Villagers Forced To Fill Up Rice Quota

Villagers Forced To Fill Up Rice Quota

Muemai "New Hand", one of S.H.A.N.'s newly-trained correspondents reported from eastern Shan State that villagers were being forced by the junta officials, known as the SPDC, to sell rice at "government prices" in according with the amount fixed beforehand.

"They had already sold them during the harvest time in November," said Mue-mai.

"But many were unable to fill up the quota fixed by the officials because of the weather. According to the directive that was issued recently, a copy of which is in my possession, the villagers have to deliver their goods by 20 February or face drastic action from those concerned."

There are altogether 172 acres of rice fields in Hawngleuk Tract, Tachilek Township. "Villagers were obliged to sell 11 baskets of unhulled rice per acre at K. 290 per basket," said the correspondent. "But the market price in Tachilek is B. 160 per basket."

It is approximately 11 baht per hundred kyat at the border.

The villagers, like most of the rural Shans, abhor eating Khao-zao (non-glutinous rice) and only grow it for the Burmese, while they plant Khao-nio (glutinous rice) for their own consumption.

In addition, they are also facing threats to confiscate their land by the junta that is keen on changing Tachilek into an "Industrial Zone," he said.