The Statement from the Workshop on the National Land Use Policy Draft by Farmers and CSOs from Different Areas of Southern Shan State, Taung Gyi

The Statement from the Workshop on the National Land Use Policy Draft by Farmers and CSOs from Different Areas of Southern Shan State, Taung Gyi

Taunggyi, November 13, 2014

31 groups of Farmers and CSO organizations from 14 townships of Southern Shan State held a workshop to discuss the National Land Use Policy Draft (NLUP-D) in Taunggyi on November 12 and 13, 2014. One undred participants attended the workshop. After analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the NLUP-D in the workshop the following recommendations are made Land is life for us. After analyzing this
LUP-D we strongly condemn the following parts:

1. This is a narrow-minded policy which favors and prioritizes the economic interests of the cronies and the large corporations. There is very little consideration of ethnic farmer rights and there are no safeguards for them. The vision is not a long-term one. This is why we condemn this NLUP-D.

2. The basic needs of the ordinary people are not fulfilled by this policy. It does not help improving the living standards of the ordinary people nor the country ́s sustainable development. This is why we condemn this NLUP-D.

3. Neither the ordinary people nor any group representing them are included in the policy making process. The farmers ́ representatives are not participating. Only a small group of people wrote this policy in secrecy. This is why we condemn this NLUP-D.

4. Very little time was given for the ordinary people to know about this NLUP-D. There was no transparency and no information was released through any media; newspaper, journal, or television. No prior information was given to the ordinary people and therefore we cannot participate in the policy making process. This is an insult for us.

5. This NLUP-D does not use a people ́s centered approach and favors a centralized system. This is not a democratic way. This is why we condemn this NLUP-D.

6. This policy is no transparent and is not focused in social justice and legal justice. This is why we condemn it.

7. This policy is misleading and tricky for ethnic and ordinary people in Myanmar as well as for the international community. This is why we condemn it.

8. There is no consideration for the resettlement of war refugees in their places of origin. This is why we condemn this NLUP-D.

9. This policy favors foreign investors and can lead to an industrialization process in which ethnic peoples and ordinary people may become slave labor in a very subtle way.

10.We found out that we do not know who is leading and writing this policy, and that it does not take into account the aspirations of farmers and of different classes of ordinary people. It is not following international standards. It is only giving legal protection to large corporations and businessmen. We found out that there are not socio-economic safeguards for famers and different classes of ordinary people. This policy is written only one-sided and in undemocratic ways. This is why we seriously and strongly condemn this land use policy.

11.The NLUP-D is important for the people of the whole country but there is only little time for consultation. This leaves us with no chance to properly revise and suggest changes. We are not taken into consideration and we are even neglected in the consultation process. This is why we condemn this NLUP-D.

12.This NLUP-D cannot solve current problems related to land grabbing. Besides, it treats the land as a commodity, prioritizing and protecting foreign investment.

13.Different articles in the NLUP-D refer to some good intentions, such as this policy ́s objective to look for the national interest. However, we believe the way of forming the National Land Use Council is very narrow to consider the interests of everyone. This is why we condemn it.

14.This NLUP-D must not be approved because there is no support for farmers whose lands have been grabbed to get them back.

15.This NLUP-D is only focused on the country ́s revenue, neglecting the problems of the farmers, like that of landgrabbing. This is why we condemn it.

16. This NLUP-D is not matching international standards on the rights of farmers. This is why we condemn it.

17.Even if our land is not in a documented record of land use, or in a land use map, or even if we do not have a registered title, we are still using it. This NLUP-D does not appropriately recognize and protect our customary land use and management practices. This is why we condemn it.

18.The National Land Use Council of this NLUP-D does not benefit those who rely on land for their survival, and does not include any representatives from ethnic nationalities, women ́s organizations, CSOs, the academy, or political parties in the writing of the policy. Only a small group of people with authority secretly wrote this policy. This is why we condemn it.

19.Because only 19 days are given for consultation, this NLUP-D approval process is exactly the same used for the 2008 Constitution referendum. This is why we condemn it.

20.This NLUP-D will help legalizing the land seized by cronies. We found out that there is no safeguards for the sustainable use the country ́s natural resources. We do not see any protection of the ethnic customary land use practices. It neglects the sustainable development of the country. This is why we condemn it.

21.If this NLUP-D is officially approved it will not only impact negatively on the abilities of ordinary people to survive and on the eco-system health, but also on the sustainable development of the society and the communities. This is why we condemn it.

22.This policy cannot solve current land-grabs and it is also likely to bring other complicated problems. This is why we condemn this NLUP-D.

23.This NLUP-D can have a negative impact on, and be an obstacle for, the peace process and the fulfillment of human rights, the rights of women and children, the 2015 elections and the the national reconciliation process. This is why we condemn it.

24.This NLUP-D will not help in reducing poverty in the country. This is why we condemn it.

Farmers Participant’s representative townships

1) Hsi Hseng

2) Taunggyi

3) YawrNgan

4) Kalaw

5) Hopone

6) Naungtayar

7) Kyaunt Talone

8) BawSai

9) Namsan

10) Lin kae

11) Pin Laung

12) Yatsaunt

13)Nyaung Shwe

Participants from Representative Organizations

1- National League for Democracy (NLD)

2- ILCD (Mai Taunt)

3- PUSO

4- Environmental Maintenance Group (Naungtayar)

5- Farmer Union (Yatsaunt)

6- Pa-Oh New Generation (Loikaw)

7- FLWU

8- PLCO (SaiKao/Hsi Hseng)

9- Farmer Union (Namsan)

10-Parami Network

11-Pa-O Youth Law Farm

12-Hygienic Legal Clinic

13-TSYU (Lashio)

14-KGZ (Kutkai)

15-Pa-O Youth Network (PYN)

16-FNU (Pin Laung)

17- New Society Democrative

18-Justice Movement for Community (Innlay)

19-New Generation (Hta-Htong/Hsi Hseng)

20-Central Pa-O Literary and Cultural Organization

21-Pa-Oh Women Union

22-National Network (Naung Tayar)

23-Kaung Rwai Social Action Network (KSAN)

24-Environmental Team

25-Hopone Youth Group

26-KEAN

27-DEMO

28-Aye Thar Yar Factory Affair Committee

29-Pa-Oh Youth Organization (PYO)

30-88 (Shan)

31-Naung Taung Monetary School (Hopone)

Contact Persons:

1) Khun Oo (093-3522-490) khunoo007@gmail.com

2) Khun Zaw (094-2834-9507) myint.tgi@gmail.com

3) Win Shane Myat (092-5078-4106) winshanemyat797@gmail.com

4) Nang Zin New (093-301-5970) nangnge2008@gmail.com

5) Khun Myo (094-2816-8186) khunmyonaga@gmail.com