Land seized and resold at a premium by headman in Karen State

News

Wed 07 Jan 2009, Asah, IMNA
A regime-appointed village headman in Karen State is reselling land after organizing road construction that significantly increased land values. In December, the headman of Thanle village, Hpa-an Township, seized a swath of land to construct a half-mile long new road connecting the village to the Zarthapyin (Zathabyin ) to Myawaddy road. According to villagers, no one raised any opposition because the headman, Nai Kyaw San, lead residents to believe that the road construction was a government-organized project. The construction work was carried out by government employees, who Nai Kyaw San hired away from road repairs on a nearby section of the Myawaddy road. Nai Kyaw San then put 20 parcels of land up for sale on either side of the new road, which offers a shorter, more direct connection to the main road than the existing, circuitous route. Land parcels are being sold for 6 kyat-tha, and descend in value to 5 and then 4 kyat-tha as their distance from the village extends. Kyat-tha are a Burmese measurement used to quantify prices in terms of gold, used by many villages in the area. According to a source in Thanle, 1 kyat-tha is currently equal to 460,000 kyat. According to a woman from the village, six of the land parcels have already been sold. Villagers now know that the project is not based on any official government orders, but say that Nai Kyaw San is promising to use the funds raised from the sale for repairs to the village hospital. Villagers expressed frustration with the headman’s actions, but said they are afraid to complain. Prior to his appointment as village headman in 2006, Nai Kyaw San was the secretary of the Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC). As the VPDC secretary, he frequently assaulted residents during interrogations. As the village headman, he now carries a handgun at all times and a large automatic rifle at night. “We are afraid of him because he is violent,” said a female resident. “He abuses villagers, no matter if they are right or wrong.”