Farmers in Hopong Township, southern Shan State, held a press conference on February 13 demanding the immediate return of land they say was forcibly seized by military authorities and allied local administrative bodies, warning that hundreds of families now face imminent eviction.

Since early January, authorities have confiscated ancestral farmland and residential plots in Long Hkoke village tract, labeling longtime residents as “squatters” to justify their removal. Farmers allege that land brokers backed by armed actors have threatened them with forced eviction if they refuse to comply.

At the press conference, titled “Hopong Farmers: From Homeowners to Squatters,” one farmer said: “They first told us to pay one million kyats for replacement land, but we refused. This is our land. We have no intention of leaving, and we will continue to resist.”

The event, organized by the Pa-O Youth Organization (PYO), outlined three key demands:

• The return of all confiscated land to its original owners
• An immediate halt to evictions and threats
• Compensation for losses resulting from the seizures

According to a PYO statement, 18,360.48 acres of farmland and grazing land in Hopong Township have allegedly been taken without compensation and repurposed for military firing ranges and other projects. The group also accused authorities and allied militias of spreading misinformation to conceal alleged abuses.

Eviction orders currently target 561.75 acres in Long Hkoke village tract alone, affecting more than 200 households and over 400 people. Residents reject the “squatter” designation, insisting the accusations distort reality.

“We have farmed this land for generations,” a female farmer said. “Now they say if we want to continue farming, we must pay five million kyats. We don’t have that kind of money. This land pays for our children’s education and healthcare, and our elderly depend on it to survive.”

On February 25, officials issued a notice declaring the land state property and ordering all structures demolished by February 27. A body calling itself the Committee for Clearing and Resettling Squatters warned that any buildings remaining north of Naung Taung Monastery after the deadline would be removed by force.

Residents say the ultimatum leaves them with little choice but displacement, as they brace for possible forced clearance operations.