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:
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
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