A 71-year-old farmer from Htauk Kyant Township was charged under the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law on Monday for holding a solo protest in front of Yangon City Hall, reported 7Day Daily.
His protest aimed to draw attention to the plight of farmers as Myanmar rice prices drop.
The farmer held a signboard that said: “The weather is abnormal. Rain and wind are irregular. We have suffered so much, and the price of paddy is extremely low. Please acknowledge the real life of farmers.”
An officer from the Kyauktada Township police station said: “He didn’t apply for permission. He just came here and protested.”
The farmer was released after he signed a commitment to uphold the law.
U Thein Aung, a farmer from Danuphyu Township, said the prices of farming equipment, including fertilizers, are increasing because of the devaluation of the Myanmar kyat against the US dollar, and the cost of labor is also rising due to a shortage.
Dr Soe Htun, the deputy chairman of the Myanmar Rice Federation, said the organization is preparing to export 300,000 tons of rice within three months. He advised owners of rice factories and rice traders to buy paddy from farmers at controlled prices.
