Farmland goes uncultivated due to military presence near villages in Rathedaung Twsp

By DMG 14 Jul 2021

DMG Newsroom
14 July 2021, Rathedaung 

No fighting between the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) and Arakan Army (AA) is currently taking place in Arakan State, but some villages in Rathedaung Township have left farmland uncultivated due to the nearby presence of Tatmadaw troops, according to locals. 

Tatmadaw troops are stationed near villages such as Htee Swel, Saukhat, Amyettaung, and Manyintaung in Rathedaung Township. Many local farmers could not cultivate their farmlands this year because they were only allowed to enter and leave their villages with the military’s permission, a farmer from Saukhat village who is currently sheltering at a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) told DMG on condition of anonymity. 

“We do not dare go to the village because the soldiers are stationed near the village. Even if you enter the village, you can only enter with the military’s permission, so how can we cultivate our farmlands? We returned to our village a week ago because the village abbot took responsibility for our security. All the houses in the village were destroyed,” he said. 

U Wai Aung, a resident of Htee Swel village, told DMG that locals have been unable to cultivate their farmlands for three years due to the encampment of military personnel near the village. 

“We have not been ploughing for three years now, so it will be very difficult for us to survive. We have a harder time than those who can return to work in the village, even if they are IDPs,” he said. 

Locals are demanding the removal of military personnel living near the village so that they can return to live, work and earn a living in the village. 

DMG contacted Arakan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Kyaw Thura to enquire about the Tatmadaw’s presence near the village, and restrictions on entering and leaving the village, but he could not be reached. 

Fighting between the Tatmadaw and Arakan Army has not taken place in more than eight months, but tens of thousands of IDPs remain displaced, and unwilling or unable to return to their homes amid ongoing security concerns.   

In addition, fertilisers are more expensive than last year and availability will not meet demand, said U Kyaw Zan, chairman of the Arakan Farmers’ Union. 

“This year, farmers will not be able to use as much as they need due to rising agricultural costs and rising fertiliser prices. Someone with 10 acres of land might only be able to cultivate eight acres,” he said. 

More than 60,000 acres of monsoon paddy were not cultivated between 2018 and 2020 due to instability in Arakan State, according to the Arakan Farmers’ Union.