Committee Investigates Arakan State Land Grabs

Burma’s parliamentary land investigation commission is conducting field investigations into 14 land confiscations in Arakan State, Arakan news outlet Narinjara reported on Monday. The investigation focused on land grabs in Kyaukpyu Township, which is a port town and the starting point of the controversial Shwe oil and gas pipeline that runs to southern China. “[C]ases include farms confiscated by the military intelligence, the [Light Infantry Battalion]-542 and the Danyawady Naval Station,” said committee member Phe Than. “There are also farmers whose farms were confiscated for the Shwe Gas Project, but have not received any compensation.”