Victims of land grabs in Burma have eagerly tested newfound freedoms by protesting and sending petitions to the president and Parliament, to no avail. Now some are turning to old ways: curses and black magic reports Irrawaddy.
In addition, coffins marked with the names of those who seized property have been set ablaze.
There were chants of “Punish those who grab our land and desecrate the pagoda,” in front of a Buddhist temple. “Drag them to the lowest level of being and keep them there forever.”
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Most of those who lost their land in the largest land grabs in the 1990s were moved to remote areas. A few became squatters on their own land, or were allowed to continue farming as long as they paid rent. Some of the houses belonging to the farmers who did not give up their land have been demolished.
The elected government that ended 50 years of dictatorship in 2011 has reinstated speech freedoms, released political prisoners and implement other changes that have prompted the international community to ease sanctions. Many victims of land grabs had hoped new government would help them, but evictions have thus far.
Five organizers of the coffin burning have been charged with disrupting tranquility.
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