The impact of natural resource extraction on community livelihoods

Natural resource extraction continues to have a significant impact on the local people’s lives in Nyaunglebin District. Since 2017, according to civilians from H--- village, Maw Keh Tha Per Khoh village tract, Mone Township, some local Karen National Union (KNU)[2] leaders and businessmen have been collaborating to conduct logging and gold mining activities in Maw Keh Tha Per Hkoh village tract, Mone Township and Meh K’Tee village tract, Shwegyin Township. No prior consultation with the local population was held before implementing these activities, which resulted in environmental damage.               

In Meh K’Tee village tract, Shwegyin Township, gold mining activities damaged streams, creating difficulties for the villagers who depend on their water. Before these activities started, some local people engaged in gold panning and used to earn between 10,000 kyats (USD 6.62)[3] and 20,000 kyats (USD 13.24) per hour so they could buy food. However, local civilians are now barred from entering the gold extraction sites, notably by KNLA soldiers and businessmen. This aims to prevent them from engaging in gold panning and taking photos of the site. Villagers also used to catch fish and frogs to eat during night time. Nowadays, some of the streams have dried up and others have turned brown because of logging and gold mining activities. This makes it really difficult for local people to secure their livelihood and survive.

Logging has caused deforestation in civilian-populated areas, resulting in droughts. Consequently, villages face more heat waves, which make it difficult to grow crops. This has caused livelihood difficulties, prompting some people to start selling alcohol, Yaba[4] and marijuana, as they see it as an easy way to earn income to support their livelihood. Some parents have also sent their children to work in Thein Za Yat town, Kyaik Hto Township, and other towns to support their livelihood as it is becoming harder to do so in their village.

Some locals, notably young people, have started using these drugs, which could disrupt social harmony. A [position censored for security reasons] from H--- village, Maw Keh Tha Per Hkoh village tract, stated: “Church members are using drugs and are misbehaving in the church compound.” The village authorities have now banned the sale and use of drugs. The [position censored for security reasons] suggested that the local KNU leaders and government authorities need to solve the drug problem in the area.

Forced relocation by the Tatmadaw and displacement cause difficulties for villagers

In 2002, the Tatmadaw forcibly relocated 48 households from T--- village, Shwegyin Township to build a hospital and other buildings for the Strategic Operations Command.[5] It is hard to identify which Tatmadaw battalion is now present in this land as troops are always rotating there. In order to resettle the affected villagers, the Tatmadaw demanded five acres of land from Ko Htin Kyaw, a businessman. Unfortunately, in November 2018, Ko [6] Htin Kyaw started to reclaim his land from the relocated villagers as he realised that its value was increasing. Later, all households living east of T--- village, Shwegyin Township was forced to pay 700,000 kyats (USD 463.97), and those living west of the village had to pay 500,000 kyats (USD 331.40) to Ko Htin Kyaw. Only a few of the relocated villagers could afford to pay this high amount. Those who could not pay the price requested by Ko Htin Kyaw could no longer possess that land. In 2018, the local population asked the National League for Democracy (NLD) office in Shwe Kyin Township for help to solve this problem. However, Daw [7] Hla Hla Win, a local official, demanded that they pay the amount of money that Ko Htin Kyaw asked for instead of offering help. Ko Htin Kyaw threatened the villagers by saying that their houses will be destroyed if they do not pay.

In addition to the case above, the local villagers also reported that, in 1974, the Tatmadaw confiscated land in K--- village, Maw Keh Tha Per Hkoh village tract, Mone Township. However, they couldn’t confirm the name of the battalion involved. In 2018, the Tatmadaw confiscated more lands, including some located next to the Christian church compound. For this reason, the local villagers dare not go to church anymore. The Tatmadaw furthermore strengthened their army camps and increased patrolling in the areas where villagers live, putting their safety at risk. One of the community members stated that: “Nothing would happen if the Tatmadaw was positioned in their own place. Now, they are coming to live here to take over the local population’s lands.” Because of this situation, villagers are afraid that fighting might break out worse than before between the Tatmadaw and Karen armed groups.

Landmine explosions

On November 15th 2018, a landmine exploded around 30 feet [9.14 metres] away from a primary school located in N--- village, Tha Pyay Nyunt village tract, Mone Township. The landmine was triggered by a buffalo that lost one leg after stepping on it. Following the explosion, the school closed for three days out of concern for the students’ safety. After the incident, the N--- village head and some Tatmadaw soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB)[8] #53 fenced the area where the explosion took place to make it inaccessible for the students. Later on, LIB #349 replaced LIB #53 in the army camp near Tha Pyay Nyunt village.

On December 22nd 2018, another landmine exploded on a forest road near the first incident site. Two siblings from D---village, Tha Pyay Nyunt village tract who were visiting their grandfather in Thantaungyi Township, Toungoo District hit a landmine while travelling by motorbike. The boy is 18 years old and the girl is 12 years old now. They were both hit by landmine shrapnel and sustained injuries to their legs. Fortunately, they did not have to be admitted to the hospital. Since the incident site was not far from the school, the students and their parents are now scared and very concerned for their security. 49 students are still attending the N---primary school. 

Following these two landmine explosions, neither Tatmadaw nor KNLA soldiers took action to clear landmines in the area. These remain a threat for the local people, especially children.