my house. The job from the private company might

be with more dignity, but payment is not too much different from my current salary. I have got 1,500 kyats daily,

near home and family. Ko Win Naing 28, a graduate in economics and law, lived in Tamwe township said After

our marriage, I was dismissed from a company and then I drove a taxi to take responsibility of my family. As I

couldnt get other jobs until now, I am still working as a driver that I did not like. But I have no other way. KoMoe Oo, the bus conductor lived in Thingankyun township, told his story I failed my final year examination three

times. But as a bus conductor, I do well. At first I aimed to work for my education expenditures, but I have been

more eager for work than education. (Modern/ page 7; 11-9-2009 Pyone Moe Moe Zin)

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(18)

Case (15): A construction engineer expressed his views that some local construction employers havegranted only a small degree of labor rights, life insurance and other necessary rights for the workers who were

injured or died by serious causes in the work site. He added At present they should give attention to the scaffold

ing when they construct the high building. Some of the employers used few bamboo poles to decrease the

expenses of the scaffolding without any considerations for safety, so that the harmful accidents were occurred in

the work places. As far as I know, at the international construction projects, the employers gave attention the

rights of the injured workers seriously A construction worker said The local enterprise owners should make

consideration for the injured workers, who fell down from the scaffolding, they gave only a small amount casual

compensations for the deceased and a small amount of medical fees for the injured. Most of the local construc-

tions have no life insurance for the workers in the workplace. (Modern page 9; 2-11-2009; Sandi Tun)



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(20)(19)

Map of Burma


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(20)

Conclusion

(a) Analysis and Resolution

Why had the military regime oppressed so much inhumanly and neglectfully upon the mass of workers

and peasants which are the most fundamental classes of national economy? Why were there be

indifferent between the agriculture sector, farmers lives and the industry sector and workers lives?

Era by era, BSPP, SLORC and SPDC military regimes governing bodies put the roles of farmers as uncles

(Taung Thu U Gyi)s, and the workers as reliable model workers, in the May Day messages. However in reality,

the lives of workers and farmers had been in crisis. Thus we need to look the origins of monopoly, exploitation and

oppression upon workers and farmers. The answer is the system, military dictatorship. Under the military boots

of the military dictators, the people of Burma including low ranks military officers and other ranks had never got

freedom. The poorest grassroots who had fallen down and unable to recover are workers and farmers. Though

there were emerging factors of national economy, the military government has turned the workers and peasantsupside down.

It is obvious that the military regime, with the propaganda of Only the army is father as well as mother,

have no brain in their heads and no people in their hearts. Militarists who has risen with greed, power, hand-cuffs

and bullets, do not give any attention to commodity production sector which needs knowledge and unity of the

people. They have granted this sector to their follower, relatives and supporters to meet their own ends. Military

clique have paid attention only to the underground and over ground resources, such as oil, gas, timber, mineral, etc

without any considerations. It is like selling pillars of the house. It may be seen that the rate of deforestation in

Burma is No. 4 ranking in the world. By selling natural resources easily, military clique does not aware of human

resources which have to combine with commodity production. We have not seen any changes and any attempts

to get loans and aids from World Bank, ADB and IMF as well as FDI for development. It is an obvious fact thatthey used to take FDI and loans for personal interests only, specifically to put into their pockets.

If military government has a real willingness for peoples interest and a willingness of doing that, it is not

difficult to get FDIs and loans from World Bank, ADB and IMF. They need to have trust from international

community. To establish a trust with international community, they need to do political reform at first. Under the

conditions of solving political problems, peace, tranquillity, rule of law, freedom of trade and transparency must be

approached. Investments and loans may improve country and people. Burmese generals used to say dont make

us dance by showing banana, we are not monkeys, as they are scarce to loose power. They dont care whether

the country is developed or not; whether people are in famine or not. They rap the offering hand of aids for the

people. (But the generals assume the people as monkeys. They showed extra lists to UN for international dona-

tions regarding Nargis victims. As they didn't get the aids as they hoped before, they took advantages of currencyexchange rates, misuse of aids and reconstruction of contract works.)

They have sold mineral resources to make profits and to expand military strength. They have sold na-

tional buildings and properties and destroyed national culture and heritage. They have acquired farmland. They

have done deforestation by cutting timber, collecting various kinds of revenues from the lower classes, exploiting

unpaid labor and taking advantages of labor corps. They have used the monopoly system for main economic

enterprises with nepotism. People have been assumed as monkeys as the military clique has never improved the

development of commodity production with human resources. In fact progress of human resources and reliance

on human resources, are interlinked with the development of human rights conditions and economic development

and progress of living standards is linked to increasing levels of production and free market development. Only

under these circumstances, the critical forces of production, such human resources as workers, farmers, staffs

shall have the full capacity of beautiful and happy lives. The main instrument to have the full capacity of human

resources is to establish a social community with fully granted human rights. We firmly believe that only the


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peoples government who respect and honour human rights shall have the role to establish that kind of humanity.

It is obvious that SPDC has committed two kinds of crime, nowadays.

They have produced and sold unlimited natural resources without proper management, thus, it

had a number of serious consequences upon devastation of environment. There are a lot of

remarkable evidences for these effects such as; in Kachin state, due to heavy rainfall and land

collapse at the jade mines, villages, houses and people were buried; due to the constructions of

dam projects at the rivers and streams, water ways were changed, river banks were destroyed

and streams and drains became extinct. Moreover there are other consequences such as the

ravages of deforestation, the decreasing level of water at famous Inle lake; and ecological dete-

rioration along the gas pipeline areas.

For more than 20 years, the military regime has committed crimes against humanity. The main

forms of crimes are written formally in SPDC military regimes Constitution as:

1. Chapter (1) Section 37 (a) The Union is the ultimate owner of all lands and all natural resources

above and belowthe ground, above and beneath the water and in the atmosphere in the Union;

Section 37 (b) The Union shall enact necessary law to supervise extraction and utilization of state-

owned natural resources by economic forces; (Over twenty years of the rule of SLORC andSPDC, this law means 'state-own' for top rank military regime and 'economic forces' for them and

their cronies, whom have special authority of exploitation under the so called 'necessary law'.)

2. Chapter (1) Section 36 (d) The Union shall not nationalize economic enterprises; (It aims to protect

of their undeserved property during twenty years of exploiting instead of the protection the peoples

private property.)

3. Chapter (1) Section 43 No Penal law shall be enacted to provide retrospective effects. (It aims to

get free from the legal charges upon their violations of human right and crimes against humanity.)

Therefore, we oppose and boycott 2010 sham election which makes 2008 constitution, as it does not only

represent the interests of workers, farmers, monks, students and the whole mass but also destroy the whole

country.

Soon after the 1974 constitution of general Ne Wins BSPP regime appeared, worker strikes occurred

around the country to express their disagreements with courage. In the 1300 Revolution, reactionary Dr. Ba

Maws regime was brought down by the unity of workers, farmers, students and people. In the 1350 (8888)

Revolution (1988) general Ne Wins regime was brought down by the revolutionary spirit of workers, farmers,

monks, students and people around the country. Similarly we have to prepare continuously to carry on fighting, to

eliminate 2008 constitution and bring down the evil-masked military puppet government with the replacement of

the peoples government.

(21)


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(22)

(b) Fundamental Necessities and Minimum Rights

Fundamental Necessities and Minimum Rights of Farmers

(1) All the farmers, those whose livelihood depands on planting, have their property rights of plough fields

and gardening farmland. Thus they have the rights of selling, mortgaging, transferring and inheritance.

(2) Freedom of choice of plantation and have freedom of management of produce for storage, mill, transpor-

tation and delivery.

(3) To get sufficient agriculture loans with low interest rate, effective support of equipment, quality seeds,

fertilizers, insecticides, scientific methods of plantation.

(4) To be free from horrors of unlawful, unjust and forceful acquisition of farmland.

(5) To have a peaceful and stable economic life and to be free from forced labor, to be free from exploitation

of politics, social and economy under the favourable circumstances of illiteracy and innocences of rural

civilians, and to be free from threats, reviling and compulsion.

(6) To establish organization of farmer union and organization to protect farmers interests and to liaison on

deprivation and conflict issues.

Fundamental Necessities and Minimum Rights of Workers

(1) Standard working hours according to the international standard.

(2) Fair overtime charges.

(3) Official minimum wages parity with living allowances.

(4) Pension, parity with living allowances, to have equal right for all the retired staffs.

(5) Social welfare programs for the development of workers and staffs social and economic lives, such as

comfortable working conditions, safe working conditions, family welfare, old age gratuity fund, etc.

(6) To be free from horrors, such as force labor, heavy labor, maltreatment by big business on small business,

binding to labor under unfair bonds, human trafficking, etc.

(7) To be free from the threats of child soldiers and child labor.

(8) Every staff and worker shall have the rights to learn technologies, high-tech and research without any

barriers to create opportunities and conditions for further study.

(9) Creation of jobs for unemployment and creation of opportunities for livelihood according to the skills and

capabilities.

(10) Related embassies and government organizations must have the right to protect upon migrant workers

who were easily the targets of discrimination and lack of workers rights.

(11) Freedom to establish labor unions and organizations to improve workers interest and liaison on depriva-

tion and conflict issues.


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(c) Demand and Request

The rights mentioned in the previous section are our (the workers and farmers) fundamental rights as well as the

rights of the people from all walks of life.

Therefore-

(1) We demand to the military regime to stop violations of workers and farmers rights and to respect their needs

for the country and the peoples interests.

(2) As the National League for Democracy is the elected party, that the whole people elected together in 1990

election to restore democracy and human rights, it has a responsibility to protect the grievances and requirements

of fundamental rights of workers and farmers more effectively. We have not seen these activities obviously,

although it formed committees for workers and farmers affairs. It has become very weak although it has some

abilities and chances to do so. We suggest NLD headquarters to lay down clear-cut policies in accordance with

legal actions or by means of mass movement.

(3) We would like to suggest the parties who want to involve in politics within the parliament in terms of demo-

crats. We have seen their performances of the workers and farmers affairs, only on the propaganda pamphlets

and campaign speeches to become members of parliament themselves. But we havent seen any protested and

denounced statements or any advocates relating to the grievances of workers and farmers. We have also seen

that they mixed-up with commission, canvass and funds. In fact, parliament is not the only way to serve the

peoples interest. The people shall believe and rely on them as long as they live among the people, reflect their

voices and stand up for the benefits of the public. We do not believe that they could perform our interests by

making noises from remote military-puppet parliament. Thus we urge them to protect the workers and farmers

affairs with courage outside the parliament.

(4) We also want to request the intellectuals, especially solicitors, the political party members, human rights

activists, the youths, the students and monks to help legal aids for the workers. If the workers and farmers who

have no money, no knowledge of law, no knowledge of complaint get legal aids, they would be more brave, active

and able to defend their rights.

(5) The media channels at home and abroad should be extended to their works to expose unjust oppression and to

reveal the real lives of grass root level workers and farmers. We would like to make a special request to internal

news writers, journalists and authors to describe the realities of the lives and requirements of them by using a

number of clever means to overcome the strict rules of censorship. We also denounce and protest the media, the

lackeys of military regime, which had written swindle writings about our (the workers and farmers) poor condi-

tions as the prosperous conditions for propaganda purposes.

(6) We would like to suggest the international circle not to use only the words like (We felt sympathetic towardsBurmese citizens, who are suffering under the violations of human rights...); (We denounce sharply...); which

cant deter the militar