FARMERS FORCED TO SELL PADDY
(PYNG, March 13, 2003)

Chairman of the Township Peace and Development Council Captain Tin Win Naing forced farmers to sell their paddy to the government in Namkham township, Musea district, Northern Shan State on March 11, 2003, reported a local farmer.

The authorities called a meeting at the township office attended by leaders of ward and village tracts and personnel from various departments to discuss purchasing of paddy from farmers.

The Captain said in the meeting that the government targeted 65,000 baskets of paddy to purchase in the township in the year 2003. Last year, they could purchase only 40,000 baskets of paddy and were given a bad report card from the Commander. The Commander ordered him to buy 65,000 this year.

Some farmers deserted their farmlands and searched for other jobs, 25,000 baskets of rice have been sold to the government at the set price of 560 Kyat per basket, which is much lower than the real price at the market.

The Burmese Captain is launching an operation to fill the government’s quota, hunting local farmers who could not sell paddy to the government.