SPDC planning to grab lands in Karen State

DVB ( July 4,2003 )

It is reported that the SPDC is planning to grab lands (paddy-fields) from local people in Karen State to build a new road planned along the Sathabyin-Kyondoe route.

The plan is to be implemented by the order of the commander of the Southeast Military Command, Maung Bo. The local authorities had ordered local Buddhist monks to do the grabbing. Village authorities had summoned local monks to a meeting and told them to obtain the rights to grab lands from higher authorities.
When the monks held a meeting with villagers to discuss the matter, the matter was not solved but disputes arose between them. Sathabyin-Kyondoe route is the continuation of Yadana-Kyondoe motorway which was constructed with the labours of local people under supervision of the former commander of Southeast Military Command, General Thura Myint Maung. The authority of Kawkareik, Colonel U Ko Ko Gyi continues to be in charge of the project, according to Mon News Agency.