September 23, 2015 Spurned farmers see few green shoots There’s little confidence that either of the major parties – or those representing farmers’ interests – will bring major changes Farmers’ desires are not particu- There are many cases of corruption EI EI TOE larly complex. They want to have in our village. The local authorities stronger ownership of their land and Life give back the land to those who can LWIN to get back land that was confiscated. expectancy pay what they ask,” said U Ohn Kywe, They want access to reasonably priced 65.5 at birth 72.1 a farmer from Kyaung Su village in [email protected] credit, and the right to grow the crops years years Bogale township, Ayeyarwady Region. of their choice and sell their produce in “And the news laws are not useful for S polling day draws near, can- a stable market. us. If anything they just restrict how didates in the November 8 Achieving these goals is difficult, Infant we can use the land. All of them should Aelection are ramping up cam- however, and parties that promise to 68 mortality 41 be amended.” paigning and spreading party slogans do so run the risk of disappointing. per 1000 live births per 1000 live births Most villagers do not believe the to entice voters. “Let’s vote USDP for Nevertheless, few seem to be paying government is sincere about tackling a better future,” urges the Union Soli- the issues much more than lip service. the problems they face, he said. “Many darity and Development Party, while “We don’t understand politics, but have been sent to prison and others are Literacy its main rival, the National League for we haven’t heard of a party that really 87% 92% facing trial because of their attempts to Democracy, implores, “Let’s vote NLD cares for us,” said U Tun Tun Win, a get back their land under this so-called to bring real change.” farmer from Sanchi village in Dawei democratic government,” U Ohn Kywe When international and local ana- township, Tanintharyi Region. “The added. lysts look at the election, their first most important thing for us is the Never Some belated attempts are being and foremost question is whether it right to own our lands with strong le- attended made to woo the rural vote. Unlike the will transform Myanmar into a fully- gal protections. If not, our lands can be 15.6% school 6.3% NLD, the USDP has held few public fledged democracy. “Can democratic confiscated by whoever they want.” rallies in rural areas. Instead, candi- forces reduce the role of the military in U Tint Lwin, a farmer from Maw- dates have conducted a door-to-door politics?” they ask. gyun village in Ayeyarwady Region’s campaign to win votes, espousing the But for many, these questions do Mawlamyinegyun township, said party’s slogan that it is focused on de- not resonate. They do not have high most farmers were poor and trapped livering real benefits for residents. expectations for political change; they in a cycle of debt. In the USDP policy speech on state simply hope for tangible and positive “But the government doesn’t care media last week, general secretary U improvements. This group includes for us. Farmers think that politics is Rural areas Urban areas Tin Naing Thein sought to emphasise farmers, who comprise a large pro- not related to them but what we want the party’s commitment to farmers, portion of Myanmar’s rural popula- is for the next government to fulfil our saying that the USDP “will continue tion, which is 70 percent of the total. needs. If they really want to alleviate ... approving laws that have guarantees Their votes will be crucial for any party poverty, that’s what they should do,” for future life of farmers”. seeking to form national and regional he said. 70% 7.829 To emphasise the point on deliv- governments. Agriculture and agricultural prod- ering material benefits, high-profile Yet they are noticeably absent from ucts generate about 70 percent of of population million house holds USDP candidates have in recent weeks most election manifestos, which tend employment and more than 30pc of is rural in rural areas visited rural areas to make donations, to be heavy on vague promises about economic output. Farmers, though, do including electricity supply, medical changing the constitution, building not have the right to own their land; ......................................................................... ......................................................................... treatment and even bags of rice. a “genuine” federal union, attaining instead they hold land-use rights that While these donations are often peace and national reconciliation, en- can be easily revoked. All constitutions appreciated, they can also backfire. In suring human rights, and steering a – 1947, 1974 and 2008 – say that land result, dispossessed farmers protested support from farmers. During breaks Pyin Oo Lwin last month, Mandalay strong market-oriented economy. within Myanmar’s territory is owned around the country, urging the return in parliament Thura U Shwe Mann Region Chief Minister U Ye Myint, by the state. of their land. The president promised would visit rural areas and in late 2014 who is contesting a Mandalay Region As a result, millions of acres of have to form an investigation team and re- launched a nationwide tour to discuss Hluttaw seat, gave back a small pro- been taken by the authorities, from the turn land to villagers if they had been farmer affairs. portion of 3600 acres confiscated by We don’t days of Ne Win’s Burma Socialist Pro- wronged. But his efforts were largely sty- the government from farmers for gramme Party to President U Thein Perhaps sensing a political open- mied by the military and government, three projects. The proximity of this understand Sein’s government. Various reasons ing, parliament and Speaker Thura which refused to return land and still action to the election drew criticism have been cited to justify these confis- U Shwe Mann took up the issue with has not passed by-laws for the Protect- from residents. politics, but we cations: security, the need to expand gusto. In 2012 a land investigation ing Rights and Enhancing Economic “It was so funny – he gave back 400 government facilities, industrial de- commission led by the UDSP and mili- Welfare of Farmers Law. acres because he will run as a candi- haven’t heard velopment and more. The scale of con- tary representatives was formed. Par- The failure to address farmers’ con- date here. But nobody thanked him for fiscations increased rapidly under the liament also passed the Farmland Law, cerns about confiscations, commod- that because the villagers fought each of a party that military regime that ruled from 1988 the Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Land ity prices and access to credit has left other to decide who should get this really cares to 2011, in part because land was often Management Law, and the Protecting many disappointed with the party and lands. He just gave back these lands to taken by military officials and their Rights and Enhancing Economic Wel- the government, which they tend to get votes,” said U Aung Min, a farmer for us. cronies for personal use. fare of Farmers Law in 2012 and 2013. see as one and the same. from Aung Chan Thar village in Pyin When U Thein Sein took power The former USDP leader, who was “Although the president said he Oo Lwin. U Tun Tun Win in 2011, he relaxed controls on the replaced following a midnight coup would arrange to give back land, this Farmer, Dawei township media and political freedoms. As a by U Thein Sein, worked hard to win land did not go to the right people. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 September 23, 2015 THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL Election opinions on social media ‘Asked what I represent, @ag_fidh #MyanmarElection2015: #USDP #Yangon branch deserted; #NLD headquarters I represent farmers’ a beehive of activity #Burma #Myanmar Asia desk, FIDH AG Having sat as MP for Yangon Region’s Pazundaung township in the Pyithu Daw Nant Than Myint Kyi, People’s Party @W7VOA Sep 22 Hluttaw since 2010, U Aung Zin of the of Myanmar Farmers and Workers .@Voaburmese #Myanmar army chief National Democratic Force is now promises no coup will result Which constituency are you con- regardless of outcome of this spearheading the party’s push into testing in? year’s election. Amyotha Hluttaw constituency 3, in Steve Herman, Voice of America Nay Pyi Taw constituencies, targeting Yegyi and Kyonpyaw townships in SE Asia bureau chief Ayeyarwady Region. a seat in Ottarathiri. He spoke toHtoo What difficulties are you experi- Thant about the decision to realign encing in the campaign? @Kim_Jolliffe Sep 22 We don’t have the funds, as our party Daw Aung San Suu Kyi campaign message live on his base with his interests, and the is a new one. I am spending my own #Myanmar / #Burma state - money. Another difficulty is that we owned MRTV 4. remarkable importance of nurturing the country’s need to put in strenuous effort to cam- #assk #election agrarian majority. paign, as Yegyi is a new area for me. What support has your party given you? You previously represented Pa- Moe, came out for Zabuthiri town- order to develop Myanmar as a nation. Our central committee members have zundaung. Now you are contesting ship, followed by Su Yee, a lawyer Myanmar will improve with the devel- friends in Yegyi. They help with can- in Nay Pyi Taw. Why the change? from Lewe, and Ko Htay Hlaing from opment of these people. vassing. But as our party is recently I ran in Pazundaung but my main re- Pyinmana.