Junta Buys Rice At Knockdown Prices

Junta Buys Rice At Knockdown Prices

To Shore Up Its Granaries: Shan Villager

Maihoong reports from eastern Shan State that local authorities have been forcing the farmers to sell their harvest at unbelievably low prices.

According to Maihoong, the villagers of Napakao, Mongton Township, Monghsat District, were told by the local military authorities on 1 October that they were obligated to sell part of their new harvest to the government. "Each farmer has to sell one kwai (half a basket) of unhusked rice for every Kwai of sowing at 200 kyat, when the local price is 600 kyat".

When the villagers begged for a price raise, the officials rejected, said Maihoong. " 'We are not asking from you just by ourselves', they told the farmers. 'We are merely following orders from Rangoon, and every township in the whole country is doing just the same' "

Nevertheless, the price of paddy appears to vary from one township to another, said Maihoong, as evidenced by another report he received from Laikha Township, Loilem District, Southern Shan State.

On 10 October, officers from LIB 515, IB 64 and the township peace and development committee met the local people and instructed them to sell their unhulled paddy at 1 lang and 6 kwais (7 baskets) per acre, at 1,200 kyat per lang. "The market price is 2,500 kyat", said Maihoong. "Even those whose paddy fields failed were not exempted".

All the local rice mills were forbidden to open shop until the farmers' allotment had been fulfilled, added Maihoong.

"Those reports are in contrast to what Gen Tin Oo (Secretary-2, State Peace and Development Council said on 26 October", he concluded.

Related News: See Reuters: Myanmar Says No Need To Worry Over Rice Supply, 27 October 1999.