On May 7th 2013, KHRG received information in which villagers from Ma Lay Ler, Waw Muh and Meh Hkyoh village tracts from Dwe Lo Township, Papun District complained about gold mining and associated road construction that destroyed their farm irrigation gates and nursery fields, and has consequently affected their livelihood and damaged the environment.

In November 2012, village leaders representing various regions cooperated with businessmen representing gold-mining interests. These leaders included women's organization leader Naw Dah Muh from Kwee T'Ma village, Meh Hkyoh village tract; K'Toh Hpoh, Kay Ray and Naw Khyoh from Hpoh Kheh Hta village; Hpaw Nay Thah Moh from Waw Muh village; Hkyay Lay, who is a district staff member from Karen National Union (KNU); and village representatives from the Ma Lay Ler village tracts who cooperated with business men representing gold mining interests.

The businessmen were granted permission from KNU leaders to begin gold mining in the area and started constructing a road shortly thereafter in Dwe Lo Township, Papun District. Areas targeted for development included villagers' farmland. The construction resulted in the destruction of farm irrigation gates, and rice nursery fields the villagers rely on for their livelihood died from lack of water. Installing irrigation gates and developing reliable nursery fields is a considerable task for villagers requiring significant time and money. This process can take several years. One villager said, "Now, because the nursery field was destroyed, I do not have a nursery field [anymore]. In order to get this paddy nursery field, I dug out the trees. I had to try very hard for three or four years for [it to became] a paddy nursery field. Now, it is just being destroyed and I am very upset. In the coming year, in order to sow paddy, I have to find a new place for paddy nursery field and it will be very difficult for me."

The villagers' farm irrigation gates were initially destroyed when gold mining was undertaken in the area by Democratic Karen Buddhist Army Lieutenant Maung Chit Thu[2] in 2009, but mining ceased in 2010 when he left the area. Until recently, villagers had gotten enough water for their farms and could farm without any major difficulties; the resumption of gold mining and related development has greatly stressed villager livelihoods. Moreover, one of the villagers reported that because of gold mining, people have lost their jobs following farmland destruction, and animals from the area have died as a result of drinking water contaminated by gold mining. According to reports received by KHRG, villagers see little benefit in gold mining efforts and hope that local authorities intervene on their behalf.